Smith insists there's no rift with Crabtree

SAN JOSE — After assuming the roles of organizer, coach, offensive coordinator and quarterback during the first three days of the 49ers players-only offensive minicamp, Alex Smith added yet another title Thursday: President of Public Relations.

As the Niners concluded their camp at San Jose State, Smith did his best to quiet talk of a rift between himself and wide receiver Michael Crabtree. Problems? What problems? Smith said.

"As far as our chemistry off the field, how we get along, I think that's totally off base," Smith said. "He and I have gotten along since Day 1."

Of course, recent comments Smith and Crabtree have made to the media hinted that all wasn't quite so simpatico in San Francisco. As a result, Smith fielded several Crabtree-related questions during a 20-minute meeting with a gaggle of reporters.

Smith had fired the first salvo, of sorts, when he was asked last week about Crabtree's absence from the regular throwing sessions Smith has had with other Niners wide receivers at SJSU during the offseason.

"Great question," he said. "Asking the wrong guy."

Smith said he regretted his response.

"I read it the next day and I was really disgusted with myself with the way it came out," Smith said. "It looked like a jab. I called him up and talked to him and apologized."

But the pair evidently didn't discuss Smith's status in San Francisco. Niners coach Jim Harbaugh has said Smith, a free agent, will be the favorite to be the starting quarterback once he re-signs with the 49ers.

On Monday, though, Crabtree refused to acknowledge that Smith is likely to be the signal-caller throwing him passes in 2011. Smith said he spoke with Crabtree after his comments Monday, but said it wasn't unusual for players to tune out NFL news during the offseason.

"I'm not even on the roster," Smith said. "I'm a free agent. So for him to be confused as to the quarterback situation isn't the strangest thing in the world in my opinion. I can tell you Michael probably doesn't read all the stuff."

The perception of a problem between the duo was only heightened when Crabtree was a no-show at practice the final three days of camp due to sore feet. Smith noted Crabtree's injury history — he had a stress fracture in his foot in 2009 — and said he even advised his wide receiver to not push himself through practices, saying it would be "stupid."

Still, why didn't Crabtree at least stick around to watch the practices? Backup wide receiver Dominique Zeigler, still not fully recovered from a torn ACL, spent much of his week watching his teammates work out in Spartan Stadium.

"Obviously, you'd love to have him out for that," Smith said. "Michael came down for all the classroom sessions. He wanted to learn. He wanted to be ready to go whenever this thing gets going. ... He's done the right things. I just think a lot of this has been blown out a little bit."

If much of the media focus has been on Crabtree this week, Smith said he's been immersed in making sure the Niners, who have an overhauled coaching staff and new offense, are as prepared as possible once the lockout ends.

"The longer this thing goes, the more we're going to get screwed," he said. "We're really behind the eight-ball."