"San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke doesn't know the specifics of the Michael Crabtree-Alex Smith feud. Yet Baalke, who like every GM has been barred from contact with players during the NFL lockout, isn't concerned about the situation.

At least that what's he told the San Jose Mercury News on Thursday.

"It doesn't bother me at all," Baalke said. "It's like any relationship, right? When you're growing up with your family, your friends, there's going to be disagreements. There's going to be arguments. There's going to be fights. Those things happen, especially in a competitive environment, which these guys are in.

"So when these guys have a little spat here or there or have a little disagreement, that's part of it. They're grown men. They'll figure it out."

Baalke should hope the players have ironed out whatever issues still might linger from comments that Crabtree made last month after the 49ers' first day of a Smith-run offensive minicamp.

Asked then if "throwing with the quarterback was beneficial toward improving chemistry," Crabtree responded, "Who's the quarterback?"

When Smith's name was dropped, Crabtree didn't exactly offer an endorsement: "He's the quarterback? I'm just asking."

The 49ers drafted Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round of April's draft. Even so, new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has said since January that he would like Smith to re-sign with the team -- a scenario that's expected to play out once the lockout is lifted.

Crabtree's controversial comments fell in line with a reputation he has received as a diva wide receiver, dating to his college days at Texas Tech. The 49ers got a taste of it from the start when Crabtree, a 2009 first-round pick, staged a holdout that caused him to miss five games as a rookie."