As Dick Vermeil proved about a thousand times during his NFL coaching career, there is indeed crying in football. So Michael Crabtree(notes) shouldn't feel too bad about Mike Singletary's admission that he nearly made young Crabtree cry during the 49ers first minicamp. From Niner Insider at SFGate.com:

Singletary also said he almost made first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree cry. Singletary found him running routes during the first minicamp and admonished him for running before he was cleared by the medical staff. Crabtree is recovering from off-season foot surgery.

Singletary recounted the conversation he had with his prized rookie.

"'I've got nothing against you. I'm not angry or anything. I just want you to know, you have to do everything the doctors want you to do so that you can get better.' I said, 'I'm not worried about what you can do.' I said, 'I know. We drafted you at No. 10. We know what you can do. We just want to make sure that when you come out here, you're ready to go.' So, he's done the things that he needs to do, spending a lot of time with (receivers coach Jerry] Sullivan. I know Jerry is excited about what he's seeing as well."

I'm having a hard time seeing exactly what it was that made Crabs cry. Perhaps Coach Singletary's leaving out some of the story or misrepresenting how he actually said these things to Crabtree. Maybe he screamed at him like a little boy. Or maybe it was a tender "Coach really cares about me getting healthy!" Taster's Choice type of moment that got Crabtree. Or maybe Coach Singletary threatened to drop trou and show Crabtree Little Coach Singletary if Crabs didn't sit down and do what the doctors said.

I couldn't tell you. Evidently, though, it doesn't take much to make Michael Crabtree cry. There's no shame in being a sensitive guy, of course (though I'd understand if Crabtree wasn't thrilled about this story making it to the newspaper). I'd love it if the NFL had a guy who cried tears of joy every time he scored a touchdown.

Gracias, The Scores Report.