Michael Crabtree was quick on his feet yesterday, and if he does the same thing for NFL scouts next month the stress fracture in his left foot might soon be forgotten.

In an odd scene at the league's annual scouting combine in Indianapolis, Crabtree strolled quickly across the media room moments after Patriots coach Bill Belichick finished speaking. He walked up a couple of steps, smiled at reporters and then gave a 20-second statement confirming the decision to delay surgery so he could run in front of scouts during next month's personal workout.

"It's an old injury that I've been having, but I never had any pain in it," he said. "I will run my 40, and after that I will have surgery."

With that, Crabtree exited stage left, taking no questions.

Clearly, it was an effort to stem the fallout that began Saturday when it was revealed he needed surgery.

Crabtree came to the combine not planning to work out but still hoping to prove he was the top receiver in the draft and worthy of a top five pick.

Instead, he measured in almost two inches shorter than his listed height of 6 feet 3 at Texas Tech and then the medical examinations revealed the stress fracture. Many general managers consider medical tests the most important part of this week's combine.

Coaches were informed during Saturday's workouts that Crabtree had been diagnosed with the injury, and Crabtree was then told his best option would be to have a screw inserted into the foot and the recovery could take 10 weeks or longer.

If he had surgery now, Crabtree would probably never work out in front of NFL scouts before April's draft.

The lack of information could have affected his projection as the best receiver in the draft, and a possible selection in the top five.

COWBOYS

OWNER JONES WANTS TO BE LONE VOICE OF TEAM

Jerry Jones wants to be the sole voice of the Dallas Cowboys.

During this weekend's NFL annual scouting combine, nearly every team sent either coaches or front office officials — or both — to the media room to speak with reporters. Even Patriots coach Bill Belichick showed up at the podium, the first time that's happened since this format began in 2001.

But the Cowboys, one of the league's marquee teams, were noticeably absent.

NFL officials did not give a statement but said they tried to get a representative from each team to appear. They estimated only five teams did not send anyone, including the usually chatty Cowboys.

The reason? Jones wants to be owner and spokesman for the team during the offseason, not even letting coach Wade Phillips speak.

"Where I'm coming from here, I just want to make sure you're not getting bits and pieces of information," Jones told The Dallas Morning News on Saturday night. "That's not doing anybody any good and you're not making accurate reports."

Last year, the Cowboys wasted a promising start and reports surfaced that there was infighting on the team. Dallas finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs.

COLTS

WR HARRISON LIKELY WON'T TAKE PAY CUT

Marvin Harrison's reluctance to take a pay cut could mark the end of his career in Indianapolis. Earlier yesterday, Colts president Bill Polian told reporters at the NFL's annual scouting combine that the team was trying to rework Harrison's deal to lower his salary cap number from approximately $13.4 million, the highest number of any receiver in the NFL.

But a person familiar with the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team has not made an announcement, said Harrison "probably would not be interested in" taking a pay cut.

If Harrison decides against a pay cut, the only other options for the Colts would be to keep Harrison and his cap number or to release him.