My dad asked a question over at his blog today, and the Cohn Zohn has already weighed in on the subject but I want to hear what you guys think.
Why is Alex Smith always the biggest hot-button issue in Bay Area sports? I don’t get it. Is it just because he’s the Niners’ quarterback? Or is it because he was a No. 1 pick? Or is it his playing style? Or is it his face?
Please enlighten me. I’m eager to read your thoughts.
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I’d say #1 pick, being blamed for chaos he can’t control and he’s not quite as good as he should be.
The other problem is that we all expect the next coming of Joe Montana. Everyone since has been measured by Joe’s standard of performance, in my opinion. Our expectations are a bit high.
Try stating that we had Joe, Steve, and Garcia. So 49ers are expecting great play at the QB position.
Since their inception in 1946 and until the Alex Smith era, there were only about a 6-8 years that the 49ers were not led by a legendary QB like Frankie Albert, Y.A. Tittle (HOF), John Brodie, Joe Montana (HOF), Steve Young (HOF) and Jeff Garcia (a little less legendary but very good). For most of their history the 49ers have been associated with outstanding quarterbacking. Having drafted Smith @ #1 the expectation was that he would be in that category. Instead he is and will be a good journeyman QB.
M2 just nailed “Post of the Day”.
M2,
Ironically John Brodie was Alex Smith. It took him years to win the fans over and have success, so he’s a perfect example of what can happen if you give people a chance.
@rocket – You’re right, the fans were slow to warm to John Brodie. It wasn’t that he was so bad but the fans resented him for being drafted to replace Y.A. Tittle. And it didn’t help when Tittle was traded and won championships with New York. Brodie, though, became one of the very best QB’s in the NFL, 2-time pro-bowler, 1970 league MVP , and retired 3rd (at the time) in career passing yards.
I just can’t get Alex Smith = Steve DeBerg and
CK = Joe Montana out of my head. Some say I’m not good at math though.
I agree with Adam…but I also think its his style too…granted he is not the best out there…but that guy can take instruction and direction like no other…I mean look at what he did last season…surprised a lot of people ya know….yea we do expect to have the next joe Montana Steve young quarter back but as of right now he is far from it….can he be devolped….yes I believe so
Maybe, because Alex has stunk for most of his career. He had 1 average year out of 7 and even in his best year we still ranked 29th on offense! It has nothing to do with Joe,Steve,or any other hall of famer. It has to do with results and intill Alex put up 2 to 3 year good years. He wont stay off the hot button.
Putting up two to three good years will not help Alex Smith unless he wins three super bowls and throws five, then six, and then seven touchdowns in each of those wins. Even then, some will split over whether he could have done it without the special teams and defense getting him good field position.
Yeah cuz he’s done so much in his 7 years.
His story, #1 pick 2005. Many offensive coordiantors. The flashes of greatness he shows in some games, and the fans that want him to sucede because of his overall character.
“and the fans that want him to sucede because of his overall character.”
Exactly. These idiot fans keep giving him chances and excuses because he’s “hard working” and a “nice guy”.
It would have been a hell of a lot easier to get rid of him if he had a Jamarcus Russell attitude, but unfortunately the turd keeps staying thanks to his ability to kiss coaches ass.
In general sports fans want to see people that have been hard done by rise to the occasion and overcome adversity. For whatever reason some people need to see more and others have seen that he has turned the corner and is now, finally in a situation to be successful.
Lets be honest, 7 years is a long time to be patient, some have given up, others are loyal.
The better question is why does the media keep writing about it?
Crabtree,
The answer is the question son. They keep writing about hime because he is a hot button issue! Duh!!!
What other QB has had his career stats and kept his job for 7 years now? If you can name one single QB with 68td’s to 58TDs in 7 years…and dont give me this he hasn’t play much(only two full season) makes him even more unreliable. Heck most people would say Elvis Grbac isn’t any good but he had 99tds to 81ints and even had a season of 4,100+ passing 28tds and 14ints. My question to you is how did we let our view of a quality QB fall so far. Alex couldn’t carry Jeff Garcia’s jock strap.
u keep thinking that…Jeff Garcia was average, and so is Alex up to this point…hopefully he will show more next year, but what he did under pressure against the Saints is no joke…ur probably one of those fools who wanted Kevin Kolb to come here…and look at Kolb now; looks like they are ready to dump him after the huge contract they gave him last year to pursue Peyton…u armchair GMs gotta give it a break…I trust Harbaugh and Baalke and what they decide is best for the 9ers, i will root for, even if they dump Alex and start Colin, but that’s not my decision nor is it yours.
Jeff Garcia average? I believe we made the playoffs with him and the defense was not that good. Smith would never orchestrate a comeback like he did against the Giants in 2002. Remember the defense had 5 turnovers against one of the greatest QB in the NFL today!
I would break the bank to get Brees if he were available. You dont have to have a dominate D to get to the Superbowl with him at the helm.
I with you there…I will root for him regardless, but Kevin Kolb. Bahahaha. I wanted Andy Dalton or my Auburn Tiger Cam Newton. I got to watch Cam all 8 games in Auburn last year plus the SEC championship in ATL. But knew he wouldn’t be around. And I personally loved Jeff Garcia. And thanks Miss Cleo, or maybe it’s Captain Obvious. I thought the GM reads this.??Does he not?? So I don’t make the decisions. Now I get it.
Remember the come back playoff game against the Giants? Who was the QB?
Talking about pressure.
That 2nd half by Garcia in the giants game was about the best qb’ing I’ve ever seen. Garcia was a pro-bowler for several years, and deservedly so. He’s not HOF calibre, but he was very good in his prime. If Smith was playing at that level right now, yikes…we’d be near unbeatable.
Give Alex a young TO to make plays and things might look a lot different. He finally has most of the pieces around him like Garcia had. His 1st half dozen years he was strapped with a no talent team and terrible coaching so not everything is his fault. Look at a guy like Rivers, when the team talent around him got worse, so did he. Football is the ultimate team sport.
Its because no matter the drama that surrounds him he just does his job. How could there not be a lot if buzz about a guy who has been through the entire process numerous times and still just competes. He’s a baller.
maybe its our hopes exceed our exoectations.think about it!whats more more disappointing:your hopes or your expectations?right now now my hopes are great,but my expectations havent been met.
I believe it is because most niner fans see him as the reason that number 6 has not been had. I have no idea how one player has been kept as the starting QB on a team for so long, without producing anything. How many more years are we going to have to handle mediocre QB play?
If your tired of your on BS, Go watched Fantasy football…hahaha
@Grant
1. Football is king. No other sport is close
2. The Niners have always been here. Unlike the Raiders who betrayed the bay area and left.
3. The City of SF is a big deal. The City of Oakland is not viewed as equal.
4. Joe Montana is the best QB ever. He was followed by a guy who I think was just as good. Anybody coming after is going to be compared to them.
Sorry guys. You know. I know it. If AS were a QB in AZ or Seattle, he would be loved a lot more than he is here. For no reason other than JM and SY were here before him.
There are other reasons, but it looks like others have already pointed them out.
5.
The bar is so high for quarterbacks in SF. Frankie Albert, Y.A., Brodie, Joe, Steve, Garcia. That’s generations of great QBs. Y.A. was a master, his bootleg calls at the goal line are textbook. John Brodie threw the most perfect spiral.
Joe…….Yeah.
All of the above? A good but not great number one overall pick at the most important position in America’s number one sport. He wanders in to the team with arguably the greatest history at that position, and proceeds to play the most baffling mixture of up and down football on a terrible team made up almost exclusively of has-beens and never-will-bes. He has been coached by two of the worst head coaches in modern NFL history. Then he gets a shiny new genius of a head coach, and goes on to underwhelm his way to a 13 – 3 record and the playoffs. Once there, he pours some ice cubes in his veins, goes out and puts on the best performance of his life, and follows that the next week with a lousy overall performance. Oh, and its a contract year!
What is there not to love about this story?
With all of that, I still think that the most intriguing part of this is that Alex seems like one of the best people in the planet. Just a totally fantastic human being. I’d let the guy date my fictional daughter, and pray that she wouldn’t screw it up.
Heh heh Frank – I’d be ecstatic if a guy like Alex dated my real daughter.
I forgot to mention that part – the fact that Alex is by all accounts a great person adds to the drama.
Cool off Frank. The Niners went 13-3, not Alex. The main reasons were solid D, special teams, and coaching. Alex just managed to minimize bone headed mistakes.
Okay Grant, you’re being paid by the page hit, right? :-D
Alex is a hot button issue because he wasn’t very good and yet the team continued to trot him out year after year. Other teams would have cut him after year 3 and moved on with a new QB. On a team with a long tradition of great QBs it’s even worse. Brodie, Tittle, Montana, Young… heck, even Garcia was decent. But the team insisted on sticking us with Steve DeBerg 2.0 year after year after year. That has generated a lot of anger towards Smith to the point that a lot of fans can’t see anything positive in Smith.
On the other side, Smith also has a contingent of fans who are as irrational as the Tebowmaniacs in Denver (aside: if you read the Broncos’ blogs you’ll see almost identical arguments as here). They believe Smith was worth the #1 pick and someday in the future he’ll prove it. It might take 10 years but once all the stars align in his favor Alex will join the ranks of great quarterbacks in 49ers history. There isn’t any logical reason to believe that is true but they have faith.
So you have two diametrically opposed viewpoints about a single person at the most important position of the most important sport. That will generate a LOT of debate.
@msc
“Other teams would have cut him after year 3 and moved on with a new QB”
But, no other QB would have wanted to come back to the team that had screwed up royally, and be ok with a lot smaller contract.
What other QB can you think of who said the reason he signed his second contract with the team which drafted him was so that he can reward them?
Like I said earlier today in the last blog. There is no list of QB’s who have gone thru what AS has gone thru msc. It’s like taking an apple to a country without apples and trying to compare that apple to other apples. You can’t do it.
AS is truly unique.
The only reason Alex’ story is unique is because he wasn’t cut after year three. Most teams cut busts regardless of excuses. Alex had the fortune of being in an organization that was so dysfunctional that they couldn’t move on from a bad pick.
AS at year 3 was coming off a pretty good year 2 considering how bad the whole team was in year 1. Then he got hurt after starting the season 2-1.
It would have been foolish for the Niners to dump him then. You still didn’t know what you have. And to a large degree will don’t now.
@DS
I don’t get into the Alex debate, but here goes. I was a big fan of his when he was at Utah. Toward the end of his second year he was coming around. His first two games of his third year were come from behind wins and then Rocky Bernard smashed Alex into the turf costing him 2 years. He was abused by two coaches who had no business being head coaches. At this point I was all for him leaving the Bay area, for his sanity and for a new beginning.
Then it clicked and he got us into the playoffs. This was done with no production from the wideouts. His long passes to Vernon throughout the year and especially during the playoffs were perfect. When he gets a decent wideout the offense will take off. From my point of view he’s proven himself and this has made him tough as nails. It’s not about liking or hating Alex, as a fan of 60 years of 49er football I just have an instinct he can deliver, and that’s taken 7 years to happen.
DS, look at what teams around the league do. Regardless of injury or excuse sensible teams move on if a draft pick doesn’t pan out after 3 or 4 years.
Chilo Rachel is a good example. He’s still young, he might have potential but the 49ers are moving on because he has sucked for 4 years. If Baalke had been in charge in 2008 instead of McDrunkagain we probably wouldn’t be talking about Smith now.
Unless we developed a sudden interest in the Chargers’ backup QB for some reason.
@msc
“Other teams would have cut him after year 3 and moved on with a new QB”
No team is going to throw away a “fist choice” quarterback who had been thrown to the wolves in year one on a very bad team, who had a solid year two with a good offensive coordinator, and who was 2-1 with a rookie coordinator that never coordinated again, before having his shoulder blown up. Never mind that he was intimidated by Noland to play with that shoulder which then cost him his fourth year. Then there was that offensive wizard Singletary.
@Andrew
I didn’t know anything about college players (I still don’t). When he came here, I cheered for AS because he was a Niner. If he was not a Niner, I could have cared less.
Then, as you so nicely put it, things didn’t go according to plan. And yet AS nearly got us to the Super Bowl with a WR core that has nobody who could start among the other 15 playoff teams. A truly awesome WR, combined with VD, and our running game will not get clogged up anymore with the whole defense rushing the LOS to stop our runs, and AS won’t have to bring the team back so much next year.
@msc
Chilo never showed anywhere near the potential skill AS has. I can only think of one small stretch of games where he looked like he was going to be good (2nd season I think). But before and after that (and it has been a LONG after) Chilo has not gotten better. He in fact has gotten worse.
Compared to AS. Depending on how you evaluate it, AS has gotten better every year. And last year (the one that matters most) AS was “clutch”.
Chilo last year was “clutch” in his own way. Getting that penalty in Baltimore to wipe out a big pass TD from AS to TG who actually caught the ball for a change. That play would have been huge. A TD for either team was hard to come by. Ginn returned to normalcy when he dropped the 4th down perfect pass that would have kept the game going in the 4th quarter, so no worries that he is a real WR.
@DS “Chilo last year was “clutch” in his own way. “.
C’mon now. Chilo was totally clutch. He clutched that red cape as he yelled “Olé” and waved the defensive lineman right by.
I wish capes were allowed msc.
Maybe the DL loses track of the who has the ball, or just foolishly trips over the cape.
Maybe the NFL rule commission guys will read this post. And come up with yet another way to give offenses the advantage over defenses. Allow the worst OL on your team to use a cape as a distraction and barrier to give the QB more time to make a play because fans like scoring. Not defense.
Come to think it over again. I don’t want the cape. It’s just easier to get rid of Chilo.
@MSClemens
The Alexcuses are endless. You can’t be rational with irrationals.
A combination of him being a the #1 pick and that he is white. Mostly the latter. Sad thing is he will get multiple chances in the NFL because of that before the NFL realizes that he is garbage.
He does not deserve a long contract or big money. He should play for free because he sucked so long. Harbaugh held his hand this whole season. Harbaugh did great job making him looking like a good back up.
Let’s be honest. If it were not for that dominate defense 49ers would have not made the playoffs. You will never find a team with Alex Smith type stats that did not have dominate D to make the championship game. Please name one.
@J Ski
“A combination of him being a the #1 pick and that he is white. Mostly the latter.”
Get the HELL OUT OF HERE. RACIST.
Next time you go skiing, try to leap off the highest peak. Nobody will miss you if you don’t make it.
lmfao!!!!!!!!!!!!
@DS: that sounded like something Jordo would write. Ad hominem attacks invalidate the person who makes them.
J Ski makes an interesting point – If Alex were a black QB the team likely would have cut him after his fourth year at the max. Look at Jason Campbell – he’s very similar to Alex in skill level yet he keeps getting bounced from teams rather than getting a 7 year grace period to stop sucking.
Sorry msc
No.
How do you explain Vince Young? Anyway who cares what color the guy is. Last years #1 pick was a black QB. That was barely discussed.
No way did MS, or JH keep AS around because he is white.
And JC has only been on 2 teams. He was on the Redskins for 5 years (not 3 or 4) and he came to the Raiders and had a winning record last year until his injury. His HC was black, and he went to pick up a white dude in Palmer. Who, by the way sucked a lot more than JC.
http://www.nfl.com/player/jasoncampbell/2506364/careerstats
The best QB I can think of who was a journeyman of sorts was Rich Gannon. He played for 4 teams (and I think as the #1 for 3) in his 17 year career. And he is white.
http://www.nfl.com/player/richgannon/2500754/careerstats
Color has nothing to do with anything. I bet I can find more than 1 black QB in the deep south starting for a school. Only thing that matter is winning.
Msc,
I take exception to you painting me in that light. I have never attacked a person on this blog, who hasn’t provoked it. I’m amazed that you don’t know that, based upon the fact that I’ve never attacked you. I don’t allow these clowns up here to disrespect me. I certainly wouldn’t allow you to do it either.
Hopefully you understand where I’m coming from. I do believe an apology is in order. I don’t attack people here for expressing their opinions. I certainly don’t want to be attacked for mines. However, I do respond accordingly when disrespected. Just as I am right now. In my opinion, you are out of line. One thing I’ve never done and never will do is bring race into a conversation about football. Your statement and bringing my name into your post was out of line.
@Jordo, in almost all of your posts you’re calling someone an idiot, or a moron or a “biotch”.
I manage to debate with DS – who I disagree with about EVERYTHING – without calling him names. You seem to always be calling people names.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy reading your posts and I agree with some of your points. But you do like to toss out ad hominem attacks left and right.
@DS You may be right but I still think it’s an interesting angle to look at.
@msc
“…who I disagree with about EVERYTHING…”
Except pepto bismol.
lol
Msc,
Find me one post where Ive attacked someone that didn’t attack me 1st. If YOU 1, I will NEVER post here again. I still feel like an apology is in order.
DS, I mean BS gets what it gets from me because I wake up daily reading posts from that clown about me while I’m asleep.
I know that I add some positive posts to this site. There is just a group of people here that don’t like what I have to say. Its not what I say, its how I say it. When I presented it to them their way, they started the name calling, so I returned it.
Like I said, find 1 post where I’ve attacked someone for no reason. And Claude, dont destroy your computer looking. We all know your cut and paste responsibility as a site moderator.
Msc, have we ever had an unpleasant exchange? I rest my case. Your comment was out of line sir.
@Jordo – you’re correct, I was out of line for bringing you up out of the blue.
I apologize for that. Biotch. :-D
MSC, agree. Leave the name calling to the kids and post material that validates your argument/debate.
Hofer – I’m going wine tasting this weekend. I’ll let you know if I find anything interesting.
MSC, where are you going wine tasting? I belong to 4 wine clubs up in Napa (not for the discount which is nil compared to bevmo, costco, and yes Safeway) but for the free unlimited tastings that I partake in 8-10 times per year.
I’m currently drinking a nice New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc – Villa Maria. Fruity and not grassy like our SB’s here. Tasty!
MSC,
I like that bro. If I can’t take it, I certainly wouldn’t dish it out. I respect you because you keep it football. Appreciate the apology. Now what are we going to do about this QB situatio? I never got your opinion on a contract extension amount and years for Smith?
@Hofer I’m just going to a little shop in Ukiah. They usually feature Rodino but I’m hoping for something different.
@Jordo Honestly, Smith is the best option for 2012. The FA quarterbacks available are pretty terrible. I don’t trust Flynn or Manning and the rest are crap. Hopefully Kaepernick steps up.
DS, thats funny man ! J Ski is an idiot.. hahaha
cause he is black? he is gonna get more chances than most? you are a douche bag!!!!!!!!! unreal, they shouldnt let stupid people comment on this site, that means you jpee!!!!!!!!!!! jackass……
That stupid idea by old time NFL owners that black quarterbacks couldn’t play the position cost the Hall of Fame many, many inductees. My Dad would tell me stories about going to Yankee Stadium in the 30′s and 40′s to watch the Negro Baseball Leagues play. The games would be sold out with both whites and blacks attending, more so than when the Yankees played. He said the Negro Leagues best players were better than the Major Leagues best players. Josh Gibson actually hit a ball out of Yankee Stadium, only man to ever do it. And for you younger guys it was 461 to dead center…..known as Death Valley.
For a country that was built on freedom for all it sure took a long time for it to manifest.
@Andrew Great post.
@DS Pepto Bismol sucks. I’m cutting Pepto and signing Imodium IM. You’re just a Pepto’er.
If you want to be taken seriously some day, do not ever say “My Dad” ever again. EVER.
Taxi Driver.
No, it’s none of those things. It’s because he’s a very talented, dedicated, hard working QB that has been the most mis-handled QB in the history of the NFL. He came to the 49′ers with less talent than an expansion team. His first two head coaches were defensive minded guys that would never press and give him a chance on offense but would always gamble on defense to protect a two point lead, and then when the defense fell short, blamed the QB. Nolan famously called him out on toughness when he was legitimately injured, just to use him as a scapegoat. Singletary famously knew even less about offense, and couldn’t get any talented OC to join his “vision” of an offense, which was you just don’t screw it up and my defense will win it in the fourth quarter. They lost, so fans, as always, blamed the QB, while fighting on line with other fans that blamed the losses on the reality of weak coaching and personnel. OK, his one and only weakness is that he is reluctant to gamble until the game situation demands it, and then he performs very well by the way, but that is coachable. The answer is the conflict of who do you blame for our poor record. Some will always hold the QB responsible, and everything else is an excuse. Others look at the team from management to coaching to personnel to sceme to innovation to just flat intelligence, all of which have been left wanting.
very talented? at what? Following instructions? At not seeing wide open receivers? At not being able to pull the trigger?
The “Well said” was for BOI’s comments.
Nick, the answer to your question is, he’s very talented at executing the coach’s game plan, he’s exceptionally athletic, he’s tough, and he’s very talented when it comes to winning— when he’s got a decent team. Ask the Saints. Ask the other 13 teams in the league the Niners beat last year.
Very talented at winning? Yes, but only if the defense is lights out, special teams are rock solid, and the team is 5+ in turnover ratio.
Well said.
BOI49er, great post.
Smith has lived a nightmare start to his pro career, playing on the worst team in the league over a 6 year span, (I mean that o-line, holy moly it was bad….it’s no wonder they’ve invested so many high picks in it over the last few years), and having a revolving door if poor coaches.
This story isn’t over though…..it almost had a Hollywood script there last year. I know I’m pulling for him, and while I don’t give him credit for the team’s turnaround (the team around him has gotten better, including the coaches), I certainly don’t blame him for the lost years…..he’s been a victim as much as me :)
Alex Smith taps into the ultimate question of nature vs. nurture. Football is, in many ways, more of a team sport than just about any of the major sports. Yet we still attempt to elevate the individual players above the teams they play on. For every Michael Jordan there is a Genious coach and All-star teammates. We have seen one year of Alex with the genius coach surrounded by one or two out of 10 consistently Pro Bowl caliber players. Every time I try to write off Smith I look a little closer and see that he has never been surrounded by talent or consistency. But we still try to elevate the player above the game. Is greatness learned or gifted? We will probably never know.
“Alex Smith taps into the ultimate question of nature vs. nurture. “
I like that. I really like that.
You can’t nurture field vision
Nick,
What gives you the idea that you can’t “nurture” or teach field vision? They teach “dividing your attention” to pilots, and to a lesser degree, everyone who learns to drive. So why do you think that can’t be taught to quarterbacks?
I don’t think he’s thinking at all. Just typing.
Field vision is much more than just ‘seeing’. It’s seeing, anticipating, and reacting in a split second. Therefore, some aspects of field vision can be taught, howeve, other components are genetic and can’t be nurtured.
Without a doubt, it’s being the #1 pick. Timing is everything. The 49ers chose a year to be the worst when there wasn’t a clear cut #1 qb. In hindsight, they should’ve chosen Aaron Rogers, but hindsight is always 20/20 vision.
It’s because many feel that having 7 different coordinators have stunted what would otherwise be a decent to possibly successful career. Many people are torn as to whether to cut their losses and let him go expecting what he did last year as his peak while the counter to that is that he’s still young with so much potential to get better. Do you really wanna watch Alex Smith suddenly become a star wearing a different team’s jersey? If we assume that last season was sort of Alex Smith’s “rookie” year being in a brand new system, could we conclude that there is a strong possibility of exponential growth because he’ll be playing in the same system next season with an offseason and having the same system next year? Look at Tom Brady’s first full year as a starter 2001-02 Season (Brady 25 Years Old): 264 of 413 63.9% for 2,843 yards 18 td 12 INT and worth noting was carried by a very good NE Defense. Alex Smith last season (27 years old): 273 of 445 61.3% for 3144 yards 17 td 5 INT also aided by an incredible SF Defense. Tom Brady 2002-03 Season: 373 of 601 63.9% for 3764 yards 28 TD 14 INTs. Alex Smith: ? (Could he be headed for a similar career path?) Did anyone predict Brady would light the league on fire after his 2001-02 season? Probably not a lot of people did. The potential of Smith doing the same thing is what’s fueling this argument.
LMAO. Bardy never even threw to those recievers before getting put in. Alex 6 years, preseason…ota’s…ect.
Plus didn’t he win a superbowl, so yes we all saw the next great QB comin.
Ian,
Uhhhh, not really. It’s bad taste to mention Smith and Brady in the same post. You killed me with that one.
Respectfully, both you and KB are missing the point. The point I’m making isn’t that Alex Smith and Brady will have the same incredible success, it’s that Alex Smith could potentially have a bigger years ahead of him. Maybe not Brady like in terms of having a HOF career, but if Smith ended up being about as good as Jim Kelly, Rich Gannon, Marc Bulger or Trent Green…would you be terribly disappointed?
Ian,
I’ve always said the same thing from day 1. I don’t hate Smith, I just don’t believe in his abilities as a QB. If he is better than those QB’s you mentioned, it would’nt upset me one bit. Why would it. Smith has done nothing to me personally. He’s just the the Niners future QB, in my opinion.
Ian: Very interesting post. By every method used to actually measure and generally evaluate QB play, Smith’s 2011 trumped Brady’s 2001. The one and only reason Brady’s 01 is considered better is because his season was prolonged by one of the worst calls in postseason history (Tuck Rule) and Smith’s 11 was terminated by one of the dumbest errors in Championship Game history (Kyle Williams’).
It is most unfortunate that in this blog intelligent approaches such as yours are disrespected.
Forget Manning, Brees is disgruntled, disgruntled!! Time to pounce on that and steal that man away from the Saints, or work a deal with them, First Round picks for the next 5 yrs. beacause that’s how many SuperBowls we would win, plus we could bring Meachem and Colsten over. Sounds like a Winner!!
Oh, who’s Alex Smith again?!!??! Anyway Brees, Brees, Brees!!
You’ve been in a time warp haven’t you?
This is not the 80′s. The salary cap exists.
Brees is a great quarterback, but may I ask how many Superbowls he has won with the talent in New Orleans? Your plan reminds me of the staring plant in “Little Shop of Horrors”. Feed me. Feed me. Feed me!
“Ellen Greene” in Little Shop of Horrors.
Very impressive from any angle and that was her voice as well.
I saw her play the same role in the play. That was impressive.
One thing is certain. It’s not possible to discuss why Alex Smith stimulates such strong reactions in 49er blogs because there is an instant declaration of war between the few that drive this endless argument.
I think you nailed it ht. The sole issue is the three year contract offer. It is just good business and none of the bs that has been discussed (race? come on. Harbaugh and Balke are colorblind) Harbaugh has said repeatedly that every player is constantly competing for his job. AS is no different. CK was drafted as a potential QB of the future not as permanent backup. How many years does management expect him to “compete” to be Number 1? AS needs to accept the “compete” system like everyone else or move on. We have a new group driving the bus now and I think they know what they’re doing.
Alex Smith has been here as long as he has because this team has tried for 6 years to justify the mistake they made in drafting him as the #1 overall pick in 2005. Clearly, the Niners front office made a mistake. If everyone remembers correctly, that was the one year that I could remember that nobody wanted the #1 pick. The Niners and nobody else in the league wanted that pick. If the Niners couldve traded the pick, they would have.
There was no clear #1 pick, whether it was Smith or Rodgers, nobody was sure. One thing is for sure. The Niners were a bad thing then and Smith had the worst 1st season of any starting QB I can remember in history. Not only has Alex been horrible, he knew he had been horrible. What QB gives back money to a team after signing a contract with said team? Who does that?
Which begs the question. How could Smith have given money back to the Niners for whatever reason a few years ago, and now, all of a sudden, want more guarenteed money from the Niners now?
If you thought he was a lighning rod before these past couple of months, just think about what these current contract issues create for him now? How about an even bigger lightening rod???
Meanwhile, back at the ranch.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/niners-talk/post/Johnson-is-49ers-logical-move-if-Smith-i?blockID=666582&feedID=2800
Jordo, how many times are you going to post that link from MM that states “IF” AS doesn’t sign there “might be” an option.
I’m waiting to here the sobbing from you all the way over here when AS is signed…
@hof
No.
In fact we are not supposed to hear anything from 23J once AS is signed. He is a man of his word after all. I am sure of it.
*hear*
@Jordan
Imagine if we signed Josh Johnson and still bring back Alex Smith on a short term deal. That will create a 4 way competition (Kaepernick and Scott Tolzien) at QB through the offseason and training camp.
If that happens, I have a feeling that the starting QB will not be Alex. That’s why they don’t want to pay him big $$$
23Jordan, Comes monday morning, I will sign a contract with the 49ers you can bet on it. About the money you’re saying I gave back to the niners its not an an issue. I stayed with niners because i have alot to prove to the fan base. I will be a niner for the next 4 years, as long JH still coaching the 49ers.. I will bring a SuperBowl Championship to SF..Its guarantee ! Just give me a couple of good recievers that can catch and run..
I have never seen a HATE group like the Smithers, they are very sensitive Alex Smith fans first ,more then Niner fans, they hate everyone who does not drink the kool Aid and support their boy. I want to win and winning means we need a great QB. Mr. Smith has more flaws then a screen door in a submarine.
@Neal
“I have never seen a HATE group like the Smithers”
Mirrors aren’t available? Or books/TV/PBS/video rental stores (though they might not be), netflix/amazon/youtube/theaters/libraries/public education/private education/Radio/newspapers/internet access to a reliable important news site/town halls/old people telling you about how things once were/community colleges/IVY league colleges/every college in between.
Guess not.
Neal,
They don’t hate us. They just LOOOOOOOOOOOVE ALEX SMITH!! He’s a good feel good story. I just don’t feel good watching him play. We won 14 football game last year. The only game I can watch repeatedly is the last 15 minute of the Saints game. Other than that, I’m skipping around watching defensive clips the whole time. Watching Smith play the position truly is like watching paint dry. He is the epitome of a game manager. Thats just my honest opinion.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/niners-talk/post/Johnson-is-49ers-logical-move-if-Smith-i?blockID=666582&feedID=2800
Sobbing soon!
Share some that you’re drinking !
Here’s my short list:
1. He was drafted by the 9ers so he is red and gold which includes an inherent expectation of winning and superior QB play regardless of the (poor) situation setup by ownership and bad HCs.
2. He was as a victim of circumstance by being drafted onto a talent decimated 9ers team.
3. Took lion share of fan abuse for the owners (past) poor hiring decisions.
4. Worked for two of the most inexperienced HCs ever.
5. Took the blame for the aforementioned HCs lack of (wins) experience.
6. He is a character guy and that is not always typical in sports these days.
7. Was a winner and leader in HS and college.
8. Never points blame to any player, coach, or the owner.
9. Takes blame when appropriate and doesn’t hide.
10. Has shown signs of being a very good QB.
11. Works hard at his craft to improve.
12. The ultimate team guy.
13. Is improving and plays JH’s style of offense.
Unfortunately, AS took the brunt of the fan disapproval for losing (more than the fired HCs or ownership). The fact he is still with the team makes him a target. As I’ve stated here many times, I leave it up to JH. The 9ers finally have an org that has a plan and an HC to execute. If AS doesn’t work out for the long term, there is always an option (plan B).
Grant, you stated in your blog article above that “I don’t get it”. Come on man, LC is from Brooklyn, you get it! lol
@hofer
Come on Hofer, I know you’ve been somewhat objective in the past regarding Alex (although you’re still a Smither) but your list is lacking something obvious. You can’t spread the blame everwhere and ignore Alex’s flaws and limitations. He’s been mediocre for most of his Niner career with only sporadic flashes of brilliant play.
Nick, I’ve never discounted his lack of skills. You read my bottom paragraph I state I leave it up to JH knowing that he knows QB skills when he sees them.
Coming out of the combine in 2005, his positives and negatives were equal to ARodgers. Circumstance is what sets them apart – his fault or nobody’s fault it happens. And yes AR is the better QB (obviously).
Fair enough Hofer
He won the SB but didn’t really do anything spectacular. Winning the SB the first time didn’t mean he would be next great thing. Doug Williams, Jeff Hoestetter, Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer all won SB’s. Didn’t really assume they’d light the world on fire the following year. And we’re postulating here that last year is Alex Smith’s rookie year of sorts in the system. Otherwise the only way we could make a fair comparison to Brady is if Brady played for a coach like Nolan with the talent the 49ers had at that time and had him change coordinators 7 times. Think he’d succeed?
Ian,
Are you really not familiar with the difference between Brady and Smith. Forget about the stats and the super bowls. Think about the personalities. Alex Smith is cut a completely different way than Brady.
Brady plays this game with fire and intensity. Alex has lacked the confidence to compete on an all por level for his entire career, up until this past season. JH brought that out of Alex. You can have all the desire and work as hard as you want in the NFL. You still need talent, and obviously, a little swagger doesnt hurt. Brady is full of that. Alex, not so much. That is the truth. Several players and coaches alike have spoken of this lack of confidence Alex has in himself. Sngletary, Jimmy Raye, Jerry Rice and Merton Hanks, just to name a few.
23Jordan, like I said at a post further up the page, this isn’t a direct comparison to Brady. I used Brady as an example because his name is an attention grabber. The point I made was the incredible growth from year 1 to year 2 by a player in the same system. I agree with you that Smith lacks the fire and intensity that Brady has, AND, to go even further, I even wanted the 49ers to draft Rodgers over Smith for that exact same reason. Having said that, if Smith progresses enough that he has similar success to past pro-bowl QB’s such as Gannon, Bulger, Trent Green…I’d be pretty happy. The defense can do the rest.
@Jordan The problem with using a fiery personality correlation with winning teams or Super Bowls brings you to the recent Super Bowl winning QB named Eli Manning. He is the opposite of this brother, stoic and emotionless on the field.
Another thing with the confidence factor is how Smith was used under Nolan and Singletary. Nolan questioned his toughness and forced him to play even with an injured shoulder, pretty much ruining his 4th year in the league. You can have all the faith in yourself all you want, but if your own coach is questioning your toughness and ability because he was saying you aren’t seriously injured to play, then I don’t know how your confidence doesn’t take a hit and then continuing the same with Singletary.
This is why Harbaugh knows what he is doing. He knows that for Smith to play better, not only does he need time to learn the system, but get back his confidence and also from the fans. If Smith didn’t play conservative and started to throw more interceptions and fumbles early on, fan would have been rabid and booing Smith like crazy, destroying what little confidence he had left. We need to see how well Smith plays when he is really confident in himself, because after this 2nd year, his confidence has been destroyed and attacked at until this past year.
My thing with Alex is largely my bitterness toward the organization for drafting him over AR. Not AS’s fault, obviously, but I’m a huge Cal fan and really believed in AR. I know full well AS got thrown into a snake pit while AR had years to watch and learn, then finally take the reins on a much more talented and better-coached team than Alex. But man, the bitterness every time I watch AR assassinate another defense. So I hated our schemes, I hated Captain Checkdown, all of it. But last offseason, I thought he was the best option – largely by process of elimination – and thought he might do much better under JH. So when he did, and when he showed so much promise – I fully expect him to vastly improve next season in this offense with another year in it and more talent around him – I dropped my criticisms and became a fan. He was gutty and smart and flat-out won games for us. He has looked like a true team leader and stand-up guy. Now to think he might be holding up the franchise after, well, not stealing money those first few years, but not earning that huge payday, it makes me ill. I want this thing resolved quickly, at three years guaranteed and two optioned, and if he holds up the team for more, I want him to go play for Miami and enjoy a 65 passer rating and leading the league in sacks.
I’m with you DasDweeb – as a huge Cal fan I really wanted the 49ers to take Rodgers.
However – in the present year of 2012 I’d agree that Alex is the best option. Unless Manning is healthy.
The thang is: When you keep someone at QB with those number ( Contract, turnovers, completion percentage) you start to question the sanity of an organization. I know, coordinators, coach carousel, blah blah blah.
I never had any problems excelling during my playing days, now winning is done as a team. He’s done niether till last year.
I have to head back to the green room. Forty F*ckin Niners.
Number 18 equals number six. Not talkin bout Elvis.
Montana was a 3rd rd draft pick. Steve Young was floundering in Tampa Bay before coming here. Garcia played his ball in Canada.
Point: We got exceptional ‘bang’ for the buck from unlikely players to succeed.
Alex Smith has two major obstacles to face:
1. Proving and justifying his #1. pick status
2. Living in the ultra magnified shadows of Montana and Young.
So far this season, he’s barely made a case to move out of Garcia’ shadow.
Unfortunately (no fault of his own in many respects), Alex has some ‘beastly’ mountains to climb before he enters the Montana, Young convo. But to his credit, Alex has never quit climbing.
I would settle for Garcia, but he is not even close, Garcia had great improvise skills, something Alex does not have
Actually, Neal, if you look at the record, Garcia (who I really liked) as a Niner QB was not as good as the 2011 Smith.
“But to his credit, Alex has never quit climbing.”
That’s a good point AES. Can’t fault Alex’ effort.
Well AES, look at the bright side of things.
AS has definitely moved himself far from the shadow that was the first round draft pic, the great (haha) Jim Drukenmiller.
I hope we can agree on that point.
Did you know that Jim Druckenmiller had a 100% winning record as a starting QB for the 49ers? It’s true. He was 1-0.
I couldn’t resist
Careful DS, you might open up a can of worms on how quickly Druck was expidited vs. Alex’ (what can be considered a ‘long-term’ run) longevity (lol).
@AES
At least it won’t be another blog about PM.
@msc
I do know that. I am anxiously awaiting his return to put his undefeated record on the line.
Let’s not forget that Joe Montana had Jerry Rice as a WR. Who has Smith had? Yes, the QB is the most important position. But don’t they need WR’s that can get open and catch the ball?
South Florida,
You wouldn’t know this, however, there is a gentleman by the name of Rod Brooks here in the bay area. He is a radio show host now but he was the Niners sideline reporter in 2010.
After a game in midseason, he talked about how he listened to receivers coming off of the field talking about how they are running around open on the field, and cant get a throw from Smith. He works for KNBR now form noon to 3:00 p.m. pacific time. Call him and ask him.
Buy me a sideline pass so I can see for myself.
Isn’t that what every WR says??
Maybe the WR’s are right. The question is whether or not Smith will improve, not whether or not he was perfect this year.
Drs,
That’s a very good point. Will he improve , if he’s here?
Agreed, but it’s a point that is somewhat jaded as well.
Can you remember who Montana’ WR’s were at ND?
Point being, Montana had the ability to find success wherever he may have played.
@AES
Notre Dame was competing for the National Title before and after Joe.
Haven’t you ever seen the movie “Rudy”? The HC is reluctant to put Rudy in the games because they are competing all the time for the college title.
Point being. Notre Dame had a lot of talent on those teams. Some people might have called Joe a game manager with the ability to pull the games out at the end. There was a reason why JM was still available in the third round.
And, most people can’t remember what they had for breakfast 2 weeks ago. Much less some WR’s in Notre Dame on a blog about the Niners back in 1977-78.
DS, are you saying that Joe was the product of the system? I think you’ve got it backward. Joe Montana elevated the play of those around him. That’s something we’ve yet to see from your boy Alex Smith.
@Nick
“Joe Montana elevated the play of those around him.”
What does that have to do with what I was talking about? If JM had gone to any other team, he does not win 4 Super Bowls. If he goes to the Raiders, or any other system where they need a strong arm deep passer, he is a bench warmer. A journeyman QB at best. JM had definite strengths and weaknesses. A good HC (BW) designs the system around the strengths and hides the weaknesses of all his players.
BW chose JM. JM was perfect for BW. But, if BW knew how good JM was going to be, he would have drafted him in the first round. Don’t you think?
“…from your boy Alex Smith.”
You mean the Niners boy, don’t you? Get a clue nick. If you are a Niners fan, AS is “your boy” as long as he is on the team. Maybe it is best to leave out that term (“your boy”) altogether.
@DS
If JM had gone to any other team, he does not win 4 Super Bowls. If he goes to the Raiders, or any other system where they need a strong arm deep passer, he is a bench warmer. A journeyman QB at best.
That statement says a lot about your football IQ. Montana did play for another team – KC – and was quite successful. You’re just delusional. JM had the intangibles you can’t teach.
You’d say anything to make Alex look good. Instead of ‘your boy’, I should have said ‘your idol’.
“Let’s not forget that Joe Montana had Jerry Rice as a WR”
I hate this one. Joe Montana won two Super Bowls with mediocre wide receivers before Jerry Rice came along.
Larry Fitzgerald didn’t make Alex Smith 2.0 (Kolb) look very good this year and I doubt Rice could have made Alex look good.
No.
But LF sure made Skelton (who was he?) look awfully good. They only lost I think 1 time when they didn’t play the Niners with Skelton throwing it to LF.
“Let’s not forget that Joe Montana had Jerry Rice as a WR”
Let’s not forget that Jerry Rice had Joe Montana and Steve young as his QB’s.
I said I would not talk about AS anymore and I havnt but this question got me to thinking. Alex was a number one pick with a lot of anticipation of renewing the Niners. Thru a whole lot of circumstances which has been debated endlessly on this and other blogs it hasnt happened. I guess and this is only my thinking what Alex brings to the table is Alex. Let me explain. In this world today its filled with lots and lots of a**h**** you see some of them on this blog. Alex is refreshing young man, a total team player, he has hung in there where most would flee cause they cant take the heat. He seems to be a good human with lots of good qualities. I find his kind rare in this day and age and I amongst others want him to succede. When Alex first came to the team, if you could call that a team, was maybe the worst ever fielded in pro football. There was zero talent on that team. He had two first time headcoaches that didnt know what they were doing and several OC. Well after 3 years or so we all expected the team to turn the corner and it did not. So the boos started and of course the old adage its all the QBs fault which most people with football knowledge knows the game is a TEAM game and its the team that wins or loses. Thru the frustrations of losing lots were looking to blame someone. Alex was that person. Some of us too include me saw somethings that others did not see or did not want to see because they were fed up. You cant blame them, everyone wants to win and thats the reason for playing the game. I personaly think it was the Yorks that messed up this team. The thing we kept hearing about Alex was that he was slow to get it at first but after he got it we expected lights out play. Alex never got it for whatever reason he just didnt develope. So what you have is lots of fans who dont care what kind of person they are they just want to win. An example of this is some wanted to bring back TO a player who sold his own teamates out. Yes he has talent beyond talent but he f**ked his own teamates but some dont care all they want to do is win. For me thats not good enough. Well even myself when it looked like Alex was coming back this past year, this was a put up or leave kind of year. To most everyones surprise Alex rose up to the challenge and put togeather a good year. About time dont you think? Even I like Alex and wish him the best I still have a few doubts. This 2012 has the potential baring injuries to be a very good year with Alex at the helm. For all fans that think Alex is an elite QB he is not, for all you that think Alex sucks he doesnt. He is somewhere in between the two. For the kind of year that he had and the TEAM had I think he deserves another year. So what you have is some fans are so tired of losing they want a change and who can blame them and for those of us who have stayed with Alex now can say hey hold it this guy isnt as bad as he is made out to be. Okay I will now resume not talking about AS.
@undercenter
“When Alex first came to the team, if you could call that a team, was maybe the worst ever fielded in pro football. ”
I have stated many times that the Niners should have been disbanded and sold for scrap with that team AS was on in year 1. They had BY and that was it. The only thing AS learned that first year was that NFL defensive linemen run like college LB’s, the LB’s run like college safties, the safties run like college CB’s and the CB’s are just out of this world.
And, he learned that they all hit really hard and it hurts.
“I find his kind rare in this day and age and I amongst others want him to succeed”
A point I also try to hold up. If you are a good person, you will get chances. That is part of the reward of being good and not being greedy and only think of yourself in the moment. If AS acted like a lot of the other players in the NFL, I would not want him on my team. His personality/attitude gives me a reason to still “believe”in him. If he didn’t have that personality/attitude and had the same skills, I would not believe in him.
P.S. That was quite a long single post about AS. Best you get it all in at once.
@ds There is so much more to football then debating one player blog after blog after blog. No one is going to change anyones mind. We all have our own thoughts and ideas. I just wished we could talk football and express our ideas without being belittled. I am a lucky man I have couple of good friends and we talk football all the time we often disagree but we all respect each others ideas without the demeaning that goes on this blog and others.
Good points undercenter.
Can’t argue with your logic, but in giving Alex credit (which he richly deserves), let’s remember to give Harbaugh an equal amount if not more credit for implementing a system that allowed Alex to have success. I hope Alex ‘blows-it’ up next season so that all questions and doubt are finally put to rest. It would nice to exchange a diologue next off season on how we won the 2012 Superbowl instead of another off season of Alex Smith pros vs. cons.
I kind of figured Harbaugh was a given. He has done a great job up to this point and I see it getting better. Big hopes for 2012 no matter who is playing.
There and has been so much time, energy, and money invested in this guy and he has only produced two mediocre seasons at best. He ‘s a likable guy and a hard worker but is still just a servicable backup at best. Even now he is limiting the teams chances at a super bowl with his contract demands, not allowing us a legit shot at Manning. I hope the 9ers wise up and drop pursuit and go after PM!!!
Really? So you are willing to throw out all of the development at QB and hope that PM can win a SB with us in the last 2 or 3 years for his career? Then what do we do? What if PM gets hurt? Does AS give a sh1t enough to come in and try his best?
South Florida,
We do the same thing we would do if Alex Smith got hurt. We put in Kap and hope he can make it happen.
When Manning retires, we would roll with Kap, just as we’re going to do if we resign Smith for 2-3 more years. Duh!!
23Jordan,
I don’t see it happening with PM. We don’t sign big name free agents. The last ones we signed were Ricky Watters and Deion Sanders. We build our franchise from within. I would be completely shocked if we even talk to PM. Thanks for your reply!
South,
Deon was a free agant. Ricky was a draft choice. Justin was a big name free agent. So was Nate Clements. So we do sign big names sometimes. We just didn’t do it last year. Don’t count us out on manning. We are darkhorses but we would be the super bowl favorites if we got him.
In the “spirit” of this blog, we now have what, “Manningers”???
If Manning were subject to the same kind of “analysis” that Smith is in this blog, those “analysts” would be talking about Manning’s last pass in a Superbowl.
Whoops! Pick Six and a Lombardi for the Saints.
Drs,
So you’d rather have Smith than Manning this year?? I think you might be in the minority .
First off s Florida…. It’s only been one year of “development” for smith. So throwing away “all” this development is a far fetched argument. Second Ricky watters was our second rd draft pick. Not a FA signing. C’mon man you gotta know about our legends when speaking on 49er football.
ESPN,
Rams trade 2nd overall pick to the Redskins for 3 #1′s and a number 2.
If you think this division isn’t about to get a whole lot tougher fpr us, you don’t know football. Jeff Fisher with 2 # 1 picks for the next 3 years! wow.
Somebody, please get Peyton Manning on the phone!
That’s quite a bit for RG3. Hmmm!
JH and TB will get our WRs and AS will light em up! Maybe we trade MC to skins for a 1st and 3rd. lol
Couldn’t get a 3 for MC.
Hofer,
Skins don’t have any more picks. Crabtree will be fine when Josh Johnson starts slinging it to him Hofer. No crying here either way. Elite Alex is in over his head. Better call him and tell him totake that deal!
23jordan, calling another home boy J. Johnson..Who is he anyway, did he do anything good in the NFL ? Oops, I recall hes a back up, thats all hes good for..hahaha
Holy crap – that is a metric buttload of picks the Redskins gave up.
I’m not worried about the Lambs though. Bradford is mediocre and the team has completely screwed up it’s 1st round picks over the last few years.
I am worried about the Cardinals and Seabastards though. If one of them grabs Peyton we’re in trouble.
And we all know that there are lots of first round bust.
See your point mscle. Either the Cards or S-hawks would make for interesting destination for Payton. I believe that they may be closer to playoff material than the Dolphins (who are salivating over Payton).
Pete Carroll seems like the type of coach who would give Payton absolute carte-blance with the offense. Just not sure Payton likes Seattle type weather.
Cardinals would be a good fit but after backing up the Brinks truck on Kolb’ driveway, I’m not sure if they can afford PM.
My gut feeling is that he signs with Miami. A new and personable coach would gladly yield to Payton’ keen offensive savvy (actually the owners have likely agreed to this already). Somewhat good weather (if you can get used to the humidity) and Payton may produce R.Wayne and P.Garcon along the way.
First take the Alex Smith contract, take it off the table, and shred that sucker.
Neal,
Bro, you are HILARIOUS!
Thanks Jordan,
You keep me pretty entertain on here too.
Comics ! thats what you guys are…lol
Not only st Louis … If manning goes to arz I really wouldn’t bet that we beat them out next year. I remember before the last game we played them some morons on here were calling me out saying the cards had no shot at beating us. This shows you the intelligence of some on this blog. Their defense alone will rival ours next year. The word continuity has been thrown around here for years, and like I said when arz gets the hang of their defensive schemes and such they will be damn good. Next year they will be damn good and if they sign manning its gonna be a whole lot tougher for us! The NFC west isn’t going to be the doormat of the nfl any longer. You can take that to the bank. Not only will our schedule next year be tough outside our division, but those division games are going to be tougher also. Smith better become elite or we don’t sniff the playoffs.
Jordan,
They don’t start getting an extra 1st until next year and it’s two years not three. Just the same, a crazy deal from the Redskins. They essentially traded 3 1st rounders and a second to move up 4 freaking spots. Lunacy.
I feel a draft, who left the door open? Is that Brees? C’mon in little buddy. Forgive my digression. His face does not have anything to do with it. The bar has been set by the greatest of all time here at 4949. General Joe. Tough act to follow. Ask Mr. Young. Alexs’ strength is his character not his arm, accuracy or bravado. He might be the Rodney Dangerfield of football. He will improve and perhaps he wins the 49ers a world championship, but he will remain an enigma to the fans. All that matters is Coach Harbaugh understands how he is wired and gets him turned on to perform at the highest level.
Great point about the Harbaugh – Smith relationship. It has been a long time since I have seen that in SF. I love it and I cannot wait until next year!!
Yeah but the question is.. Was last year smiths highest level. If so we are in some trouble.
Wrong buddy, If you watch and listen last year was just a preview, whats going to happen with the niners this coming decade..sky is the limit on top of the whole NFC..49ers are back.
Wow the Rams just made bank in draft picks. They traded their 2nd pick for two future first rounders and additional picks plus swapped this year pick for the 6th overall pick. Redskins =stupidity Rams=Smart
Don’t worry, Jeff Fisher will find a way to keep the Rams around 9-7. In 17 years, he made the playoffs 6 times and only exceeded 9 wins 3. I can handle the Rams being that successful.
@HTwaits SF has a way better Defense than NO and minus recievers we have a better overall Offensive team than NO, take Brees off that team and there back in the toilet like pre Katrina Saints. On the flip side if SF could realistically make a play for Brees (which I do know is a pipe dream), and add even 1 decent reciever we would win at least two Superbowls before, with our Defense we would be unstoppable.
Now about this Alex Smith character, I just don’t know why everyone wants to look backwards and play the blame game. I decided (like Baalke and Harbs) to look forward and decided last year that Alex was just another free agent QB pickup. When you look at it that way you can say, was he better than Kolb (yep), better than McNabb (yep), better than Tavaris Jackson (yep) Vince Young (yep), not bad for a cheap FA pickup regardless of any of his history, because if you think about it that first round bust left along with Sing Sing, this guy was his twin brother (with the same name) that Harbs picked up. When you look at it like that it’s not so bad, the question is, is he again the best FA for this team once again, I say yes! Manning will def be the best FA QB pickup this year but just don’t see that whole thing ever working out in SF.
Did I mention we should find a way to get the disgruntled Brees from the soon to be sanctioned Saints over here!!!!
I agree completely. I especially agree that it’s a pip of a pipe dream. That’s a shame because I love Brees, and Rogers and Brady and Luck.
We got to go with our best option right now without selling out the future. That horrible team in 2005 dated all the way back to the cap management used to win our last Superbowl.
Grant, You and your father answered this question yourselves a few weeks back in the piece ranking the Bay Area franchises in terms of their importance. Correctly the 49ers were ranked #1, and the QB of that team will always be a lightning rod for discussion.
Adding to that is the fact that he was drafted #1, and immediately tabbed as the “face of the franchise” by Nolan. Remember the marketing slogan that year, “years from now you can say you were there in the beginning” or something to that effect. He was set up by the franchise as a savior, and when the team stunk he was the fall guy, shoot even his own coaches blamed their failures on him.
Add to that a new coordinator every year, two of whom have not been coordinators since, I still can’t figure out why no one has promoted Hostler to OC, and a third who just helped get the head coach at you alma mater fired.
Then this year he finally gets a coaching staff that belongs in the NFL and has his best season to date. Now the argument rages because many still doubt his ability to back up the performance of last year.
The redskins need to be retracted after this trade!!! are you serious?? you give up 2 additional 1st rd picks and a second this year to ove from 6 to 2? really? That sucks for us!! too many high picks for fisher to play with.
If RG3 ends up being a franchise QB then the trade is definitely worth it.
The two additional 1st round picks could equal Joey Harrington and Alex Smith. You never know – the draft is a crap-shoot. Would you trade Joey and Alex for the next Steve Young? I would in a heartbeat.
A lot of folks see RG3 as the next Steve Young. If the Redskins feel that way then this is a good trade.
@msc
The Raiders gave up a 1st and a 2nd for Palmer.
So, that would be like PW and NB (who was a 3rd round pick). For a guy who took a winning team and drove them into the dirt losing to some really crummy teams and getting his HC who gave up all this for him fired in the process.
It goes both ways.
23j when I say the media I mean the established writers in the Bayarea. When Maiacco, Barrows or Tim K write about AS, it’s objective. Grants making a name for himself so he keeps writing about AS to create controversy, hence more hits and draws more reactionary/incompetent fans like yourself.
Anyone who really understands football can recognize what AS has endured. You fools like to call it excuses but the reality of it is no one in NFL history has had it the way Alex has since being drafted. Now that’s all in the past and you look to a new era moving forward. Just like when Montana left, Young, Garcia, and so on….
I tell morons like you all the time this, if your that unhappy, judgmental, and spiteful towards AS, why bother to follow the 49ers. Who stays and follows something that causes so much remorse, so much anger, and fights on a blog just because of one player you don’t believe in. Wouldnt it be better to move on or just shut up about it?Or are you like Neal type fan who openly admits he’s on here to hate AS and pick fights? Oh that’s right you think he’s hilarious, losers attract one another!
@Prime Time, formerly known as Deon Sanders.
Pick fights really, keep on listenning to DS, you Smithers are the group that hates the most, your very sensitive and if the we don’t join your cult, we are haters, who the hell are you to tell me or Jordan that we are not fans because we want to have a QB better then Smith, you Smithers are as dumb as a door nail, if your man crush get bashed your upset. Well you freakin Smithers love your boy toy better then Harbaugh and Balke because if he was so damn good, he would have a 6 yr 60 million dollar contract by now. You and the Smither are pathletic your NOT Niner fan’s, your Alex Smith fans.
Tell everyone where is your favorite players Troy Smith, And the no name Qb you want to start in Sf, who J. Johnson? What warrants him tobe in 49er unform, he hasn’t even showed dilly in the NFL..Hes playing time at Sd with harabaugh doesn’t mean anything.. He can’t cut it in the NFL, same as those homies of yours didn’t make it with the niners..that don’t have a team to play for right now..Ya, where’s Kolb you guys adore him so much to replace Alex in Sf.. You guys arn’t true niner fans, you guys come in the 49ers blogg just to stunk it up..Bandwagoners !
@Prime
“Or are you like Neal type fan who openly admits he’s on here to hate AS and pick fights?”
And, like clockwork, Neal shows up and proves everything you said to be true.
I see he wrote about me. Probably something along the lines of how jealous he is of me for being so much smarter than he is, that he is jealous.
@DS
You are so full of hate and spite, what happen to you., that you are so bitter.
I used to read your posts but they actually make me vomit or I get the runs so freakin bad, your like a natural enema.
Didn’t take long to get a reply.
You don’t happen to work in the post office do you Neal? Punctual and completely hateful and angry 24 x 7? The stereotype fits you to a tee.
They didn’t base the video game “Postal” off of your life experiences did they?
Now, go back and cry, cry, cry over your Sharks losing steak. Why don’t you spread your hate over there. At least they are playing, and deserve some tough love from loyal fans such as yourself.
@DS,
You don’t have to be Dr. Phil to know that you are a few fries short of a happy meal. Therapy is pretty cheap these days, get some help, you really can use it, the hate, the bitterness, are you depressed, has life pass you by, I feel sorry for you. Do you work at the public library, you better leave now, what a waste of public funds.
@Prime “I tell morons like you all the time this, if your that unhappy, judgmental, and spiteful towards AS, why bother to follow the 49ers.”
I have to disagree with this Prime. I disliked Rachal with a passion and now I’m glad he’s leaving. Does that mean I should root for a different team? I don’t like Crabtree either and I hope the 49ers get a better receiver. I suppose that means I’m not allowed to be a 49ers fan.
Wanting a better quarterback than the mediocre Precious is no different than wanting a better RG or WR. It doesn’t mean people should stop following the 49ers.
The 49ers passing offense was horrible in 2011. I want better players at every position except tight end.
Ms: And what if that better QB in 2012 is Alex Smith?
And, you wouldn’t want Vernon Davis to be better next year?
Maiocco offers a “plan B” if Alex does not sign. The “plan B”? Josh Johnson. I do not agree. Ofcourse I defer to Harbaughs’ judgement, I just think CK would be just as good with the potential of being better after each game played.
I’m not sold on Josh Johnson either. I think CK7 has more potential.
Mac,
I know it’s only college, but google Hosh Johnsons stats under JH in san Diego. He mastered this offense. Something like 43 TDs and 1 int.
I know you like him Jordan but I haven’t seen enough of the guy to make a decision one way or the other. I don’t see it happening but if Smith isn’t resigned all options are on the table I’m guessing.
Even though CK isn’t ready, I’d rather see him get the experience and get him going than JJ.
Three number 1′s and a number 2 to move up 4 spots in the 1st round. That’s quite a bit for an unproven rookie QB. Hmm.
If RG3 ends up being the next Steve Young then the trade is great for the Redskins.
If he ends up being the next Vince Young , well… the Redskins didn’t really lose much. It’s not like they do a great job with their 1st round picks anyways.
Even if he ends up in the middle between an SY and VY they overpaid. He hasn’t played one down in the NFL – not a sure thing.
It doesn’t matter what happens imo. The Skins severely overpaid and for a guy who is really a big time question mark.
MSC,
You mentioned a number of times how any other team would’ve dumped Smith after his first three years.
Or, really?
A team drafts a 20 year old QB, with the first pick in the draft, onto a team with expansion level talent, he plays every snap and has horrible numbers. No one is terribly surprised.
In his second year, under his second OC and with improved, but not great talent, he shows great improvement.
His third year gets off to a good start, then he gets injured. He comes back when he is clearly still injured. His third season is washed out.
So, what’s an NFL team to do? There’s one, and only one answer, cut the QB!
Come on, MSC, you know better than that. There’s virtually no way any NFL team is going to cut a 23 year old QB that was a former number one pick in that scenario.
Actually its two number ones and exchanging number ones this year plus a number two.
Lemons Chilo been here 2 years coached by one of the best in Solari, hes just lazy and unmotivated. Crabtree gotta give him one more year.
My point “No QB can become elite with 7 different systems with over 200 plays every single year! You haters want to call that an excuse, well here’s analogy, for those that have jobs, how many of you are better at your job today than you were 7 years ago?
Well I think it has a lot to do that a lot of 49er fans(including myself) wanted Rodgers so when Smith was picked ahead of the perceived hometown kid it created some resentment. Add in us being terrible up until last year and you get a large number of fans being angry because they feel they were cheated and they put the blame on the guy they feel cheated them. Then other people think its unfair to blame one player or that the criticisms are unfounded and you get fans venting their frustrations over the losing by arguing about Alex. The only reason I think its still a big issue is that the sides are so entrenched at this point and no one likes to be wrong. Which is why after every game we have the insufferable debates about whether this adds evidence to one pile or the other.
+1
I just want to point out a small detail that seemed to go unnoticed earlier. It was stated that the 49ers had in the past signed two big time free agents — one being “Prime Time” Sanders, and Rickey Watters. I know that almost everyone knows this:
“Watters played for ten seasons in the NFL with San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Seattle. He was selected by San Francisco in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft, but sat out the entire 1991 season with injuries. ”
Having both of them leave after winning a Superbowl hurt a lot, and was the start of the “cap hell” everyone has suffered from these past 12 years. It looks like our current leaders will avoid selling out the future for one shot at a Superbowl.
My very uninformed forecast is that Alex Smith will sign a four or five year contract Monday or very soon after that based on agreements reached by Monday. His guaranteed money will exceed that payed to Ahmad Brooks. The 49ers may actually wind up preferring a five year deal to spread out the “cap” cost.
Because you bloggers keep bringing up issues about him asking for conversations on him
The question should be.. What kind of secret does he have on the ownership? No other franchise would have kept him there this long. Pitt, Dallas,oak,chi,Philly,ny… There would have been death threats! Those fans although moronic love football and their team. Unlike most fair weather sf fans. It’s about winning NOT feelings. The bay area is just a whole different football world compared to the other city’s I mentioned. Like I said if smith was on any of those other teams no matter the situation… He would have probably cried from the cascade of boo’s he would get daily!
Also I think he’s a hot topic here because there are two types of fans. Ones that get sick when this team loses and one that shrug it off and say we’ll get em next time. The ones who got tired of the winless 10 seasons aren’t happy with a qb that stunk and needed the universe in perfect form to win! Yet we still have this guy. The others don’t care. They have fallen in love with the underdog story and want him to succeed no matter the length of time it takes. IMO and how I was raised as a fan and a sports player is… If you can’t get the job done you don’t play. Soulless fans that don’t boo and cheer aren’t fans IMO. Because emotion runs fanhood! You get mad, hurt, excited, crazy….. That’s what being a fan is about and that’s why smith is such a hot topic. He is still a mediocre qb that fuels the fire between both sides! I’ve said it for a couple of years now. “until smith becomes elite or gone, this topic will continue to split fans of this team”
Good point on how this might have played out elsewhere. It is impossible to see him still with the team if it was Philly, Dallas, NY, etc. What fascinates me is how fans seem to see things so clearly — either in support — or against — his abilities.
For myself, I have doubted him the better part of his entire stay here. This year he surpassed my expectations. After the Saints game I swore I’d never doubt him again. That lasted one week. There is no doubt in my mind they’ll sign him. My biggest fear is that JH doesn’t insist on enough improvement. I really want to see a quick trigger finger.
Barley……I agree 100 percent with everything you stated. Everything!
Hof…Was your reply supposed to be on another topic?
MD, two different circumstance – AR went to a team that was set up to win and had the talent – AS went to a team that was talent decimated and had a new HC. Add in the injuries and everything escalates.
Now, AS has the situation he should of had (and AR had day one) coming out his rookie year. Makes a world of difference when the org (especially the HC) knows what they are doing and can execute.
MD’s comment/response is the epitome of the anti on this hot-button issue. They just want to win and when they don’t, they blame the QB – not the ownership that hired poor HC’s and not the inexperienced HC’s themselves. That is the differentiator. How much blame for losing should be on the QB? He was drafted into the situation and didn’t get to pick his spot. Yes he deserves blame but 90% should be on ownership (JohnY who didn’t know what he was doing).
ALuck is being drafted into the same situation. The colts are decimated and they’re cleaning house. Good luck to that kid. Will the OL give him enough time to throw without getting hurt. Bad situation.
a lot of fans look at Alex and see themselves – a good young man, a hardworking kid who seems to mean well, playing for the home team. of course you want him to do well. and you’ll defend him against others who denigrate his skills. others look at him and see Alex Smith, a guy playing qb for the Niners. big difference. I think anyone who visits this site identifies with Alex at least a little bit…the question is, how much.
note that with players like Gore, Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Navarro Bowman, etc, there is no controversy. those guys are just studs, and they’re universally respected and loved by the fans. QB is a bit more complicated…and if you see yourself in that mirror, in a complete other world when it comes to evaluation.
……..
Alex is a “hot button”issue for many Grant because of the associative images triggered in the memory banks of many fans in which our storied franchise took a downward spiral. Things move up and down in the natural course of events, most of us know this but when it our team it seems unbearable…and naturally we want to find the cause of our discomfiture and root it out. For some Alex became that primary cause.We can discuss ad nauseam (and I suggest we have here for years now)whether or not it was/is Alex’s fault we did not win for those painful years-and if most of us step back from our emotions for a moment and take a dispassionate view we would most likely admit it was not quite that simple…truth is there will always be nagging ache associated with Alex. The only balm for this condition if he stays is winning and winning big!
PS. My contrarian instincts are being kicked in by this “Josh Johnson” leak by the Niners. Baalke, in my limited observation, is no idiot, and in fact played the press and the fans with this malarky about “Ahmad Brooks replacement is already on the roster” (see Maiocco article 2-3 weeks ago). Baalke may be shaping up to be a decent poker player. Josh Johnson as the Plan B if we cant resign Alex, when we have a team which is PRIMED to challenge for the SB, seems even more ludicrous. What, is the point to prove how well you can play with obscure quarterbacks? No, the point is to win Super Bowls. That gets you in the Hall of Fame and makes you a legend in the Bay Area for the rest of your life, and beyond. So, if Baalke is leaking malarky like this, what does he really have up his sleeve? For better or worse, we may never know, but i’m taking the “over” on this Josh Johnson as replacement crap.
Or is it his face?
It’s his face, definitely. Finally, a journalist has the courage to address the real problem that is Alex Smith.
Off topic but NYG will release Brandon Jacobs. Maybe give him a look to be our goal line back. We all know he runs the ball hard, alot harder than Dixon can. Price may be a little too steep but he was willing to play for around 4 million, which would be a little too high for a goal line situation RB, but he improves our goal line offense. Just a thought.
He’s running on fumes.
I’d say no to that one.
Morning Hof ,Namaste Andrew-Hof how is your mock looking (changed at all ?) love to see it again and Andrew how about a fan mock ?Either one of you guys think we make a stab at NIcks or Grubbs in FA ,pricey I guess but a tantalizing notion.
Hey Top,
It does get us off the AS subject for the short term (until the contract is finalized).
My 1.0 mock was:
V Curry, OLB/DE (Pass rush specialist for a couple of years then starter)
2. Chris Polk, RB (Great between the tackles runner and RZ guy)
3. Shaun Prater, CB (Special teams, Nickel/dime guy and potential starter)
4. Jeff Fuller Jr., WR (Big body, raw, needs maturing)
5. Jerry Franklin, ILB (ST guy and potential backup)
6. Sean Cattouse, SS (Best of the rest)
7. Mason Cloy, C (Best of the rest)
Now 2.0 mock based on signing AB:
1. CFleener, TE (possibility is also CB such as Johnson or Gilmore which is more realistic)
2. Stephen Hill, WR (may be gone so option is Polk or Turbin at RB it also depends on FA WR signings)
3. Shaun Prater, CB (Special teams, Nickel/dime guy and potential starter)
4. Jeff Fuller Jr., WR (Big body, raw, needs maturing)
5. Jerry Franklin, ILB (ST guy and potential backup)
6. Sean Cattouse, SS (Best of the rest)
7. Mason Cloy, C (Best of the rest)
I’ll come out with 3.0 mock after FA.
Hof ,here is where I’m leaning now in my mock:(1)Fleener -TE;(2) Konz -C (CBSsports sees him dropping here b/c of strength issues to which I say thank you!);(3) Turbin RB;(4)Streeter/Quick/or Toon pickem’;(5)K Wylie KR/WR(if he is on the board this far down grab him!);(6) Peter Molk -G/C;(7) Owusu WR…FA sleeper fav so far is Isaiah Frey CB from Nevada!
He’s an upgrade from Dixon
Nice-still have fleener at number 30 pick myself, if we got Hill in the second -wowser,haven’t been high on the RB’s this year but the Turbinator has been catching my eye as of late as well.Still have my attention on Wylie WR/KR speedster if Ginn leaves might be a solid mid to late rndr.Thanks!
I’m also thinking if TG leaves then the 9ers can get
ERoyal who is a combo WR/KR via FA (young and not a fall off returning kicks).
Enough Alex for the time being Grant,free agency looms(Nicks, Grubbs et.al)- the draft is near- how do you perceive the Redskins move in reference to the 49ers?
His commitment to the team, his toughness, all comments above about the QB legacy in SF working against him being picked #1, “coulda had Rodgers” BS from the 20/20 hindsight infallible geniuses, people just hate, people just love the underdog, seeing him thrown under the bus by Nolan, seeing him chewed out by unqualified Singletary, hearing idiot fans boo him and chanting for David Carr (that’s a damning moment for a Forty Niner fan – shows the level of class and mob mentality among those rich enough to afford a stadium experience). It’s a short attention span, I want it now culture that is frustrated at seven years of John York incompetence that can’t forgive Alex for not turning water into wine. Alex walked into a very bad team and organization and like most of his teammates, collectively stunk. It’s too late now for him to turn perception around. Many fans have made up their minds already and have shut their minds to believing he can get us to the SB. I was amazed he returned last year and am amazed now that one knee cap away from the SB, he is still the lightning rod of hate. What does this say about us Niner Faithful? Don’t come back with BS about how you love the Niners and I love Alex not the Niners. Do better than that to explain your blind hatred.
hearing idiot fans boo him and chanting for David Carr (that’s a damning moment for a Forty Niner fan – shows the level of class and mob mentality among those rich enough to afford a stadium experience)
Yep 60 thousand fans are wrong and one person like yourself is right. When you pay a couple of grand yearly for a product you endorse, then come back and talk. You may not be bothered on your couch with the tv on and 10 years of crappy play, you could always turn your FREE game off. Until your in the trenches and are there in person using every fiber in your body to help the team win. SHUT YOUR FACE about Ticket holders. The family at the stick [whether in the seats or in the lot] is something the couch potato arm chair coaches will NEVER grasp. Oh and yes you are a Smith fan. Leave my team out of it.
MD,
Chanting for David Carr was idiotic and an endictment on the fans who were doing it. It showed zero understanding and intelligence for the game of Football. It was simply a frustrated reaction that made no sense. Nevermind doing the wave while our offense is on the field.
I’m not painting the entire home crowd with one brush and good on you for supporting the team by buying season tickets, but it doesn’t excuse the fact a number of fans in the seats are moronic.
MD, you took Openminded’s comment a little too personal. Read it again – there is a lot there that is true/factual if you let it sink in.
@rocket
First, welcome back. As you can see, the discussion has moved on from the AS debate to the new topic of the AS debate.
“Chanting for David Carr was idiotic…”
I sure hope Carr’s parents are not on the blog. lol
@openminded
Great post!
Although one minor edit.
“water into wine” should be replaced with “untreated waste water into wine”.
Other than that I couldn’t have written it any better.
@OpenMinded
I wish that I could have written what you just did. I think that you just wrapped up what most of us (fans) feel. I do very seriously agree with your take on those who, no matter what, will continue to hate the White Knight who’s trying to return us to respectability…KUDOS!!
I understand your sincerity here OpenMinded, and respect your take. But booing fans have been an integral part of sports forever.
I hear (and agree) with the ‘dark age’ that was the 49ers of the last 9 yrs, before last season. Yes, it was not an idea time or situation for Alex to be in. Not only was he the #1 overall pick, but he also had to live (play) in the shadows of the ‘great’ QB’ who preceeded him . So I will conclude that we can blame Alex’ shortcomings to the ‘dark-age’ of Nolan-Tary.
Blame it on the ‘dark-age’ that I refered to, but Alex was a shell of himself and did not look anything like the QB we drafted out of Utah.
Yet, although I didn’t like it, the 49er Faithful had every right to boo the #1. overall pick who did nothing to warrant his draft status.
I don’t agree with your take of calling paying fans of having a ‘mob mentality’ and calling them ‘idiots’ for booing. I’m sure that ‘booing’ has very little to do with finacial status and in Alex’ case transcended beyond the pocket book.
Also, i’ve lived long enough to have seen great QB’ like J.Unitas and J.Namath getting booed by their home fans. Now OpenMinded, that was much more brutal than the boos Alex received because unlike Alex to that point, these great QB’ had a history of greatness and the HOF bares that out.
Alex did a fantastic job last season in resurrecting his career. But if somehow he comes out and stinks it up next season, don’t be surprised if the boos start raining down. Many of us won’t like this, but it is the brutal side of sports.
@AES
“But booing fans have been an integral part of sports forever.”
So has Syphilis. Doesn’t make it good, or right, or nice or acceptable to many including myself.
And did you actually see AS at Utah? I suspect most have not, including me.
With the three 3 year/ 40.5 mil extension Sanchez just signed it looks like signing Alex will be longer and harder than we thought. If Sanchez is worth over 13 mil a year then Alex is worth 15 (kidding, neither are worth near that amount). You know Alex and his Agent are looking at that contract and are laughing at the deal the Niners have on the table. Alex may try and test the waters (who knows, some team may reach for him).
Good bye if he’s laughing. My boy who is a huge Jets fan is saying that the Jets nation is pissed! He laughed at my QB for years and the 49ers front office for keeping Smith. Now its my turn to laugh at him. IDK What in the hell the Jets are thinking. Its like SF/SMITH via East Coast. LOL
Grant quick get a side job for the Ny paper. Youll get thousands of hits posting about their East Coast Smith!
Well IMO Smith is better than Sanchez and has more potential than Sanchez. Sanchez is way overrated and he clearly isnt much of a leader because numerous teammates were throwing him under the bus this off season. So yea Smith shouldn’t be laughing at his contract (Said that kiddingly) but with Sanch making 13.5 per, Smith (and any other person who watches football) has to feel he deserves more than roughly 8 mil per year.
I just dont see what the Jets were thinking. He’s a below average QB clearly who lacks work ethic. And they are paying him like a top 10 guy. Come on Man
That contract the Jets just gave to Sanchez completely messed up the pay structure for NFL QB’s. Now the 9ers are put in a tough spot. How do they convince Smith to take the offer on the table when he just saw an inferior QB get that kind of deal?
Between that and the insane trade the Skins made, we’ve seen NFL incompetence at it’s worst in the last 24 hours.
It sucks because it now puts us in an awfully sticky situation. HE wants a 5 year, we offer a 3 year. Probably around 8 million a year. Looks like he will test the market (most likely not get anything better) then eventually sign with us weeks later. Thus making us all think and analyze what we will do till then.
Is it possible that Sanchez’s new contract appears larger at first glance, but the fine print actually gives the Jets an easier way to get out of it in the future?
Just a thought…honestly it makes no sense to me why they would extend his contract when they don’t seem thrilled with him as their QB.
9ergirl, have you seen MM’s article this morning comparing Fitz, Sanchez, and AS? Interesting read.
Not yet Hof, – I’ll check it out soon.
The details i have read is it is a 3 year 40.5 mil extension. Adding on to his 2 years he already has, making his next 5 for 58.25 millions with 20.5 fully guaranteed. Thats pretty big bucks for a below avg guy. There could be things we dont know about the contract but the 20.5 guaranteed is a big number.
Well, if no Smith, who is the better choice in the market (free agency) now ?
Manning, I won’t touch him because his neck injury is a huge liability. It is one of those things which he can loose his throwing strength any time.
What are the options ?
Montana, Young and Garcia are the product of the system. They did great because of system that Walsh created. See happened to Young when he as with the LA Express and then Tampa. How many games did he win in Tampa ? The 49ers decided to hire someone to get rid of the Walsh’s system when Smith arrived.
Montana’s first year was not great, not even average.
So, last year, we all decided to dump Smith. But, what was the option.
He was still the better out there last year.
Arizona has the best the WR in the league, bare none. See what happened to them with Kolb.
We have no WRs. Crabtree didn’t run good routes. He had very little separation from the defenders. We need the TEs to block because of our OL problem. Gore was his no longer the Gore of his younger days. Would Manning help ?
Unless you have a system which allows the QB to have quick releases of the balls, there won’t be any QB good enough to suit all of us.
@wing
Agree with all but 1 point.
Once Kolb was replaced by Skelton the Cards won.
And no matter the QB, LF is freaky. He’ll scare any defense.
And if AS did not return, why would we bring in anyone? We have CK, and Tolzein who have been here 1 year. Let them battle it out and maybe get an old washed out vet who wants to mentor the younger guys (PM won’t). Johnson is not going to be better than either guy we have and may command more money.
In response to Grants question, I think Alex Smith is an anomaly. I can’t think of another story like his, nevemind the fact he is the QB of an NFL football team which means a ridiculous amount of attention by the nature of the business. NFL QB’s are hotbutton issues in every NFL market.
In Smith’s case however, the fascinating part of the story is his persistence and toughness. He was drafted higher than he should have been due to there not being a true #1 pick the year he came out. With that came unrealistic expectations, especially when you consider his age and the offense he played in. The shoulder injuries along with the organization proceeding to do everything it could to destroy his career, not intentionally, but through a series of unfortunate events and decisions stunted his development.
I think the reason Alex Smith is still here is because he shows glimpses of what the team hoped he could become and has the mental toughness to keep fighting his way through the obstacles. There’s so much hyperbole used when describing this guy it’s nearly impossible to find the truth. The truth as near as I can tell is that Alex Smith is a talented guy, but was not worthy of his draft slot. When he was unable to grow up in one offense and get comfortable, it messed up the learning curve, then the injuries completely derailed it.
That’s why when analyzing Alex Smith, I focus on the past 3 seasons. I look at what he’s done since overcoming the shoulder problems and finally getting some structure around him. I’m still not sure he’s talented enough to be a SB QB, but he has clearly shown me that he’s tenacious and motivated, and will get everything possible out of the talent he has. Hopefully that’s enough for this team to achieve great things.
It is his face Iggy! Its his big nose that everybody doesn’t like about him lol! In all seriousness for me its not about him not playing up to the level that Joe and Steve did, I just think that its because he is the QB of the 9ers, who most people would agree that the 9ers are the most popular team in the Bay, and that despite AS having his best statistical season ever he still has a lot of other obvious shortcomings that the other elite qb’s don’t have like consistent accuracy and seeing the whole field. Also we are in a passing era and passing stats are inflated across the whole league except with our team where we are in the bottom 5 teams in passing yards, 3rd down efficiency, and red zone td’s. I will praise AS for being great at not turning the ball over last year however, there are at least 15 qb’s in the league that I would take over AS and I hope that Baalke doesn’t overvalue his worth. With our great defense, coaching and special teams most qb’s would succeed on our team! All of the AS supporters always say “give him another year in the same system and watch him improve etc” well my question for you is this….how will having continuity in the same offense improve his accuracy? You can know where all of the receivers are supposed to be at on the field but it is still up to the qb to make an accurate throw. Except for maybe 3 games last season I didn’t see AS make consistent, great reads and throws. I don’t hate AS and if he comes back next season I will support him and hope that he does well. I’m just not sold on him ever becoming a true elite qb and I don’t have alot of faith in AS being a 6th championship to the franchise. Hopefully Harbaugh proves me wrong though!!!!
When the best thing you can think to say about your QB is “he only threw 5 int this past year”, that’s not good!!!!! “Oh, but he did all JH asked of him this year”, problem is JH didn’t ask much of him because JH knows AS’s limitations better than anyone! When your team kicks a fifty yd. field goal, then gets a penalty that gives them a first down, then proceeds to decline the penalty/first down and be content with the field goal (3 points), instead of continuing their drive down field hoping for a TD, THAT IS NOT A BODE OF CONFIDENCE IN YOUR QB!!!!!! That right there pretty much tells the story! Any of you out their that like to say, “Well AS did lead us to the championship game”, need to slap yourself! AS led the Niners nowhere! Niners defense ,special teams and the great job by the coaching staff is what got us that far, period!
So to get back to the question, I think AS is a big topic because many Niner fans still aren’t sold on what he brings to the QB position. Because of that we’re not comfortable with the Niners possibly over paying an average at best QB!!!
NFC Title game
13-3
Get a clue or get out.
AS is such a big story every year because he is an enigma. No other #1 pick has ever stayed with the same team for this long playing average to below average football. He’s had all the excuses, but the excuses were real….new OC EVERY YEAR, several head coaches without confidence in him, and injuries. Most of us hard core fans made stood up for him for 4 – 5 years talking about the above issues “if he could only be in the same system for more than a year! That’s what his college coach said!” but personally after watching him continue to hold the ball too long, stare down his receiver every play, and constantly throw off target we were ALL done with him. So here we go again, we were over it last year but Jim had no choice but to bring him back and he had a SLIGHTLY above average year then crushes us by not being able to convert a third down in the championship game! We, as fans, have been waiting 7 years to turn the page on the QB situation. Not because we expect anyone to be the next Joe Cool but because every football team wants a GOOD QB. So every year it’s the same story, are we finally getting rid if AS? Who’s next? and every year it’s the same answer Alex Smith is back.
He’s going to be back this year too. Enjoy.
Well said Josh. I think Smith will be back but not on his terms. The Niners will sign him to a short term deal and – most likely bring in competition at QB. If JH thinks CK, Tolzien, etc are ready, then each will get a fair shot at the job – no guarantees.
DS, very poor parallel. I never heard of anyone drafting Syphilis.
A better example could have been used…
And yes I did see some of Alex’ last year at Utah. I was so impressed by his play that I believed his style and athleticism was a better fit for us than Aaron Rogders who I followed at Cal. That’s why my disappointment of Alex continued to grow (at least until last year).
But my point to OpenMinded, was that fans are very fickle and will even boo for the great players (who may not be playing great) like the Unitas’ and Namath’s.
……I just don’t get how anyone can be disappointed in Alex……..
…..he did what was expected based on the tools they gave him……its so obvious if you give your QB good coaches and system you get good production……..replaced with bad coaches and bad system you get bad production…..nobody can argue this….right????/
so how can you be disappointed?……..unless you are just hating on the guy………
One Niner, I’m disappointed in the 29th ranked passing offense.
@AES
“I never heard of anyone drafting Syphilis.
A better example could have been used…”
Really AES? Seriously?
Let’s see now. We have Ryan Leaf, that fat loser Raider QB who I can’t remember his name and don’t feel at all ashamed that I can’t remember him. And, our very own versions of the disease with Jim Drukermiller and Rashaun Woods. If I have their names spelled incorrectly, that is because they didn’t leave a big enough impression on me to really give a damn. There are a lot more.
Calling them Syphilis is a compliment. They are far worse. More like smallpox.
I guess it comes with the territory; Trent Baalke was a “Putz” until last years draft and FA acquisitions, when we took back the “Putz” and gave him a coronation wreath for his brilliance in dealing with the players agents. We have continued to garnish his wreath with each resigning this years FA’s. Of course we all KNEW that Alex Smith would fall in line and accept a contract for zero dollars because he’s a ‘team guy’. And Carlos Rogers would also take a contract that paid little or nothing, because he has nowhere else to go. Perhaps the Fitzpatrick and Sanchez signings have opened a few eyes as to these two players value. We now have the two most important position players in the NFL on our roster as unrestricted Free Agents. AS is the highest rated FA QB, and Rogers is the 1st or second rated FA CB. I think that having them on our team would make them available to us and ONLY us until next Tuesday. Did we dally too long? Mr. Baalke, I do respectfully submit that it’s time to get out your magic Pen and get a few names on contracts PRONTO! If we head into FA and the draft without these two, we’re going to forget the damage that Donohue left us in those many years ago. Instead of the garnished wreath you wear, you could be back to “Putz” this time next year. You might also have AS and CR on AZ or Seattle’s roster. Then you’ll only get to see them twice a year. There are a couple of people on this blog who would like that….I’m not one of them
The 49ers have Colin Kaepernick give him a chance. Let Alex Smith walk and spend the 30th pick drafting a TE early and a WR in the second round.
We should start an excuses counter on these blog posts. Tons of comments get on here, the majority of them being useless Alex Smith ballwashers that thinks he does no wrong. Im willing to bet he has 300+ excuses in these comments alone.
The most hilarious excuse is the “new OC every year one”. Everywhere else around the league, the good QB’s have no problem learning a new offense if a new OC gets hired. But this turd plays so bad that the OC gets fired, and then he gets a new one and he has a new excuse made for himself.
If Smith regresses next year, the Smithers will say he needs another year, I’m quite sure.
“Wait til he has this offense down!”
Lmao.
It’s his lack of swagger and confidence or appearance of and his inconsistency. Brilliant one Sunday and erratic and lack of composure the next.
Doesn’t know how to throw anyone open, takes no risk, can’t make all the throws.
Don’t get me wrong he does do a few things well and he does avoid turning the ball over but his dink and dunk mentality makes it very easy for defenses to challenge him.
@steelhorse
And the Niners will resign him.
How much swagger did JM have? Swagger is a bad thing just as much as it is a good thing. If you have swagger, you are less likely to try and get better. And like JH says, “If you are not improving, you are getting worse.”
Anything else to add?
I beg to differ re your comment, and state unequivocally that Joe Montana had swagger.
JM didn’t do any of the things that people do now who have swagger (now) are called.
JM was a cool guy. Didn’t panic. That means his demeanor was not effected by the things going on around him. People with swagger get into the moment and are effected by the here and now.
JM was not. JM could have a crappy 58:30 minutes, and then come out and win the game for us in the last 1:30. If you have swagger and you are pulling something from it (say energy), then what do you pull from if you are not playing well and can’t have that swagger? EM has it to a lesser extent. Though I call him more of a dunce look than a cool JM look. AS does not have the dunce look, but is no JM (nobody is).
The best thing to do is to maintain/contain your emotions. If you make the big play to win the game at the end of the game, then celebrate. But don’t go walking the sidelines like you are some emperor after throwing for a TD in the first quarter to tie up the game.