honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, August 8, 2009

49ers' camp carrying on


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Denver running back Knowshon Moreno, the team's top draft pick out of Georgia, agreed to a five-year, $23 million contract.

DAVID ZALUBOWSKY | Associated Press

spacer spacer
Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Mike Singletary

spacer spacer

Mike Singletary is sticking to the company line: San Francisco's coach remains focused on the players who are in camp for the 49ers and isn't busy worrying when top draft pick Michael Crabtree will end his holdout and finally show up for practice.

With one week of training camp already complete, each day the standout receiver from Texas Tech misses puts him further behind in learning a new offense and becoming familiar with his teammates.

"In terms of Crabtree, when he comes in, he comes in," Singletary said yesterday at Santa Clara, Calif. "Would you love to have him in? Absolutely. You'd love to have him. Do we want him here? Yes, we want to have him in. But until that happens, I just can't sit back and think about the what-ifs. All I can do is concentrate on what is, and control that."

The Niners' receiving corps took another hit to its depth chart with the loss of Brandon Jones for eight weeks because of a small fracture in his right shoulder. Jones, who underwent X-rays yesterday, was injured during Thursday's late practice trying to make a diving catch while all alone in the end zone during 7-on-7 work.

Singletary still believes he has the depth at wideout to get by, for now at least. The team's first exhibition game is next Friday night against the Denver Broncos.

San Francisco did add receiver Chris Francies yesterday, releasing defensive lineman and former Stanford star Babatunde Oshinowo to make roster room.

With Jones' injury and Crabtree's absence — the sides apparently were far apart yesterday — there's an opportunity for Dominique Zeigler and Arnaz Battle to make the team and play a role.

A report surfaced Thursday that Crabtree, the 10th overall pick, was prepared to sit out all season, re-enter the draft in 2010 and wait for the money he thinks he deserves — comparable to that of Oakland Raiders rookie Darrius Heyward-Bey, the seventh overall pick who last week signed a five-year contract that will guarantee him at least $23.5 million.

TWEET TIME

BILLS' OWENS SAYS FINE FOR CROMARTIE 'RIDICULOUS'

Buffalo receiver Terrell Owens says if the food is bad at the Chargers' training camp, Antonio Cromartie should be allowed to tweet his mind.

Owens yesterday in Pittsfield, N.Y., defended the San Diego cornerback, who was fined $2,500 by his team for criticizing the food service at training camp on Twitter.

"I think it's ridiculous," said Owens, an active user of the social media network. "For someone to get fined $2,500 because they tweeted that the cafeteria food was bad ... then maybe they need to change (the food). That's his honest opinion."

Chargers coach Norv Turner said players should not criticize the Chargers' organization in tweets.

Owens saw no harm.

"What's wrong with that?" he said. "It's no different than saying practice is too hard."

The Chargers felt Cromartie's missive about the "nasty food" at camp went too far.

ELSEWHERE

Broncos: Knowshon Moreno is no longer "No-Show Moreno."

Denver's top draft pick agreed to a five-year, $23 million contract that includes $13 million in guarantees, ending an eight-day holdout.

Moreno, who rushed for 2,734 yards and 30 touchdowns in his two seasons at the University of Georgia, was the 12th overall pick and the first running back selected in the NFL draft in April.

Chiefs: Kansas City has signed defensive end Tyson Jackson, the team's first-round draft pick.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Jackson, the third overall pick from LSU, is expected to help an anemic Chiefs pass rush that set the all-time NFL record for fewest sacks with 10 last season.

Bears: Chicago wide receiver Devin Hester is a changed man.

Hester voiced frustration last season with his inability to break punt or kickoff return touchdowns while learning to be a wide receiver.

This season, he will only return punts, while trying to improve on the 51 catches he had last season.

Hester electrified the NFL with 11 kick and punt returns for touchdowns in 2006-07.

Colts: Indianapolis first-round draft pick Donald Brown missed practice yesterday at Terre Haute, Ind.

Coach Jim Caldwell says the running back from Connecticut had sore muscles and needed to rest.

Lions: Detroit backup offensive tackle Damion Cook will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a triceps injury.

Cook is a five-year veteran who signed with the Lions before last season and played in seven games. He started four at guard in place of the injured Edwin Mulitalo.