Posted by Andy Benoit

Matt Maiocco of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reports that the San Francisco 49ers have signed Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis to a new contract. The deal is for five years and is worth $23 million in guarantees, $37 million total. The fifth-year pro is now the highest paid tight end in the NFL. The previous highest-paid tight end was Antonio Gates, who got $20.4 million guaranteed this past July.

Davis, a former first-round pick, had a slow start to his career. He was hindered by immaturity and miscast roles in several of San Francisco’s ever-changing offensive systems. But after Mike Singletary came aboard in ’08 and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye took over in ’09, the Niners used Davis more frequently in the passing game – particularly as a seam route runner. Davis responded with 78 catches for 965 yards last season.

In a sign of his growth, Davis never raised a stink about wanting a new contract. He quietly went about his business as a 49ers captain and, in the end, got rewarded.


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 Posted by Josh Katzowitz

Somebody needs to get 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree a dictionary immediately. Apparently, he doesn't know what a diva is.
 
“What is a diva?” Crabtree asked the San Francisco Chronicle. “Really, I have no idea.  

"Isn't a diva a female?" Crabtree said. "I don't know, I'm asking. I mean, come on, that makes no sense. A diva?"

Perhaps, a look in the mirror could answer his questions (or a look to the photo at right. Sunglasses indoors says it all). After all, as pointed out in the article, Crabtree reportedly acted diva-ish in his predraft interviews and he missed 71 days and five games after a holdout last year that basically was a waste of time. Then, recently, he and Vernon Davis had an exchange at practice.

Plus, he doesn’t like to wear the same outfit twice (actually, my high school girlfriend pulled off that stunt her final two years of high school: she never wore the same outfit twice, which was, I thought, pretty impressive) and has a thousand  pair of shoes (though, I have to admit, I’m a bit of a shoe maven myself).

Crabtree, by the way, wasn’t being sarcastic about the diva thing. Apparently, he’s legitimately confused by his association with the word.
 
From the story:

Crabtree is truly baffled by the label he can't shake. In a rare one-on-one interview, Crabtree did much of the asking about his very real perception as a football-style diva.

He wants to know where this reputation came from. He wonders why wide receivers are called divas, whereas a defensive tackle is just considered moody.

Above all, Crabtree wants to understand why people can't just leave him alone so he can play football.

"It's just people's opinion," Crabtree said. "The ones that matter, they know me and what I'm all about. You don't see me in no trouble. I do everything I can to keep my image clean.

"I'm just a regular guy going about my business."

For the record, coach Mike Singletary agrees with Crabtree. Still, somebody, at the very least, should show Crabtree this Wikipedia link.

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Posted by Andy Benoit

Filling you in on some of the noteworthy midweek injury news...

Some truly great news for the Giant: strong safety Kenny Phillips will be in the starting lineup against the Panthers Sunday. Phillips is coming off microfracture knee surgery. If healthy, he’s one of the most electrifying safeties in the game.

The Cowboys also got their safety, Gerald Sensabaugh, back. He’s been out with a foot injury.

The Cowboys, Giants and Eagles all have injury news along their offensive line . The Cowboys will likely be without right tackle Marc Colombo (knee) and left guard Kyle Kosier (knee). The Eagles are getting center Jamaal Jackson back. (ACL) The Giants are getting center Shaun O’Hara back (Achilles). 

Lions safety Louis Delmas missed practice Wednesday. So did middle linebacker DeAndre Levy. Both have strained groin muscles . These are the two best athletes on Detroit’s iffy defense (not counting Ndamukong Suh). Delmas’s presence is especially crucial given the ineptitude of the Lions secondary.

Bears rookie Major Wright has returned to practice three weeks after having surgery to repair a fractured finger. Wright was drafted to start immediately at free safety, though it’s likely he’ll come off the bench in Week 1. If he does, then Danieal Manning should start in centerfield. (Chris Harris will be the strong safety.)

Cardinals running back Beanie Wells did not practice Wednesday due to a knee injury . Wells is expected to play against the Rams on Sunday though.

Larry Fitzgerald should be good to go after taking a knee to the helmet against the Texans a few weeks ago.

Rams safety James Butler is sidelined with a knee injury. The Rams ultimately need Butler, though they’re confident that Craig Dahl, despite his limited range, can hold down the strong safety duties in the short term.

San Francisco’s best pass-rusher, outside linebacker Ahmed Brooks, has not yet recovered from a lacerated kidney (doesn’t that injury just sound awful)? He’s out this week.

Either Chester Pitts or Tyler Polumbus will start at left tackle for Seattle’s injured first-round rookie Russell Okung (high ankle sprain).

For the Panthers, Geoff Schwartz will almost certainly start for injured right tackle Jeff Otah (ankle).

Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman missed practice Wednesday because of his fractured right thumb , but he’s apparently long been scheduled to miss that particular practice anyway. Freeman will still be under center against the Browns Sunday.

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Posted by Will Brinson

The San Francisco 49ers quarterback situation -- the oft-crappy Alex Smith starting, David Carr playing the role of backup and Nate Davis as the lazy third-stringer with potential -- was tenuous at best heading into the season.

Things changed quickly in the last few hours, though, as the Niners announced they have released Davis, their 2009 fifth-rounder out of Ball State, in order to make room for ex-Raven Troy Smith, who was recently released by the Ravens.

Davis was considered a pretty nice QB prospect (at one point, he was the third quarterback on a lot of draft boards, behind Jimmy Clausen and Sam Bradford), but his work ethic's been seriously questioned by Mike Singletary and it seems that eventually the team felt they couldn't risk the possibility of actually having to play Davis if things went downhill for Smith or injury struck.

Smith, on the other hand, has actual experience as an NFL quarterback, and, even more importantly, isn't David Carr.

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Posted by Andy Benoit

With teams having to trim their rosters to 53 by Saturday, we’re seeing some familiar names showing up on the cut lists. Here are some of the headliners so far…

Cody Brown, OLB, Cardinals

He was a second-round pick just one year ago. Second round! But injuries and bankrupt playmaking skills led to his quick release. This speaks volumes about Brown. The only other backup outside linebacker on Arizona’s roster who was even drafted is Will Davis (sixth-round pick 2009).

Bobby McCray, DE, Saints

No surprise here – the Saints cut him once already in June. They brought him back in July, but anyone who has dated their ex-lover knows how scenarios like these generally play out. McCray still has quickness off the edge – any team looking for pass-rushing help should give him a look.

Damione Lewis, DL, Patriots

Lewis has spent his entire career as a 4-3 defensive tackle. At 32, he was trying to make the transition to 3-4 defensive end. The Patriots are fairly thin on the edges up front after the loss of Ty Warren, but obviously not thin enough to keep the ex-Panther/Ram. Lewis started 31 games over the past two seasons. Don’t be surprised if he becomes one of those regular mid-season veteran acquisitions (ala Darwin Walker, Hollis Thomas or Grady Jackson).

Monty Beisel, ILB, Cardinals

This one is a true shocker. Beisel is by no means a star, but the Cardinals are by no means stable at inside linebacker. Obviously, they feel good about second-round rookie Daryl Washington. And, they must feel a lot better about Paris Lenon then those of us who have watched the fairy-footed veteran on film the past few years. The Cardinals are counting on Washington and Lenon to start, as inside linebacking mainstay Gerald Hayes is on PUP with back problems.

One would think Beisel would have started ahead of Lenon – or, in the very least, would have provided veteran experience off the bench. Instead, it looks like the Cards are prepared to roll the dice with former undrafted free agents Pago Togafau and Reggie Walker.

Jason Hill, WR, 49ers

Hill, a third-round pick in 2007, was a developing possession receiver, but he never quite developed rapidly enough. The Niners have recently grown fond of Dominique Zeigler, which made Hill expendable. Also, the Niners said goodbye to backup running back Michael Robinson. This suggests that Brian Westbrook will make the final roster.

Kris Brown, K, Texans

Texans newcomer Neil Rackers has won the team's kicking competition. Brown was the last original Texan.

Ladell Betts, RB, Saints

Half of you realize this is probably the end of the road for Betts. The other half of you are still surprised to learn that he’s been on the Saints roster these past few weeks.

Anthony Becht, TE, Cardinals

The long-armed veteran is a reliable blocker, but with younger, more athletic options Ben Patrick and Stephen Spach both healthy, Becht became expendable.

Kraig Urbik, G, Steelers

Maybe you don’t recognize this name. That’s precisely the problem. Urbik was a third-round pick last season. With the Steelers being resoundingly mediocre at right guard, it was expected that Urbik would push for playing time right away. Instead, he did absolutely nothing.

Al Afalava, S, Bears

Afalava saw time as a starting sixth-round rookie last season, but he did nothing to stand out. The Bears are crowded in the secondary anyway. Still, we’re talking about a young player with starting experience getting cut.


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Posted by Will Brinson

Podcast time, people. And what else COULD we talk about outside of Matt Leinart?

Well, Ben Roethlisberger, that's who. And Vernon Davis. And Michael Crabtree.

Those are all topics broached -- along with other possible quarterback controversies around the NFL -- when Andy Benoit joins me for the latest installment of our award-winning* audio efforts.

So, go ahead. Click the play button. Got a question you want answered on the show? Hit us up on Twitter (@CBSSportsNFL) or email will.brinson [at] cbs [dot] com . 

We'll be running out a few of these a week, so there's plenty of time. Oh, and also, be a friend and subscribe either by RSS or iTunes below.

If you can't view the podcast, click here to download .
Or, make it easy on yourself and  Subscribe via iTunes .


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Posted by Will Brinson

Pretty busy day in the NFC West -- in addition to the ongoing Matt Leinart saga (MORE, somehow, on that in just a bit), 49ers offensive stars Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis apparently had some not-so-nice words for each other during the team's walkthrough.

According to our 49ers Rapid Reporter Michael Erler , Crabtree and Davis got into a little spat that garnered some unwanted attention from head coach Mike Singletary.

Earlier reports that Singletary came over to talk to the two players and "after Davis became animated, Singletary escorted both players to the locker room."

A little while later, Davis came out of the locker room and then was followed by Crabtree and Singletary shortly thereafter. They're now standing on the sideline with "a dozen teammates" between them.

There's no telling -- at least right now -- what caused the confrontation, but with both Davis and Crabtree, we're talking about reasonably explosive personalities. I'm sure reporters will ask about it when Singletary talks to the press, and I'm also pretty sure that he won't want to discuss it.

If there's anything we know about a trip to the locker room that involves Singletary, though, it could be a) pantless, b) motivational or c) both pantless and motivational.

Update (3:55): Singletary spoke! And he said, "I will not talk about the issue. They were both in the wrong." He also apparently called the beef (my words) between Crabtree and Davis the "elephant in the room" (his words), which certainly makes it seem like something more than just a little sideline blowup.

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Posted by Will Brinson

Michael Bush has been a fantasy football sleeper -- and, you know, a real-life running back lying in wait -- for what feels like forever. Dude was a monster at Louisville, and this year, with some of the crazy out of Oakland (we think) and Darren McFadden not performing to his full talents, was supposed to be Bush's time.

Then he goes and breaks his thumb in a preseason game against the 49ers.

It's his left thumb, and the injury happened during the second half -- as of right now, Bush says he thinks he'll be ready for the season opener but can't be sure until the Raiders docs check it out Sunday.

"I have no idea," Bush said. "I'll find out [today]."

Given that Darren McFadden was supposedly healthy for the tilt against the Niners and Bush still started, it appears as if Tom Cable had maybe, possibly made up his mind about starting the former Cardinal.

Now, depending on Bush's timeline, the starting decision might be much easier to make.

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