"Those who already considered 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree a "diva" probably pictured him belting out arias this fall when he sat out another set of preseason games recovering from a foot injury.

Veteran offensive lineman Joe Staley, who roomed with Crabtree during the 49ers' training camp, saw something different: A "really hard worker who took football very serious."

That was nothing new, Staley said.

"I never saw that whole entire label that everybody was putting on him," Staley said. "He's been nothing but a great professional and a great teammate since he's been here. … He works really, really hard at his craft, and we're seeing the fruits of that this season.""