Harbaugh told a cute story about Patton this afternoon on KNBR.

Harbaugh's at the facility and all the vets are there working out with the coaches this week, and Harbaugh gets a call from Patton. Patton says he flew into SFO on his own dime, rented a car, and he was on his way to Santa Clara.

Cool, thinks Harbaugh... but there's a problem. According to the CBA a rookie can't be in town now. He can't come until the Rookie Mini camp starts next Thursday. If he pulls into the parking lot he won't be allowed to participate in any of the rookie mini camp.

Harbaugh has to tell him to stop, turn around and go back to the airport and fly home.

Then he had to call the league, tell them what happened, and then call Patton's agent to say "Didn't you tell him he can't be here?!?!?"

The agent said Patton told him he was so anxious to get going he was thinking about buying a ticket and flying out to California right away... but the Agent thought the kid was kidding.

All worked out well. Patton is back home. And according to Harbaugh, Patton is now his "favorite player on the team." He'd never heard of a rookie doing anything like that before.

Bodes well for Patton.