*****UPDATE***** The NY Post reports that Burress will visit the 49ers today before meeting with the Jets on Sunday.
Add former Steelers and Giants wideout Plaxico Burress to the list of prominent receivers the 49ers are eying. Ed Bouchette, who covers the Steelers for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tweeted today that the 49ers are in the running for Burress, although it's a "longshot" that he lands in San Francisco.
Burress, who has been out of football since 2008, visited the Steelers today. He also is considering a return to the Giants and is reportedly interested in the Eagles, who made a huge splash Friday by acquiring free-agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
Burress was released from prison last month after serving a two-year sentence stemming from an incident in which he accidently shot himself in the thigh in a New York night club in November of 2008. In his last full season, Burress, 33, caught 70 passes for 1,025 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The 49ers' interest in Burress is another signal that top wideout Michael Crabtree is dealing with a serious foot injury. Crabtree was placed on the physically unable to perform list Thursday and was walking around in a boot during the opening practice of training camp Friday. If Crabtree remained on the PUP list when the season starts, he would have to miss the first six weeks.
Coach Jim Harbaugh was cryptic when asked Friday if Crabtree's injury means the 49ers have to sign a veteran receiver. "Have to? I mean, that's your words so I'm not going to...I don't think we have to do anything," Harbaugh said. "We like the guys we got here and I thought they performed very well out there today. We won't discuss any plan in terms of free agents, our plans moving forward with personnel, other players on other teams, any of those kinds of things. It'd be like going into a game and divulging the first 15 or the first play of the game. We're just not going to do that."
Harbaugh then was asked if he would be content if Josh Morgan and Ted Ginn, both of whom are entering the final years of their contracts, were the starting receivers when the season began. "Again, you're saying something that just...those aren't my words. I'm just not going to talk about the plan no matter how the question is phrased and I'm not trying to be confrontational in any way other than just to get the point across that we're not going to talk about our plan. Creative though how you phrased the question, I appreciate that, I really do."
The 49ers also were reportedly in trade talks with the Bengals over receiver Chad Ochocinco, who ended up being traded to New England. And they have inquired about free-agent receiver Malcolm Floyd, who is from West Sacramento.
-- Matt Barrows
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