Unexpected early morning NFL news

I was already planning to write a double play on the MLB playoffs starting tonight, but a couple surprises this morning regarding wide receivers are getting me writing early.

Michael Crabtree finally got some sense in his head now that the 49ers are off to a good start, and has agreed to a contract. I wouldn't expect him to do much this week against the Falcons as he's got a lot of learning to do. The 49ers have their bye next week, so he will have two weeks to work with the offense in practice before they face two tough road games. Perhaps my biggest concern with this team was their wide receivers. Vernon Davis has finally stepped up as their tight end, but they just had the aged Isaac Bruce and the not so good Josh Morgan. If Michael Crabtree can be the dangerous receiving threat he thinks he is, this will greatly improve the 49ers with him starting alongside Bruce. However, after completely missing training camp, preseason, and the first four weeks of the season, his immediate success is far from guaranteed.

The other news is the New York Jets acquiring Braylon Edwards from the Browns. There were rumors about him coming to New York in the preseason to wear blue, which I was thankful it never happened. Edwards can be a terrific receiver, and had a breakout season in 2007 with 80 receptions, 1,289 yards, and 16 touchdowns. But last season, his numbers dropped to 873 yards on 55 receptions with just three touchdowns, with "drop" being the key word there. He is off to a slow start this year with the horrible Browns offense.

I'm not sure what to think of this trade for the Jets. They obviously had concerns at wide receiver after not being able to replace Laveranues Coles. Jerricho Cotchery has been a big time player though. I expected tight end Dustin Keller to have a bigger impact, but he has been quiet after a good first game. Edwards will replace Chansi Stuckey, who goes to Cleveland in the deal. I thought Stuckey showed some potential last season as a backup, and also had a good first game this season, but has just 56 yards in his last three games as a starter. It certainly appears that Edwards would be an improvement, but I still would not want him on my team. But who knows, maybe Rex Ryan will fire him up like he has done with the rest of the team, and he will remember how to catch a football.