From one former Michigan man to another, Jim Harbaugh is asking Braylon Edwards to grow up and be accountable for his actions. Like they were taught in Ann Arbor.
Edwards is asking for a chance to contribute with the San Francisco 49ers under Harbaugh.
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If Edwards generates a solid starting season, his earnings project to slightly under $2 million.
Edwards joined his new team on the practice field for the first time Thursday -- albeit a little late and wearing No. 81, the number formerly donned by Terrell Owens.
"Listen here, that number's temporary," declared Edwards, who has worn No. 17. "I'm not trying to be known as the next him."
The 49ers announced the acquisition of Edwards shortly after practice began, then he emerged from the locker room less than an hour into the workout to join newly signed quarterback Alex Smith and the others.
"Pretty crazy in the middle of practice to see him run out and jump in there," Smith said. "It's just another addition to a strange year. It's great to see him. He's a great player. The more he can add to this team, the better."
The 49ers certainly will count on the veteran receiver to make an immediate contribution for a franchise that hasn't posted a winning record or reached the playoffs since 2002.
And they're counting on him staying out of trouble, too.
"He's hit some potholes," Harbaugh said. "You don't want that to spiral any further down. It's kind of time to start doing all the little things right, that he knows of and he's capable of. He's a good guy."
A Cleveland judge spared Edwards jail time last month, but extended his Ohio probation by one year for violating terms by driving drunk in New York last September. In January 2010, Edwards pleaded no contest there to aggravated disorderly conduct after being accused of punching a friend of NBA star LeBron James.
While on his 18-month probation from the Cleveland case, Edwards was charged with driving while intoxicated in his Land Rover in Manhattan in September 2010. Police said his blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
And while he looked for work on the field this season, Edwards has been in headlines off of it, as two of his cousins are accused of stabbing two bouncers in a Michigan bar fight last Monday night. Edwards issued a statement Thursday denying any involvement, *The Star-Ledger* reported.
Edwards was asked if he expects to face a suspension from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stemming from his run-ins with the law off the field. The two had yet to speak.
"I don't know what his ruling will be on the situation," Edwards said. "If there is one, then I respect it and I will gladly take it, and once it's over with move forward and look to help this team be good this year."
Despite Edwards' issues, the 49ers liked his size (6-foot-3, 214 pounds) and how he could help their receiving corps.
Michael Crabtree is sidelined at the start of training camp for the third consecutive year, nursing a left foot injury sustained during offseason workouts that has him sporting a walking boot. Crabtree has yet to live up to the hype around him after he was drafted 10th overall in 2009 out of Texas Tech. After a 71-day stalemate between Crabtree and the team, he agreed to a six-year deal with $17 million guaranteed.
Crabtree had 55 catches for six touchdowns and 741 yards last season. Josh Morgan and Ted Ginn Jr. are the two other regulars back from 2010, though neither has demonstrated the ability to carry the offense and consistently take pressure off running back Frank Gore.
Edwards, 28, had 53 receptions for 904 yards and seven touchdowns last season in his second year with the New York Jets. He spent his first five NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns, making the Pro Bowl in 2007.
Edwards began talking to the 49ers on Monday, then visited team headquarters Wednesday.
"It just seemed like a good change of scenery," Edwards said. "I've known Coach Harbaugh pretty much my whole life.
"I think I've put myself in some situations I'm to blame for, and coming out here is a good, fresh start to get clean personally with people that I trust and with a team that's supporting me through what they know I'm going through.
"When he played there (at Michigan) and when I played there, we were taught how to be accountable, responsible, to know right from wrong. That's what I want to get back to, being the guy that can be accountable, that can be respected and who can be put in a position to thrive here and be a responsible guy for this organization."
Safety Donte Whitner also said on Twitter that he has joined the 49ers, then sent a tweet to Edwards.
"Bray I signed there today also...let's get a RING!" Whitner wrote.
Whitner, the eighth overall pick out of Ohio State in 2006, ranked fifth in the NFL with 140 tackles last season for the Buffalo Bills and also had one forced fumble, an interception and half a sack. He apparently had been close to signing with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Second-year pro Taylor Mays, a second-round draft pick out of USC last year, was on the field for practice amid reports the 49ers are reaching out to teams across the league in an effort to trade the safety. The team had no comment on Mays' status.
The signing of Whitner could signal that the 49ers intend to part ways with Dashon Goldson, a starter the last two seasons. The 49ers also agreed to a one-year contract earlier this week with safety Madieu Williams, who was released by the Minnesota Vikings last week.
Goldson acknowledged the inevitable with his own tweet: "Sorry guys thanx for all ur support but not gonna be back. See ya"
With the addition of Edwards, the 49ers now have the No. 1 (Smith), No. 3 (Edwards) and No. 9 (cornerback Carlos Rogers) overall picks from the 2005 NFL Draft.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
