BY CHRIS NELSEN

FOR THE A-J

INDIANAPOLIS — Mike Crabtree was creating a lot of buzz at the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday. Unfortunately, it was for all the wrong reasons.

Just one day after telling reporters he’d like to be the first overall pick in April’s draft, the former Texas Tech receiver and two-time Biletnikoff Award winner was informed by doctors he has a slight stress fracture in his left foot that will require surgery.

Crabtree, who could be sidelined for 6-10 weeks, wasn’t planning to run the 40-yard dash at the combine anyway, but the injury could force the cancellation of his pro day on March 26 in Dallas.
Although he wasn’t available to the media on Saturday, Crabtree’s injury was the hot topic among other players, coaches and team officials.

“It’s not a career-ending injury or anything like that,” Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “He’s a good football player and he’s got plenty of time to get well. … I think he’ll be OK.”

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli doesn’t believe Crabtree’s injury should affect his draft stock too much, assuming he makes a full recovery. Entering the combine, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Crabtree was projected as the No. 1 receiver and a probable top-five draft selection.

“You’ve got a bunch of tape to watch guys on. From our standpoint, we’re going to evaluate guys on how they play football, not just how they run,” Pioli said. “Football players play with injuries. Football players get injuries.

“The combine is great, but you watch tape and watch players perform on tape — that’s really the top evaluation. I don’t know if you lose out on anything because there are going to be a lot of people here that don’t work out anyway.”

On Friday, Crabtree tried to make his case as the No. 1 overall pick.

“There are a lot of things I can offer to a team — quickness, speed, knowledge, on and off the field,” he said. “I’m working hard every day to be the best player in the draft. In my mind, I am. I have to think like that, because if I don’t, I’ll just be another person.”

Brandon Williams, also competing at the combine, believes his former teammate at Tech will fight back from the injury and have a productive NFL career.

“I know he’ll get through it because he’s a strong athlete,” said Williams, a defensive end. “I know he’ll take care of business.”

Former Tech quarterback and draft hopeful Graham Harrell is rooting for Crabtree to have a long and successful pro career.

“I think he’s going to be a great NFL player,” Harrell said Friday. “I wish the best for him.”

Crabtree also drew high praise from NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock, who compared him to Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

“I think the whole Michael Crabtree-versus-Larry Fitzgerald thing has some legitimacy,” Mayock said. “The people that didn’t like (Fitzgerald) when he came out didn’t think he’d be able to separate in the NFL because of his speed, but he has unbelievable ball skills, vertical jump, ability to go get it, strong hands. … I think Crabtree is that type of player.”

That was acceptable praise for Crabtree, who left Tech two years early with the expectation of being a top NFL pick.

“Any time you get compared to a great player, it must be something good,” he said. “I like to break down a lot of guys to make one person. … Probably Fitzgerald, Steve Smith, Chad Johnson. I put all those guys together.”

Unlike Crabtree, Williams came into the combine with much less hype, despite leading the Big 12 Conference and finishing fourth nationally with 13 sacks last season. Williams, who decided to skip his final college season, hopes to increase his stock during the combine. He’s projected as a possible third-round pick.

“I think I could sneak into the second round,” he said. “It’s a long process because teams don’t know a lot about me yet. I can show them my different abilities and what I can do.

“I can play defensive end, I can play outside linebacker. Whatever (NFL teams) want me to do, that’s what I can do.”

Feb 20, 2009
• Cracked crab leg

• Crabtree’s injury is common at Tech

• ESPN: Crabtree sidelined with stress fracture