Eric Branch
NEW ORLEANS - If the 49ers allow sentiment to influence business - an iffy proposition given the cutthroat nature of the NFL - Alex Smith could be granted his wish.
The quarterback will request his release before the start of free agency on March 12, ProFootballTalk.com reported.
It's expected that San Francisco will attempt to trade Smith, who had a 70.2 completion percentage and 104.1 passer rating in nine starts this season. If Smith is released, he will have more control of his future and the 49ers would net nothing in return.
Smith, who earned $8 million this season, is scheduled to earn $7.5 million in 2013, with $1 million guaranteed. If he remains on the roster April 1, the remaining $6.5 million would be guaranteed. If Smith is released, of course, he would work out a new contract with his new team.
It would be stunning if the 49ers didn't attempt to deal Smith. However, his loyalty to the organization that drafted him 2005 and the class he has displayed since he was benched in favor of Colin Kaepernick make him an interesting case study.
On Monday, head coach Jim Harbaugh said Smith's mentoring of Kaepernick since he was demoted has been instrumental in the second-year quarterback's success.
"He coaches Colin now more than I do," Harbaugh said "And that speaks volumes of the kind of person and teammate that Alex Smith is."
Running back Frank Gore, who also noted Smith's willingness to assist Kaepernick, wants his friend to find an ideal landing spot.
"I know Alex and I know he can play," Gore said. "I know he wants to be the Man. And I want him to be the Man. If he can't be the Man here, I want him to go somewhere else and have a successful career."
Strictly business: They are not sightseers, partyers or gourmets.
They are the San Francisco 49ers and they're here to win a Super Bowl.
That has been the message sent by the Niners, whose French Quarter hotel on Canal Street is a few Hail Marys from Harrah's Casino and Bourbon Street.
How had Gore enjoyed his nearly 24 hours perched on the island of temptation?
"I've been in my own room," Gore said. "I might go out to eat, me and Randy (Moss), but I'm trying to get a ring, man. I want to relax, kick my legs up and watch film and do whatever it takes to get this ring."
Before the 49ers left for New Orleans, Moss, a 14-year veteran whose only Super Bowl appearance was a loss with the Patriots, addressed the team. His message: You can party all you want Feb. 4.
"He just told us, when we come down here, it's got to be business trip," Gore said. "Just think about all the things we've been through. He said he's been here before and it didn't happen. ... He was like, 'We've just got to sacrifice this one week and get the ring. And then we can do whatever we want to do after that.' "
After touching down in New Orleans on Sunday night, the 49ers didn't begin snapping pictures or rolling video as they exited their plane. Harbaugh said that wasn't mandated, but he clearly didn't mind that his players weren't thinking about Super Bowl scrapbooks.
"Some people, I saw, commented on the fact that team wasn't taking pictures or video cameras when they were coming off the flight last night," Harbaugh said. "That was not addressed by anyone. Nobody talked about that. That was just something team didn't do for some reason."
Pro Bowlers paid: Who cares who wins the Pro Bowl? The nine 49ers who were named to the NFC team had a vested interest in the all-star exhibition as they traveled from San Jose to New Orleans on Sunday night. When the NFC beat the AFC 62-35, those nine players collected the $50,000 winner's share. The AFC players received $25,000.
Personally I have never been a fan of Alex Smith at the helm. IMO he lacked what it needed to win it all. In spite of this he has remained a true sport through the whole thing and has said nothing derogatory about the coach, the team or the decision to replace him. I wish him well
NEW ORLEANS - If the 49ers allow sentiment to influence business - an iffy proposition given the cutthroat nature of the NFL - Alex Smith could be granted his wish.
The quarterback will request his release before the start of free agency on March 12, ProFootballTalk.com reported.
It's expected that San Francisco will attempt to trade Smith, who had a 70.2 completion percentage and 104.1 passer rating in nine starts this season. If Smith is released, he will have more control of his future and the 49ers would net nothing in return.
Smith, who earned $8 million this season, is scheduled to earn $7.5 million in 2013, with $1 million guaranteed. If he remains on the roster April 1, the remaining $6.5 million would be guaranteed. If Smith is released, of course, he would work out a new contract with his new team.
It would be stunning if the 49ers didn't attempt to deal Smith. However, his loyalty to the organization that drafted him 2005 and the class he has displayed since he was benched in favor of Colin Kaepernick make him an interesting case study.
On Monday, head coach Jim Harbaugh said Smith's mentoring of Kaepernick since he was demoted has been instrumental in the second-year quarterback's success.
"He coaches Colin now more than I do," Harbaugh said "And that speaks volumes of the kind of person and teammate that Alex Smith is."
Running back Frank Gore, who also noted Smith's willingness to assist Kaepernick, wants his friend to find an ideal landing spot.
"I know Alex and I know he can play," Gore said. "I know he wants to be the Man. And I want him to be the Man. If he can't be the Man here, I want him to go somewhere else and have a successful career."
Strictly business: They are not sightseers, partyers or gourmets.
They are the San Francisco 49ers and they're here to win a Super Bowl.
That has been the message sent by the Niners, whose French Quarter hotel on Canal Street is a few Hail Marys from Harrah's Casino and Bourbon Street.
How had Gore enjoyed his nearly 24 hours perched on the island of temptation?
"I've been in my own room," Gore said. "I might go out to eat, me and Randy (Moss), but I'm trying to get a ring, man. I want to relax, kick my legs up and watch film and do whatever it takes to get this ring."
Before the 49ers left for New Orleans, Moss, a 14-year veteran whose only Super Bowl appearance was a loss with the Patriots, addressed the team. His message: You can party all you want Feb. 4.
"He just told us, when we come down here, it's got to be business trip," Gore said. "Just think about all the things we've been through. He said he's been here before and it didn't happen. ... He was like, 'We've just got to sacrifice this one week and get the ring. And then we can do whatever we want to do after that.' "
After touching down in New Orleans on Sunday night, the 49ers didn't begin snapping pictures or rolling video as they exited their plane. Harbaugh said that wasn't mandated, but he clearly didn't mind that his players weren't thinking about Super Bowl scrapbooks.
"Some people, I saw, commented on the fact that team wasn't taking pictures or video cameras when they were coming off the flight last night," Harbaugh said. "That was not addressed by anyone. Nobody talked about that. That was just something team didn't do for some reason."
Pro Bowlers paid: Who cares who wins the Pro Bowl? The nine 49ers who were named to the NFC team had a vested interest in the all-star exhibition as they traveled from San Jose to New Orleans on Sunday night. When the NFC beat the AFC 62-35, those nine players collected the $50,000 winner's share. The AFC players received $25,000.
Personally I have never been a fan of Alex Smith at the helm. IMO he lacked what it needed to win it all. In spite of this he has remained a true sport through the whole thing and has said nothing derogatory about the coach, the team or the decision to replace him. I wish him well
