One thing we recently learned though is that Michael Crabtree doesn’t need the NFL’s money (at least for this year). His agent Mike Ornstein came out and said Crabtree has made over $750,000 from marketing/sponsorship deals. Crabtree has deals with Subway, Jordan Brand, Upper Deck, Topps, etc.

“It is not that he doesn’t want to play, but he is not under the gun to,” Ornstein said.

This actually explains a lot. I’ve always wondered how unsigned rookies and holdouts who make no money can still live the lavish lifestyle of an NFL player.

I was curious to see more about the Biletnikoff Award, so I went to their official page at www.biletnikoffaward.com. If you click finalists at the top you will see all three players’ names. Look closely though and you will see they have Crabtree listed as a Rice player. LOL. I guess their webmaster doesn’t watch college football. Everyone knows Crabtree goes to Texas Tech.

Anyway, I think Crabtree is a lock for the award again this year. Dez Bryant will give him more competition then Jeremy Maclin, but in the end… Crabtree plays on a better team and his touchdown streak was amazing.

Michael Crabtree is going to try his absolute hardest to get his team into the Title game. He still thinks about the time when his High School squad missed out on States.

“From my years in high school, I feel like I didn’t give it all I could give,” Crabtree said. “I feel like I could have gone to state if I would have given it my all. I didn’t want to feel like that again – should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. I’m at that time right now that I’m remembering that, so every time I go on the field, it’s like I’m giving it my all because I’m not going to feel that same way I felt in high school. I don’t want any regrets.”

I have no doubt that Michael Crabtree won’t give it 100% on gamedays and lead this team to the promise land. The Red Raiders season feels magical in a way, almost like it’s their destiny.

However, that amazing performance he had against former No. 1 Texas (10 receptions, 127 yards and a game winning touchdown) has propelled him back into the discussion. ESPN has him ranked #4 on their Heisman Watch.

Here’s what they had to say:

4. Michael Crabtree — I have Michael Crabtree at No. 4 even though his numbers are slightly down from last year. If you can live with calling it a down season while he’s on pace to catch 93 passes for more than 1,200 yards and 20 TDs despite being the No. 1 focus of rival defenses every week. Simply put, Crabtree is better at what he does than any other player in college football. He carves up defenses, snatches passes away from defenders in traffic and runs through would-be tacklers like he’s a tailback. The only downside is his QB is drawing a lot of the hype since Tech’s attack is just so diversified.

It’ll be tough for him to win it because Graham Harrell is also on the list, and in fact he is No. 1 on ESPN’s Heisman rankings. But there is still hope!

I’m not quite sure what that means though. Does it mean he thinks Crabtree is acting out just to get his name in the papers? Nah… couldn’t be that. Who knows? All we can do is assume he’ll be ready to play on Saturday vs. Kansas. Texas Tech needs Crabtree on the field if they want to keep this undefeated season going.

Here’s one of the Crabtree campaign videos.

Reason #5: Mr. Crabtree

Michael Crabtree (29 catches, 457 yards and 6 TD’s) is still the unquestioned playmaker on offense and despite not having quite the burst onto the scene as he did last year in no way diminishes what he brings to this team. There is not a player in the Big 12 that has Mr. Crabtree’s combination of size, speed and ability to turn a short pass into a game-breaking spectacular play. Defenses will have to game plan around Crabtree, which is part of the reason why the receivers mentioned above are having so much success. His presence allows for other players to step up and make plays. I’m not sure that Mr. Crabtree has the type of season that he had last year, but make no mistake that his presence is helping this offense be that much more efficient. Crabtree will get his in conference play, I’m fairly confident of that. Teams can’t cover him and everyone else. He’s just too special not to make a difference.

What’s your take?

But for those of you looking for some quick excerpts, here you go:

“He doesn’t know ESPN from WKRP,” Leach says. “I think he’s so focused on what he does on the field and has devoted so much time, energy and emotion to what he does on field, when he gets off the field, it’s uncharted territory (dealing with the media). That’s what makes him kind of mysterious. He’s so quiet. He had a lot of success early. Is he big-headed, cocky? He’s kind of a quiet, introverted guy. He hangs out with younger, unsure guys on the team. On the field, everything he does is elevated.”

Crabtree says he is an astute observer of the game. He learns from watching players at any level and says, “I can watch on my team and take a little bit from them. I can watch my running back and how he cuts and use it when I catch the ball.

“I look at everything and take notes and create my own style. I learned from watching a whole bunch of people — Jerry Rice, Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, Larry Fitzgerald. I really watched and learned from Michael Irvin.”

Crabtree, who pulled in 134 catches for 22 touchdowns and 1,962 yards, all NCAA freshman records, last season is one of 75 players listed on the watchlist. Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced in early November and three finalists will be announced November 25th. The winner of the 2008 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.

Michael Crabtree has his work cut out for him if he wants to win the Maxwell Award. A wide receiver hasn’t won it since Desmond Howard in 1991.