Did the Miami Dolphins offer wide receiver Michael Crabtree a contract?

There was a lot of buzz this past weekend as to whether or not the Miami Dolphins really offered a contract to wide receiver Michael Crabtree. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the team was willing to pay Crabtree close to $3 million dollars per season but he was looking for at least $4.5 million dollars. However, Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post says that a team source emphatically denied that the Dolphins ever made an offer to Crabtree or even discussed money with him. Jackson then came back and said that his source along with a second source said that money was indeed discussed with Crabtree prior to and on his visit.

So, what's the truth in all of this? It's very likely it's somewhere in the middle. I am sure that numbers were tossed around privately and it's quite possible Crabtree's agent threw financials out on the table. The Dolphins likely never formally offered a contract to Crabtree because of the kind of money he wanted.

Both reporters are very reliable so I would doubt that either of them are lying. In the end though, does it really matter? The Dolphins weren't interested enough in Crabtree to make sure he didn't leave the building without a contract and that's where it should end.

We'll see how the Dolphins proceed at the wide receiver position in the upcoming NFL Draft. There will definitely be day one starters there in the first and second round. It's just a matter if they pull the trigger or not.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

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