Mike Leach has never been a soft-spoken guy. And after Eric Mangini supposedly questioned the type of person that Michael Crabtree is -- potentially causing the former Texas Tech wideout to slip in the draft -- Leach got a little worked up.According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, Leach was so angry that he started taking (possibly well-deserved) potshots at Mangini and the Browns organization.
"Michael Crabtree has been more successful as a receiver than that guy has a coach at this point," Leach said. " ... Part of the reason is he's (Crabtree) too shy to be like that."Now, yes, that is awkward, but only in the sense that Leach's comments are waaaay beyond aggressive, given that they were stated in a public manner. But, at the same time, you have to back a coach who's willing to stand up for his former players.
Said Leach: "My definition of a diva is someone who's loud and self-absorbed. Michael Crabtree is the furthest thing from loud that I've seen."
[...]Leach described Crabtree as the "ultimate team player who would serve the 49ers well." As for Mangini? "Let's see how all those non-divas do up in Cleveland this year," Leach said.
We know nothing about how Crabtree will behave now that he's a pro -- outside the possible teaser of Erin Andrews' report that his draft-day table sighed in relief when the Raiders passed on him -- but it seems pretty reasonable to give him of the benefit of the doubt. Leach doesn't believe that Mangini did that, and the real problem here is that there's no on-field rivalry between the two coaches.
NFL Draft FIrst-Round Picks
1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
Jason DeCrow, AP
2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Paul Jasienski, Getty Images
3. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Doug Benc, Getty Images
4. Seattle Seahawks: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
Paul Jasienski, Getty Images
5. New York Jets (From Cleveland): Mark Sanchez, QB, Southern Cal
Mark J. Terrill, AP
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Sportschrome / Getty Images
7. Oakland Raiders: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
Matt Cilley, AP
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
Paul Jasienski, Getty Images
9. Green Bay Packers: B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College
Jim Rogash, WireImage
10. San Francisco 49ers: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Tony Gutierrez, AP
Via PFT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-25-2009 @ 11:01PM
Mr.G said...
Is there some quote somewhere that Mangini said anything negative about Crab?If so,I never seen it.The Cleveland Plain Dealer Newspaper ran a story about Crabtree being full of himself,arrogant and rude when he visited the Browns,but it never quoted Mangini as saying anything about him.Nine other teams passed on Crabtree.WHY,if he's so wonderful?I've seen enough of Crabtree in intrviews and see the all the bling he wears,to think he's a diva too.
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4-26-2009 @ 6:39AM
kinkboy1121 said...
Leach needs to open his ears and shut his pie hole..... in every interview, he came across on Espn as another Terelle Owens .......ME...ME...ME
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4-26-2009 @ 8:26AM
rjw6683 said...
This coach is a jackass. To respond to the coaches question...Mangini has coached on a superbowl winning team in the NFL. So what have you won ever Leach? Other then having a few years of putting up big numbers on offense in a conference that plays no defense. This guy not only is making as ass out of himself, but is also hurting his ability to market future players to the NFL.
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4-27-2009 @ 10:41AM
thetruckerking said...
Wow, a jackass making comments about a jackass who made comments about a jackass. I can't wait to see Mangina's classless reaction.
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4-28-2009 @ 10:42AM
Mike said...
Leech had better start watching film and trying to get his team ready for many long Saturday afternoons and evenings. Maybe he feels better today now that Cleveland is giving Harrell a shot. The 49er's will take Crabtree so we will see if the guy lives up to his OWN hype. Could be another T.O. in the making. And, that is not a compliment. And, wasn't it Texas Tech that lost by like 60 points in what was suppose to be a big game last year? How could you ever talk of any coach after that embarressment.
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