The Jets yesterday vehemently denied allegations made by the 49ers that they tampered with unsigned San Francisco draft pick Michael Crabtree.
Rex Ryan confirmed that the 49ers have filed tampering charges against the Jets regarding Crabtree, one of the top receivers in the draft, who has been in a contract dispute with San Francisco.
Patriots’ Wilfork: Jets ‘kicked our butts.’
“My understanding is they filed charges with the league,” the Jets coach said. “I’m saying my response is it’s not true. I mean, it’s not accurate. It’s not true, but we’ll let the league figure this out. It’s not accurate, just not true.”
Ryan said earlier in the day in an ESPN radio interview that the allegations are “ridiculous” and that he wished the Jets were playing the 49ers.
“I’ll stand by that comment,” Ryan said. “It means we are in the Super Bowl, so I’ll definitely take that.”
San Francisco head coach Mike Singletary told reporters in California “the league is going to handle internally,” but wouldn’t elaborate.
“I’m not going to get into that,” Singletary said. “We’ll let that play out, the process. I’m not even going to go there. We’ll let the league handle that and go from there.”
Crabtree, selected No. 10 overall by the 49ers, is the last draft pick not signed. The Jets have been linked to every available receiver on the market because of their inexperience at the position.
The 49ers have until Nov. 17 to sign Crabtree in order for him to play this season. If Crabtree is not signed and not traded, he would go back into the April 2010 draft. The 49ers could trade the rights to Crabtree, but they have until Oct. 20, the NFL trading deadline, to do that.
NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello said in an e-mail that the league doesn’t comment on tampering charges unless there’s a penalty being doled out.
*
Of the three Jets injured in Sunday’s 16-9 win over the Patriots, DT Kris Jenkins appears the least serious. He had the wind knocked out of him. CB Lito Sheppard said he was cramping in his right quadriceps, though Ryan said he thought it was something close to a pulled muscle. CD Donald Strickland twisted his right ankle and his status is uncertain.