49ers moving on as Crabtree holds out

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Michael Crabtree is all but forgotten around the San Francisco 49ers these days.

Coach Mike Singletary has been saying since the start he can’t worry about Crabtree’s unsigned contract.

Now that the 49ers are days away from opening the regular season Sunday at Arizona, perhaps Crabtree should be the one concerned. He’s not even a focus anymore, barely mentioned at team headquarters. He’s so far behind that his rookie season could be lost even if he does finally show up for practice and pull on his No. 15 jersey — or at least his impact might be significantly less than had he reported on time.

“I thought I’d see Crabtree by now, but he’s not here,” tight end Vernon Davis said Wednesday. “He could help the team out, but he’s not here and we have to move forward. We can’t wait.”

Crabtree’s locker is unoccupied, a helmet and pads there ready for him if and when he does appear, along with a hefty stack of fan mail. He very well may be losing his teammates’ respect, too — though there’s the thought that if he arrives and immediately plays well the lengthy contract impasse could be forgiven in a hurry.

Receiver Jason Hill dresses next to Crabtree’s vacant space. Hill figures it could be tough for the former Texas Tech star to catch up after missing so much work.

“For most people it is [hard]. He might be different. I don’t know. I haven’t seen him,” Hill said. “When I got drafted my plan was to be here from Day 1. I figured that was everyone’s plan but obviously he’s a little different.”

Singletary briefly brought up Crabtree during the opening of his news conference Wednesday. The topic of Crabtree and the constant inquiries about his status have worn on the coach’s nerves, no doubt about that.

“Any questions that we have about Crabtree, that’s already been handled. He’s not here,” Singletary said. “Until he comes here, I don’t really want to talk about him. Nothing’s changed in my mind.”

Crabtree, the 10th overall pick in April’s draft who will turn 22 on Monday, hasn’t accepted the 49ers’ offer for approximately five years and $20 million with a reported $16 million guaranteed — instead seeking money comparable to the higher picks. Oakland Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, the No. 7 choice, signed a five-year contract that will guarantee him at least $23.5 million.