Report: 49ers quarterback Alex Smith is expected to ask for his release before free agency

[El Supremo]

San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback Alex Smith is expected to ask for his release before the free agent signing period begins on March 12, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports.

Smith opened the 2012 season as the 49ers' starting quarterback, completing over 70 percent of 218 pass attempts for 1,737 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions before sustaining a concussion in a Week 10 tie with the St. Louis Rams. Smith was inactive the following week against the Chicago Bears and was replaced in the starting lineup by 2011 second-round pick Colin Kaepernick.

Smith earned the starting job in head coach Jim Harbaugh's first season as 49ers head coach and guided the club to the NFC championship game by playing mistake-free football, completing 61.3 percent of his pass attempts for 3,144 yards with 17 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

Despite their deep playoff run with Smith at the helm of the offense, the 49ers allowed Smith to test free agency as they themselves flirted with Peyton Manning, who had been released by the Indianapolis Colts prior to the start of free agency. Smith visited the Miami Dolphins, but after Manning signed with the Denver Broncos, the first overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft signed a three-year, $24 million contract that included $15.5 million (partially) guaranteed money to remain with the 49ers....

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/report-49ers-quarterback-alex-smith-expected-ask-release-151609034--nfl.html

Scandalous!

I'm sure the Cowboys fans would like to have him instead of Romo.

[Auggie]

1. $1 million is guaranteed to Smith if they can't trade him within 48 hours ...

He's toast. $1 million is a small amount to rid oneself of a quarterback controversy.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle ...

Smith would likely receive interest from quarterback-needy teams such as the Cardinals, Jets, Jaguars and Chiefs.

Another potential landing spot is Cleveland, where Norv Turner is the Browns new offensive coordinator.

Smith and Turner forged a close relationship in 2006 when Turner was the 49ers offensive coordinator. Smith made significant strides under Turner’s tutelage after a disastrous rookie season.

http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2013/01/28/report-alex-smith-will-request-release-before-free-agency/

Smith to Dallas?

[El Supremo]

2. The Dallas Morning News is running a series of hilarious polls...

where they ask "Cowboys fans … would you rather have Tony Romo or X as your team’s QB?"

The results show that they'd take anyone over Romo, even Joe Flacco.

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2013/01/cowboys-fans-would-you-rather-have-tony-romo-or-russell-wilson-as-your-teams-qb.html/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[madinmaryland]

3. My first thought was is he going to Dallas, also? Jerrah is up to something, so I don't know.

[Auggie]

4. I'm not that close to the Cowboys,

but doesn't the rest of team sort of suck (and that includes the former coaching staff)?

Given some play makers on offense wouldn't Romo be more effective?

[madinmaryland]

5. He does have play makers on offense...

Jason Witten, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, and Demarco Murray. The offensive line sucks and Murray has missed half of the last two seasons. I don't think bringing in Smith as a backup would be the best idea, and Romo still has 3-4 good years left.

The defense was completed decimated with injuries last year, so it's hard to tell how a healthy cowboys defense would have been.

[KamaAina]

7. There's no "even" in front of Joe Flacco

While I sincerely hope he spends most of Sunday on his backside, I'd take him over about half the starting QBs in the league (including Romo ). You did see the pass at the end of regulation in the Denver game, right?

[El Supremo]

8. You mean where Rahim Moore brain farted all over the field?

I swear he deliberately gave the game to the Crows.

[MrSlayer]

6. Right and when the other goof suffers the inevitable knee injury…

They have no one to fall back on. If I were Smith I'd ask for the same.

[Auggie]

9. They'll sign a back-up free agent ...

Last edited Tue Jan 29, 2013, 03:03 PM - Edit history (1)

or maybe draft a low level QB. At this point I'd imagine Jim Harbaugh thinks he can coach anyone to play the position.

Smith would be a disgruntled back-up earning $6.5 million. That makes no sense. And he wants to be released.