With no deal in place, the 49ers are unsure if rookie receiver Michael Crabtree will report to training camp this weekend. 49ers coach Mike Singletary understands that holding out is part of the game, having done so twice during his playing career. San Francisco is in talks with Crabtree's agent, Eugene Parker, but the sides don't appear to be close to a deal.

The 49ers have signed third-round pick Glen Coffee to a four-year contract. Coffee is expected to backup starting running back Frank Gore in his rookie season. He ran for 1,383 yards and 10 touchdowns last season with Alabama. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco's first-round pick, is the team's only unsigned rookie.

The National Football Post is reporting that people within the 49ers are pulling for Alex Smith to become the team's starting quarterback. San Francisco coach Mike Singletary has called it an open competition between Smith and Shaun Hill, but a source claims that Smith will ultimately be named the winner.

The 49ers were thrilled to get Michael Crabtree with the 10th overall pick in April, but signing him has become difficult. Matt Maicocco of The Press Democrat reports that the two sides are "far apart" in negotiations. Agent Eugene Parker is known for dragging out contract talks. San Francisco opens training camp on July 30, with rookies reporting two days prior.

Only two first-round picks have signed with their NFL teams, and Michael Crabtree stands to cash in with the 49ers. San Francisco was allotted $4.1 million in the rookie salary pool, and the team has used up 34 percent of that for the picks that they have already signed. The 49ers have $2.69 million in 2009 cap room available for Crabtree, Glen Coffee and Nate Davis. In 2007, guaranteed money for first-round picks averaged $10.8 million, but that number jumped to $11.9 million in 2008 (a 9.1 percent increase). A similar increase this year could give Crabtree approximately $13 million in guaranteed money.

49ers coach Mike Singletary says that he will decide on the team's starting quarterback by the third game of the preseason. The team's third preseason game will be Aug. 29 against the Cowboys in their new Dallas stadium. San Francisco has Alex Smith and Shaun Hill as options. "I believe ... at the right time, one of those guys will be the guy that will take us where we need to go," Singletary said. "I feel very strongly that one of those guys is going to take us where we need to go. I have two quarterbacks I feel very confident about. I don't have one great guy. I have two good guys, and somebody is going to step up."

49ers coach Mike Singletary admitted recently that he almost made rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree cry during OTAs. Singletary saw Crabtree doing a jog-through on the practice field, but he hadn't heard that the rookie was medically cleared. So he went over and told Crabtree to get on the sideline and sit until he gets medical clearance. Singletary said Crabtree got "teary-eyed" because he wanted to be out there. "It impressed me because it showed he wanted to be with the team," the coach said.

The NFL will hold its supplemental draft Thursday, and though there are a few interesting players the 49ers are expected to not make a selection. The top prospects, at least to the 49ers, are Kentucky defensive end Jeremy Jarmon and Tennessee safety Demetrice Morley.

Veteran cornerback Dre' Bly is very excited about entering his 11th season in the NFL this fall. Bly, 32, signed with the 49ers six weeks ago and is determined to help the club on defense. "I'm just so hungry right now," Bly said last week. "If I wouldn't have signed, I'd have been OK with it. I mean, I would have been frustrated, but I know how the game is. I know the way things ended last year in Denver had something to do with why I didn't sign (until May). "But that's all in the past. I've got a good situation in San Fran." Bly says that he'll play two more seasons, three tops. "I've told myself 12 years is probably gonna be my mark," Bly said. "I've made my money, I ain't gonna be hanging on. The minute I get demoted, I'm retiring. I'm not gonna be a gunner, running down on special teams. Why do I need to do that? "I'll be a No. 3 corner, I'll do that. I've accepted the fact that I might have to do that this year. But a No. 4, trying to make the squad? I'll retire. I don't need it."

Vernon Davis has been one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL since coming into the league, but he hasn't had great success as a receiver. His coaches at Maryland believe the 49ers need to keep things simpler for him. "He's a guy who needs to face the quarterback and get some (yards after the catch)," said Dwight Galt, Maryland's strenght coach. "He's very good after he catches the ball." Said Terps offensive coordinator James Franklin: "I would describe Vernon as more of an explosive athlete than a fluid athlete."