SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Michael Crabtree is confident he can play a big role for the San Francisco 49ers as a rookie even though he's months behind.

He will get his chances in an offense that could really use him.

Crabtree signed a six-year contract early yesterday after a drawn-out negotiation process that had some wondering whether the star wide receiver would ever show up this season.

"It's a lot of relief off my shoulders," Crabtree said when formally introduced at team headquarters.

While specific terms of the deal, which was completed around 2 a.m. yesterday, were not disclosed, Crabtree will receive nearly $17 million in guaranteed money, according to a person familiar with the contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the details weren't made public.

Crabtree headed out yesterday for his first practice as the 49ers prepare for Sunday's home game against Atlanta.

"Everybody came to a reachable agreement and it happened," Crabtree said, sporting a red No. 15 practice jersey and charcoal gray sweats. "I'm just glad I'm past that part. I'm very humble right now, man, it's a very humbling experience. Just getting a chance to sit back and better myself as a person, as a player, as a teammate. ... I feel like going through that it made me look at the world in a different way, look at my teammates a different way. Hopefully it will work out for the best."

The former Texas Tech star was the only draft pick who hadn't signed — and even rapper MC Hammer got involved to finally make it happen.

GIANTS

MANNING BETTER, BUT START NOT GUARANTEED

While his painful heel injury is improving, Eli Manning is not guaranteeing he will quarterback the New York Giants this weekend against the Oakland Raiders.

Manning, who has started the last 82 games, was held out of practice yesterday so he can get treatment on his plantar fascia, a band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot and inserts into the heel.

"If I feel like I can go out and play at a high level and help the team and do everything I can do, and they don't have to limit the game plan or say you can't do this or that, I'll go out there and play," Manning said. "I'm not going to do anything that will put myself in harm for making this worse down the road."

Veteran David Carr, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 draft, would replace Manning if he could not play. He has 79 career starts, but none since 2006 with Carolina.

RAVENS

IRAQ WAR VETERAN, ROOKIE LB FEIN DIES

Tony Fein, an Iraq war veteran and NFL rookie linebacker who played with the Baltimore Ravens during the preseason, has died of unexplained causes on the Kitsap Peninsula of Washington state.

Fein, 27, an undrafted rookie free agent from Mississippi, was taken by South Kitsap Fire & Rescue about 10 miles from the Port Orchard area to Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, across Puget Sound from Seattle, and died in the emergency room yesterday morning.

As of yesterday morning, other circumstances of his death had not been released.

Fein, a native of Port Orchard, was released by the Ravens in their last major round of cuts on Sept. 5.

ELSEWHERE

Broncos: Denver might be without its most productive running back against New England this weekend. Correll Buckhalter, who sprained his left ankle against Dallas on Sunday, missed practice yesterday. Rookie Knowshon Moreno, who has rushed for 249 yards, will start for Buckhalter.

Browns-Jets: The Cleveland Browns traded dissatisfied wide receiver Braylon Edwards to the New York Jets for wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and undisclosed draft choices. Edwards, in his fifth season, has 10 receptions for 139 yards.

Jets: New York rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez said yesterday that he was fined $5,000 by the NFL for his low block on New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma during Darren Sharper's 99-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter Sunday.

Lions: Detroit held quarterback Matthew Stafford out of practice yesterday because of his injured right knee, but would not say anything more than that. Detroit coach Jim Schwartz replied, 'We'll see on Sunday,' when told the Pittsburgh Steelers said they expected to face Stafford.

Seahawks: Seattle's nine-time Pro Bowl tackle Walter Jones will not return until at least November, if at all this season. Coach Jim Mora said yesterday the team has decided that the 35-year-old Jones will back off trying to return from two knee surgeries.