Michael Crabtree scarcely could have been more productive Sunday had he been in uniform. For starters, his camp fed a report to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who dutifully relayed it to a breathless world:

Crabtree, the would-be 49ers receiver, will sit out the 2009 season and re-enter the NFL Draft next spring.

Then the 49ers, even in their inspiring upset of Arizona, confirmed themselves to be a team in need of a game-breaking pass-catcher. Which is what they thought they were getting in April when they took Crabtree with the 10th pick in the draft.

Crabtree, and his agent Eugene Parker, were thinking he should have been taken higher than 10th and paid accordingly, a stance the 49ers have summarily rejected. Therein lies the conflict.

This is the second time in two months that Crabtree has threatened to sit out the season; Sunday’s posturing could be nothing more than his all-in bluff. But if he’s serious, if he’s gambling that he’ll be picked higher than 10th next year, he should understand there are more moving parts to his strategy than meet the eye.

One, the collective bargaining agreement between NFL owners and players is a lame duck. The owners opted out of the current agreement, set to expire in 2011. A new deal could be negotiated between now and then, perhaps one that includes a rookie salary cap. The owners are said to favor a rookie cap, for obvious reasons. It’s hard to imagine current players objecting too strenuously.

Two, in the absence of a new CBA, the 2010 season would be uncapped for rookies and veterans alike. At first blush, this would seem to be a good thing for Crabtree. But think about it.

The last time we checked, NFL owners were averse to the concept of economic anarchy. It’s possible they have some kind of “agreement” that would prove as effective as a cap.

Three, if the CBA situation remains unresolved, there is the possibility of a labor-related shutdown in 2011. Meaning of the two seasons between now and when the game goes dark, Crabtree would have sacrificed at least half of them.

And four, even if Crabtree finds himself back where he wants to be next spring, with no rookie cap and no CBA considerations, he better hope NFL owners have short memories.

Imagine: The Kansas City Chiefs on the clock with the fifth pick in the 2010 draft. They sure could use a receiver, and Crabtree is there for the taking. But wait.

The 49ers offered this guy a reported $20 million over five years ($16 million guaranteed) — perfectly in line with the No. 10 slot — and he turned it down. How reasonable is that?

Oh, and he hasn’t played a down since having foot surgery a year ago.

Most importantly, if we draft him and pay him huge money, he’ll have successfully played the 49ers. Which will inspire future draftees to believe they can play the teams that pick them. Which means that someday we could be held hostage by some talented young man who thinks he can play us.

It could happen. Owners have been known to band together in a common cause. Then again, there’s one maverick who doesn’t give two figs what the rest of the world is doing. But here’s more bad news for the Crabtree camp:

Al Davis already had a chance to make their man Crabs a top-10 pick. And he passed.