Newly-signed first-round draft pick Darrius Heyward-Bey showed up for the second practice and while he dropped the first ball thrown his way, his mere presence spoke volumes.
Having missed a full day of meetings Wednesday and the morning practice on Thursday, the No. 7 overall pick from Maryland agreed to a five-year contract that guarantees the receiver $23.5 million.
"I just feel like one of the guys," he said. "When I got back, everybody was like 'Hey DHB, let's get it in.' I'm like 'Yeah, I'm right here with you.' It's not about being the first pick or anything. I'm out there with Louis (Murphy) and the rest of the guys. I'm just happy to be here."
DHB said 49ers draft pick Michael Crabtree, the No. 10 overall pick, holding out had nothing to do with his contract negotiations.
"I've always been concerned with myself and only me from Day 1," he said. "I really can't worry about what everybody else is doing. We was just focusing on being a Raider and that's it."
Plus, he said the niggling hamstring injury that limited him in OTAs is fully healed.
"I'm 100 percent," he said. "Still working with the training staff, just stay on top of it and be a pro.
Said coach Tom Cable: "Ultimately the player makes a decision, the agent goes and fights for him and all those things but really it comes down to the player wanting to make the right decision, getting in on time and all that. That was important to him and he reiterated that to me, so I think this is really big."








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