"Yes, Alex Smith said, there may be some chemistry issues between him and receiver Michael Crabtree. But the quarterback said Thursday that their struggles are limited only to the playing field and that they get along just fine.

Smith called his perceived feud with the 49ers' No. 1 receiver "something that has been totally off-base" after recent quotes from both players created a stir.

"Obviously, (over) the last two weeks a lot has been made of our relationship," Smith said after the final day of a four-day, players-only camp. "Things have come out in the paper that I think we both wish we could take back. I know I feel that way."

Smith, for example, raised eyebrows last week when asked why Crabtree wasn't joining other players for informal workouts at San Jose State. "Great question. Asking the wrong guy," Smith replied.

Some readers thought the remark came off as a slight -- including Smith, who recoiled once he saw the quote in print.

"When I kept getting asked why he wasn't out here, I really didn't want to speak on his behalf. I really thought I was doing the right thing," Smith said Thursday.

"Then all of a sudden I read it the next day and I was really disgusted with myself with the way it came out. It looked like a jab. I called him up and talked to him and apologized.""