Jim Harbaugh insists that the 49ers intended to use Alex Smith as their quarterback even while they examined the possibility of signing then-free agent Peyton Manning. Harbaugh addresses what he says is the "erroneous perception that we were flirting with Peyton Manning." The coach called the reports silly and phony, then spoke at length about his and the team's ongoing support for Smith. "I've said it all along, Alex Smith has been our quarterback," Harbaugh said. "There's no scenario other than Alex choosing to sign with another team that we would have considered him not as our quarterback. It's time to set the record straight. "Alex Smith is our quarterback, was our quarterback and (we) had every intention of always bringing him back." San Francisco was among a handful of teams looking at Manning earlier this offseason.

Alex Smith doesn't care that the 49ers ranked low in terms passing yards last season. San Francisco lost to New York in overtime in the NFC Championship Game this past January. "This is the honest truth: I could absolutely care less on yards per game," Smith said. "I think that's a totally overblown stat. Because if you're losing games in the second half, guess what? You're like the Carolina Panthers and you're going no-huddle the entire second half and, yeah, Cam Newton threw for a lot of 300-yard games, that's great. You're not winning, though."

The 49ers held a pad-free session on Wednesday, allowing Alex Smith to get in some work with the team's three new wide receivers. San Francisco added Randy Moss, Mario Manningham and first-round pick A.J. Jenkins this offseason. "It's like waking up on Christmas," the quarterback said. "You have a lot of new toys out there, new presents."

The 49ers have signed punter Andy Lee to a six-year contract extension that will reportedly make him one of the highest-paid at his position. Lee's current contract was set to expire after the 2012 season. "The 49ers are pleased to have reached a long-term contract extension with Andy," general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. "Andy has established himself as one of the top players in the game at his position. He is a valued member of our organization and community. As we stated earlier this year, it is our objective to keep the core of this team together long term, and this is just another step in that direction."

Brandon Jacobs and Mario Manningham, members of the Giants team that won the Super Bowl in February, turned down a chance to attend the team's ring ceremony earlier this week. Instead, the pair worked out with their new San Francisco 49ers teammates at the team's latest Football School session. "I decided not to partake in getting the ring," said Jacobs, who had his wife attend the ceremony to receive his ring on his behalf. "I think my goal here is pretty clear on what I'm trying to achieve as an individual player and as a team."

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh says that Michael Crabtree has the best pair of hands he has ever seen. His opinion carries weight because he was a teammate of Marvin Harrison early in the receiver's career and later as an Oakland assistant he worked with Tim Brown. Crabtree may be turning a corner. A foot injury plagued his early time with the 49ers.

Terrell Owens has told a San Francisco radio station that he wants to play for the 49ers or the Raiders. "Obviously with the draft that just occurred these guys are going to try to fill out what they have on their roster first. Go through the minicamps, the OTAs and see what they have in their barn already. I'm on the outside looking in," Owens said. In an interview that will air on KGMZ-FM in San Francisco on Monday, Owens also told Brandon Tierney & former 49ers cornerback Eric Davis that he has "parted ways" with former agent Drew Rosenhaus.

We still don't know what team will be featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks" this season, but the 49ers will not be. FOX Sports reported last month that the show's producers were possibly interested in the Ravens and 49ers with a Harbaugh brothers theme running through the show. San Francisco owner Jed York confirmed that the team isn't interested in an interview on Wednesday night.

Some people in Santa Clara are feeling betrayed after ground was broken for the 49ers' new stadium. The team's deal to get out of its Candlestick Park lease has resulted in some concessions with which the team's new hometown. For example, the 49ers and San Francisco have agreed that the team and the city will lead the effort to lure a Super Bowl (preferably the 50th one) to the new venue, leaving Santa Clara out in the cold. "Part of the pitch for doing the stadium was the tremendous revenue that would be generated by a Super Bowl," Santa Clara Councilwoman Jamie McLeod, who opposes the stadium, said. "My assumption is if it's an exclusive partnership between the city of San Francisco and the team to bring the Super Bowl in, then the city of San Francisco will receive most of the benefits."

Randy Moss impressed during his first workout with the 49ers on Thursday. Clean cut with a short hairdo and sporting a red No. 84 jersey while running routes, Moss was one of the signature faces for the new-look Niners after spending a year out of football. Moss, 35, even dazzled with a 55-yard touchdown catch from Alex Smith. "It's tough to tell that he missed a year of football. I certainly don't see any rust," Smith said. "He's running well, catching well. No surprise, he's a pro and already has a good understanding of the playbook."