Crabtree takes questions, gets kiss

To put a non-diva spin on it, “media-shy” wide receiver Michael Crabtree spoke with Bay Area reporters today for the first time since Aug. 1, the first day of training camp.

Crabtree, who didn’t play in the preseason due to a neck strain, addressed issues such as his health (100 percent, he said), his conditioning (not worried) and his chemistry with Alex Smith (even better than last year).

Great. That’s out of the way. Let’s get to the soap opera.

Naturally, Crabtree was also was asked about his heated argument with tight end Vernon Davis during practice Sept. 1.

“Ah, man, it was just something inside, you know,” Crabtree said. “Something I just really don’t want to talk about it because it’s not a problem. By me talking about it it’s going to make it a problem. It’s nothing.”

Asked later if he respected Davis, a team captain, taking charge, Crabtree said, “Like I said I don’t want to speak about that situation because it’s not a problem.”

For his part, Davis has said there is no friction between the two. And it appeared today that Davis harbors no ill will. As Crabtree sat on a table in the locker room facing the media scrum, Davis approached him from behind, gave him a kiss on the back of his right shoulder and rubbed his head, saying “Michael, good to see you, buddy.”

Crabtree didn’t smile in response, but was distracted enough to need a question repeated.

So … make of that locker-room drama what you will.

As far as on-field news regarding Crabtree, offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye expressed some concern about his wideout’s conditioning leading into Sunday’s season opener at Seattle, which will be his 12th career game.

“There’s a different tempo from not playing and not practicing to going into play,” Raye said. “That would be my concern at this point. I think he’ll do OK with the terminology, the system in the game. It’s just how quickly we can get to where he’s not maxed out and exhausted.”

Asked about his conditioning, Crabtree dismissed any concerns about his ability run routes for four quarters.

“I’m not worried about nothing,” Crabtree said. “I’m just worried about getting all my plays in practice, really going out there and playing. I’m getting really tired of talking about what’s going to happen. We just need to go out there and play.”

Crabtree declined multiple interview requests with Bay Area reporters during training camp, but did sit down with a few national reporters such as ESPN’s John Clayton. It’s unclear if he’ll go more than a month without talking to the local hacks in the future.

Asked if he would speak most Thursdays during the season, he smiled.

“Most weeks? Thursday session? You going to make it a Thursday session?” he said. “I’ll get with those guys (Niners PR) and see what we can come up with. We’ll come up with something good.”

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