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First- round draft pick, A.J. Jenkins, walked out the practice field for a photo op after a press conference at the San Francisco 49'ers practice facility, in Santa Clara, on Friday, April 27, 2012. (Karen T. Borchers/Staff)

SANTA CLARA -- Coach Jim Harbaugh surprisingly stepped into the media tent Sunday to lambaste any and all critics of 49ers rookie wide receiver A.J. Jenkins.

But why?

Did Harbaugh simply feel Jenkins was getting a bad rap, even though the term "bust" hasn't been widely used -- if at all -- by Bay Area media?

Was the second-year coach renewing an "us-against-the-world" crusade for the onset of training camp?

Was it a clever attempt at misdirection while injured receiver Michael Crabtree missed his second straight practice?

In any case, Harbaugh hijacked Sunday's media session with the following rant:

"For those scribes, pundits or so-called experts who've gone as far to say he's going to be a bust, they should just stop. I recommend that because they're making themselves look clueless, more than they already did. A.J. is going to be outstanding."

Harbaugh doesn't address the media on a daily basis -- his last address was Friday -- but he will come forth if something is weighing on him or his team. On May 30, Harbaugh wanted to set the record straight and insisted the 49ers had been "evaluating" Peyton Manning rather than "pursuing" him earlier in the offseason.

Jenkins, this year's first-round draft pick, said he didn't seek Harbaugh's vote of confidence. Nor was Jenkins bothered by any scribes, pundits or so-called experts.

"I love criticism," Jenkins said. "That's what drives me. No hard feelings.

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People are going to say what they say. It doesn't matter what the outside world says."

Harbaugh warned reporters: "I'm going to keep track of these names of so-called experts who are making these comments. And there's going to be an 'I-told-you-so.' I foresee that happening."

Left tackle Joe Staley understood Harbaugh's intentions, noting: "We're a close-knit team, and that starts with the head coach. We've all got each other's back."

Jenkins hasn't been spectacular or egregiously bad through the first three full-squad practices of camp. He's made a couple nice catches each day, as have almost all wide receivers.

"Like college, I'll have to wait my turn.," said Jenkins, adding that he's thrilled to learn behind a veteran such as Randy Moss.

  • Crabtree emerged without a limp to watch the final 10 minutes of practice. He wore supportive tape on his right calf, presumably where he got hurt late in Friday's practice. "He's working hard at it, and the prognosis is good," said general manager Trent Baalke, adding that he harbors no extra concerns considering Crabtree's injury history.

  • A few hours before the camp's first practice with pads, Harbaugh told the media he wouldn't tolerate any fighting. Midway through practice, Harbaugh sent rookie receiver Brian Tyms to the locker room after Tyms upended rookie safety Trenton Robinson in a special-teams drill and later chirped at Robinson.

    Harbaugh gathered the team at the end of practice, apparently to relay his "no-fighting" message. Harbaugh later engaged Tyms in what appeared to be a mild-mannered discussion.

  • By signing his one-year tender and reporting on time Thursday, safety Dashon Goldson earned praise from Baalke: "Him being here really makes a statement to the football team. It's a statement a lot of football players don't make." Baalke said the 49ers will continue to work on a multiyear deal for Goldson, though one can't be reached until after the season. Baalke wouldn't confirm Goldson's allegation that the 49ers didn't make him a multiyear deal this offseason.

  • Wide receiver Joe Hastings appeared to injure his right hamstring early in practice. Linebacker Tavares Gooden did not attend practice, having left Saturday's session for what appeared to be flu-like symptoms.

  • Offensive coordinator Greg Roman, a finalist in January to become Penn State's coach, said he has "the one job that I want." Asked if he's glad he didn't get the gig at the now-sanctioned program, Roman said: "I don't have enough information to make a comment. I wish everybody in the football world the best."

    For more on the 49ers, see Cam Inman's Hot Read blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers.