49ers' top pick holding out

The San Francisco 49ers won't comment on an online report Thursday that top draft choice Michael Crabtree is willing to hold out the entire season.

ESPN.com quoted Crabtree's cousin and adviser, David Wells, as saying that Crabtree is prepared to sit and re-enter the NFL draft next year.

The 49ers on Thursday released a statement saying that the team does not negotiate in the media. "In our view, there have been open and positive conversations on both sides," the statement says.

San Francisco took the wide receiver with the 10th overall pick this year.

When quarterback Alex Smith was told about the report, he shook his head.

"I haven't spoken to him since the summer," said Smith. "It's something I haven't thought about to tell you the truth. We're pretty focused on the guys we have here right now. I'm not worried about it."

If Crabtree does show up, he'll do so having missed all the OTAs and a growing chunk of training camp.

"As a rookie, you're already behind the eight ball," Smith said. "You're just trying to catch up, all the timing that goes with it and trying to know your position, it's hard."

WEDDLE BANGED UP ON PLAY: Eric Weddle thought he had a great read on the ball. Instead, the San Diego Chargers' safety ended up in a loud collision with cornerback Quentin Jammer during Thursday's practice.

Jammer was shaken up and stayed down for a few minutes after the helmet-to-helmet collision.

Weddle, a former Utah star, limped off after somehow spraining his left ankle.

"It was a pretty good collision," coach Norv Turner said.

PATRIOTS GET RAIDERS DE: The New England Patriots obtained defensive end Derrick Burgess on Thursday after the two-time Pro Bowl player held out of the Oakland Raiders training camp in hopes of being traded.

The Patriots gave up undisclosed draft considerations for Burgess, who is coming off an injury-plagued season in which he had 31/2 sacks in 10 games. New England released offensive lineman Al Johnson.

Burgess recorded 381/2 sacks in four seasons with Oakland, including a club-record and league-best 16 in 2005. He had 11 the next year and made the Pro Bowl both times.

His total dropped to eight in 2007, but he missed two games.