Report: 'Doubtful' Michael Crabtree will be charged in sexual assault case

Michael Crabtree is unlikely to be charged as a result of a sexual-assault investigation. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)

As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for a trip to New Orleans for Super Bowl XLVII, it appears likely they will avoid any consequences stemming from an investigation of sexual assault into wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

A league source told ESPN.com's Adam Schefter on Sunday that it is "highly, highly doubtful" Crabtree would be charged as a result of the investigation, which began last week.

Schefter reported that Crabtree has cooperated with police so far, and there's no reason to doubt his account of what happened:

A second female witness backed up Crabtree's version of the events to police, according to the source, and there's a feeling in the organization that these events will not develop into anything more than they already have.

Crabtree cooperated with police, interviewed with them for two hours, never was booked, never was charged, and the team doesn't believe he will be.

The team thought the timing of the announcement of the investigation, coming Friday night, was suspicious.

The 25-year-old Crabtree had a career season and is one of the most important components of the 49ers offense heading into the Super Bowl. He set career highs in receptions (85), receiving yards (1,105) and touchdown catches (9). He became the first 49ers wide receiver to have more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season since Terrell Owens in 2003.