According to Chris Mortensen, Alex Smith is “in the process of finalizing a deal” with the Niners.
Mortensen reports the contract will average about $8 million per year. Now, all the Niners and Smith have to do is work out the contract language and agree on the guaranteed money. Piece of cake, right?
Not so fast. The guaranteed money has been a major sticking point in the negotiations this whole time, if I understand correctly. Smith didn’t want to earn less than career backup Matt Flynn, who signed a three-year, $26 million contract with $10 million guaranteed with the Seahawks last week.
In this case, working out the guaranteed money, or “the process of finalizing a deal,” could be more like an ordeal.
My pops doesn’t think so. He’s convinced Smith and Niners will finalize the contract tonight.
I doubt it. My gut says this drags on.
What do you think?
Update: And, I’m wrong again. According to Michael Lombardi, the Niners and Smith just agreed to terms. What the terms are, he didn’t say.
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So Grant…
Does that mean your dad will change his “failing grade” of Jimbo?
No, it means Grant needs a monthly supply of Prilosec because those “gut feelings” of his are really uncontrolled “flatulence” of the worst kind. Too much “hot air”. :-)
HA!
ur gut feeling is wrong most the time..ever since i started reading ur post about a month ago ur actually wrong most the time with ur gut feeling..good facts tho
Yep
I’m beyond questioning his & his fathers thoughts. They’re both wrong most of the time.
They’re “finalizing” not discussing. that means they’re at the final stage. that means it will be done soon, in my opinion.
its a done deal.
He signs, but the Org may nudge the guarantee up a little. Both sides will walk away feeling good with a little comprise.
That’s your problem Grant, you think with your gut, maybe you should do some research for a change insted of piggy backing sources.
BTW Chris Mortensen is one of the best, I wouldn’t doubt him but then again your all about Alex, your one and only trump card played over and over again!
Mortensen was the one who said there never was a contract to begin with.
… and he was right. “On the table” in this case didn’t include a document for Alex Smith to sign. Also it wasn’t “on the table” for a couple of months — more like a couple of weeks.
What do you know Adam, look at the comments. I guess I started something here…
I guess I was the harshest. but suddenly another readers express the same frustraition.
I hope your dad is right, I can’t keep off twitter. Either way I’ve always supported AS, in a non biased way, I remember rooting for S.Hill. AS is the best fit for the team, CK is not ready (my gut talking).
@ Grant! Ha! I beat your tweet by 10 whole minutes!
That’s unpossible!
*compromise*
Matt Flynn’s deal numbers include incentives. Depending on how hard they are to achieve, he could be making as little as $19M if he lasts three years.
It’s allegedly the same deal that’s been on the table. Now let’s sign Josh and give Smith some veteran competition. Then again, we may not want his feelings again. Smith is rather sensitive.
Ya sensitive enough to stick around the first 6 years of Hell here with incompetent HC’s.
Sorry to be Brother Bummer 23jordan (NOT!)
But Alex is here to stay for awhile so either suck it up or find yourself a new team to Bag on.
lol @Smith being sensitive after what he’s persevered through here. Rodgers would’ve bailed first chance he got. He even gets offended by Skip Bayless.
Please will everybody get over this JJ dude. JH didnt bring in a him in last yr let alone any other vet so why now. AS is gonna show out this yr. That chip on his shoulder is gonna be more like a brick or a boulder. Go Niners!!!
Jordan,
If Smith didn’t care if the 49ers brought in MH last year, why should he care about JJ this year?
JJ has a visit with the Redskins.
Andrew, thanks for the update. JJ w/ the Redskins?!! LMAO! Another Jordo snafu!
Jordan, Still on this Josh Johnson thing? Put down the Natural Light son. Admit it, until Harbaugh was hired here you didn’t even know who Josh Johnson was. Johnson wouldn’t even be able beat out Kaepernick for the back up job.
What a clown. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
@Jack:
Be careful or jordan will unleash an attack on you with a fury that you won’t believe. He’ll tell you things about yourself that even you didn’t know. And he’s got a gun.
DS, did I miss anything?
Claude, Jordan who? Oh yeah, the guy with the whistle tips right? That dude is one sorry little clown.
@Jack:
How can you say that? He has watched more football than you will ever know! And he has a gun.
@Claude
I have no idea. Why are you asking me? lol
I don’t read his (23J’s) posts. If I do by accident I have to watch at least 2 hours of good PBS programming to gain any intellect I lost in reading his post.
OK, DS, That’s rude but I almost spit out a rather good Jolon area Merlot! That thar’s funny, I don’t care who y’ar.
@brotha
Wasn’t meant to be rude or anything else.
I actually do that.
Well, I agree that PBS has got realistic, low-BS broadcasting. Of course that really po’s some types who see science as propaganda, but we don’t want to venture into politics…………..way too scary.
Yeah, and rude was an over-statement; let’s go with blunt. That word ‘Blunt’ came up in my performance evaluations for my entire professional career. Now I’m 3/4 retired and self-employed; guess how much I care.?
Brotha Tuna,
Is there such a thing as good Merlot? I thought that was an oxymoron.
@Ex-Golfer
Been watching Hollywood movies? Yeah, I’m mostly a Pinot Noir guy, but that’s partially because my wife is a Pinot Noir exclusivista, and we live in Sonoma County. She’s visiting her Mom, so I get to ‘play’ with Cabs & Merlot. Try the Carmel-Greenfield Merlots before you write ‘em off. Imo Trefethen and Ferarri-Carano do a great job. Cakebread and Duckhorn are superb, but pricey.
BT and Exg – Merlots have gotten a bad wrap and became the step child to Cabs. Merlots are very drinkable and a bargain. I like cabs, merlots, pinots, and NZealand Sauv Blancs. All good!
I love those NZ and Aussie SB’s too; Kim Crawford & Cupcake, but love me some Russian River valley too!
I’m sure you can find good Merlot, maybe some research is in order.
BT, try the NZ Villa Maria.
Exg, I had a very good Markham Merlot from Costco that was around $13 that was excellent.
If your Tebow justification was made with your gut, perhaps you should re-consider that line of thinking.
Inman just tweeted, AS Re-signs!
Yep, wrong again.
I think it will get done.
Sounds like a done deal Grant. Just the way its worded sounds like just a matter of finding the pen.
@Adam who is more Ina trusted source than ESPN with Shefter and Mortenson? Both guys have worked with AS agent Tom Condon.
You guys love giving Grant a hard time. Why are you on his blog?
To give him a hard time?
Yeah, no sh##. “You’re always wrong…..” but they keep coming here for their info. Go figure.
I think its the Howard Stern effect. They cant stand him but keep coming back for more.. Grant, you must be doing something right if they keep coming back.
They come for the Grant, but stay for the Jordo? (that’s a scary thought)
Hope the deal gets done very soon so we can focus on the draft. Any news on their free agent visitor today Grant? The team still needs a RG.
Why is it that all the national writers are scooping you and other 49ers beat writers on stories about contracts and other news? You all didn’t know about the Manning situation even though you’re all working near the complex and supposedly covering the 49ers on a day-to-day basis . You didn’t know that Alex Smith had gone to Miami, until another blogger Tweeting something.. Not to be rude or demean you and your job, but it appears you don’t have a lot of inside knowledge or contacts willing to speak to you about the team and breaking news. You might want to spend more time creating relationships that help nurture some story scoops, rather than offering your “gut” feelings, which are more of a safe, conservative opinion, without going out on a limb. I’m starting to feel you’re becoming irrelevant. I don’t consider you a 49ers insider, instead just someone reporting on the 49ers by using someone else’s better reporting skills.
Oh Snap!
C’mon. Cut young Grant some slack. ESPN has sources in the F.O. They have clout.
Don’t you realize that there is only one insider pick to leek each story, and it’s the insider who can do the most for the leeker. In the tweet age, just keeping up with the flow of information keeps many professionals productively employed. Tweets are fuel that drives blogs. Don’t knock it or Grant. His dad is a feature writer who works in a different area all together.
When it comes to the national media outlets, there’s a lot of politics at play. Don’t blame the local guys for getting ‘scooped’ by the big guys, it’s often beyond their control.
Grant has probably no “relationships” at 4949 Centennial Blvd. Once you earn the trust of the professionals he is covering, you need to nurture and cultivate them (as you would in any social “relationship”). That isn’t happening here at all. Grant is lucky to have the 49ers even let him set foot on their property. They are at the highest level of what they do (professional football), Grant is still an amateur, and still learning on how to be a good “journalist”.
“Learning” means there is room for improvement and he will get better. It’s just going to take some time.
Give it time. It’s been fun watching Maiocco develop. Same for Grant here.
@Northbay:
When contract signings are leaked, it’s almost always the agents doing the leaking. Since those agents have clients on teams around the country, the agents’ media relationships tend to be with members of the “national” media. That’s why the ESPN and Network reporters get most of the leaks and thus report most of the signings.
Thats why Grant’s most effective and interesting columns are when he stays away from gut feelings and regurgitating old news and gives us locker room tidbits – insights into these guys who are just stats and dollar signs for the big media reporters.
Of course, not much is happening in the offseason locker room, so we’ll have to settle for Grant’s 40% predictions.
Don’t worry. Now the wait for details can start.
Grant,
If your gut fails you again, I’m prescribing a full-blown colonoscopy for you!
The guaranteed money could not have been the sticking point “all the time” since Flynn signed only over the weekend. I suspect it is more the “no-trade” clause.
A no trade clause doesn’t matter if only $10 million is guaranteed because most of that would come in the first year anyways. There is no such thing as a no-release clause.
Yes there is if it’s in the contract — trade with approval of the player or release the player.
What? I said there is no such thing as a no-release clause. The contract was already structured to allow the team to move on without a significant financial hit. That is why he didn’t like it in the first place.
Would like to say that I said it would have to do with a trading or cut issue. Wheeew! =-)
I agree that one hold up was Alex Smith not wanting to be traded during the life of his contract — play/pay me or release me.
Perhaps NinerMD can do a visual-rectal exam. From many of his comments, it appears he’s often practising on himself! Zing!
Sorry, NinerMD, I’m in a good mood. Our season’s just been salvaged, although I know you, and many others, won’t see it that way.
Hey Bro. Try reading my comments a little more often, if your going to post and be dead wrong on my outlook. ZING!!!! Stick to Hockey AAAA
ninermd says:
March 19, 2012 at 7:50 pm
I said earlier in the year. I’m tired of the Alex smith bickering. Although I do step in at times to keep it a little fun. But I’m just sticking to my guns. We’ve got a great front office for the first time in a long time. Although I buy season tickets I didn’t always buy what the Yorks were selling. That problem is solved. Alex smith showed improvement last year. So I have to trust harbaugh will get him to play better. After this year if smith doesn’t improve with everything he’s been missing in years past. I will not support him again. So for now I’m rolling with smith if he’s all we got and harbaugh is running it. -that problem is solved for now. So now I can focus on smacking onelame… “that will never end” and my opinions on what our team is doing. The anger of losing seasons is gone. The faith is replenished and I’m ready for some 49ers football. Wheeew.
Oh and cheers to FDM. I read your comment earlier also.
And one last thing. I’m wondering if JH will have another old school childhood slogan for us this year. On that note. WHO’S GOT IT BETTER THAN US?????
Because Im a nice guy and I dont want you to look like a moron in the future…This is one of my posts recently on where I stand and where I have stood since last season………..Because I smack Onelame and his never ending love for another man, doesnt mean I wanted Smith gone. Dont get it twisted. And more importantly DONT CALL ME OUT unless you disagree. And putting words in my mouth isnt gonna get you anywhere. Have a Great day
Sources say Smith reached into Harbaugh’s golf bag for a pen to sign the deal.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!! Jordan23 bay please shoot me now!!!!!!!!!
Where’s the gun?
I’ll do it!
Funny!!!!
Hov,
Gotta hope Smith can win us a super bowl bro. I don’t think he can. All we can do is look forward to the draft and let it play out. JH says it’s gonna be a QB competition. If Kap is the guy, he will win it. If Josh gets signed, he may get a shot to show his skills.
We know what we have, what the league thinks about Smith. It’s up to him to prove us wrong.
Like he didn’t do that in the Saint Playoff Game…
Ahhh Huh Right.
Tell you what, if we go to the big game with Smith, beers for the three of you are on me.
The drama queen has finally signed the contract. AS could have signed prior to free agency and none of this would have happened.
Now we can focus on the draft.
Hilarious… Glad you’re only a speculator and not negotiator :-)
Grant,
I think it’s time you take your talents to cover the Rancho Cotate Cougars football team or girls water polo squad. That’s what my gut says. Go Niners.
Go Cougars! Class of 79
@ txtre49er
Did you get “canned” in 76 & 77? : >)
Welccome back alex,its almost like you were never gone :).Now please make a huge jump in production this year and make me eat all my words of doubt and unbelief in you !!! And Kaep , get yourself ready quickly in case I was right all along about Alex !!Either way ,as I always say,the future looks bright for MY Niners !
Thats the spirit. It seems like everybody else that doesnt believe in AS wants to see him fail at the exspense of the team. Go Niners!!!
Seeing you were wrong about Nate Davis, Troy Smith, Donovan McNabb and Steve DeBerg, the chances of you being wrong again are astronomically high.
This from pro football focus. Com.
“Alex Smith may not even be viable outside of SF + Harbaugh’s offense. To get decent money to return is pretty much a jackpot for him!”
Glad you use pro football focus, maybe you can use it to see that Alex Smith was their 8th highest rated qb last year.
Or for those who question his accuracy. “He was the third most accurate quarterback in 2011 with an Accuracy Percentage of 75.1%.”
Funny how it’s only ever the Alex supporters who post advanced statistics. Facts are anathema to the anti-Alex movement.
Not every one thinks that. Jim Miller, who I listen to alot, thought AS would have shined in Miami’s WCO had they got more recievers around him. Doesn’t that sound familiar?
@jordan23
Love it or Shove it!
All that matters is the what the guys in the lockeroom think of Smith. Willis, Staley, Gore, Vernon, Goldson, the leadership group, they all respect Smith and will play hard for each other.
Smith will be extra motivated again this year to prove the doubters wrong and get back to the championship game, I hope he does.
Tk,
Their words not mines. The stats spell themselves out. Not hard to be accurate when you’re checking down half the game. That wS last year. We will see what this year brings.
And it is valid to question whether Alex could succeed outside of Harbaugh’s scheme since he hasn’t in his career. I’m just pointing out that pro football focus had him as their 8th highest rated qb last year. And since you seem to hold their opinion highly when it comes to questioning Alex’s scheme versatility, I’m just wondering if you hold their opinion of Alex being a top 10 qb last year as well.
@tkamb:
Don’t expect consistency, logic or rationality from jordan. For some reason, it’s personal with him.
Finally this drama is over. Maybe now we can finish up free agency and get ready for draft. Grant is there still a chance they can add mike Wallace? Either Wallace for 1st pick or fleener.
I think we were down to $18m before the Manningham and Smith deals. Terms of those deals not released yet, but we may only have enough for draftees, veteran RG and return man.
yeah grant any possibitlity on wallace??????
God, I hate peanut butter & jelly sandwiches!! I really do!! They taste like S*%t and they’re messy shell !! Well. Sorry folks, I’d comment more, but I’m getting hungry. I think I’ma go make me a PB&J for dinner.
Is that you, Stan?
LMAO!! Brotha, I was just being a lil’ facetious towards the folks that slam Grant about his reporting prowess, yet are here all the time lapping up his info. Moral of the story: Don’t like, Don’t partake.
Grant,
I love it! Can come to you for all my big decisions from now on? You just tell me your gut instinct, then I’ll do the exact opposite lol!
Good now maybe we can focus on the draft
Amen brother,amen!
When the 49ers sign Alex Smih a lot of heir cap room will be gone so they will no be able to make a competitive offer for Josh Johnson, accoriding to an NFL source JJ will sign with the Redskins. They really wanted to sign Wallacd from the Steelers and give up their 30th pick in the draft but they don’t have the cap room due to the Alex re-signing.
EST-29:
Josh Johnson was not a free agent last year but IS now , that is why JH did not bring him in last year and why he might come here this year. JJ said he wants to come here and he knows JH’s system already. But personally I would hate to lose Tolzien.
I know but how expesnive would he have been in a trade. No way would he have cost more than a 5th rounder. Im pretty sure any Org would give that up for a potential starter that is supposedly better than the current starter. They obviously had more faith in a project qb and an undrafted one. That alone tells me everything i need to know about JJ. I bet we bring him in as a camp arm and he gets beat out by Tolzein then everyone can move on. While we are at it we might as well sign Nate Davis away from his rec league team hes riding the bench for.
EST,
If JJ comes in, I will certainly take that bet. Let’s see what happens. A camp arm he is not. We will see what happens. Iron sharpens iron.
@23jordan What has he shown for you to think otherwise. If we wanted him what are we waiting on he should be on the team by now. If he is a “baller” shouldnt we be nervous some other west coast offensive team would pick him up? I understand that he “knows Harbaughs offense” from his time in college but what does that guarantee.
@est:
Don’t take that bet. jordan is a proven welcher.
Jordan/LowHangingFruit,
Johnson’s career stat line is:
96-177, 1,042 yds, 5TD, 10 Int, 57.7 rating
Iron does sharpen iron, but Johnson is more like banana cream pie. Now run along son and go back to the kiddie pool.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Nate is still available, better get him quick eh?
I’m starting to think you’re pimping all of our rides here Grant. No one would put themselves out there repeatedly as much as you do being completely contrary to reality and expect to be taken seriously. No research, no investigation, no sense of contemplation of the future/ramifications. Gotta be a spoof right?
Tkmb:
Thanks for the laughs I got from your last 2 posts ! We needed the humor!
Pro Football Focus has more in depth stats than pretty much every other site (Football Outsiders is good too). It isn’t my opinion or anything, they grade players on every snap and Alex Smith was the 8th best qb in the league last year. But I guess its easier to laugh it off and hide in your biased opinion.
Grant why haven’t u wrote a new article about ur gut feeling on the contract terms? I personally hope it’s what some were suggesting earlier just one year with a good amount of guaranteed so he can go out and earn a real contract.
Heeeeee’s Baaaaaack!!! Let the fun begin ; )-
It’s the “Curse of Rodgers”: You picked Alex now you’re stuck with him… forever!
@msc
Which music theme should I be playing in my head now?
Geez Grant. Your blog started out so, so strong. Now you’re just pumping out posts with reckless abandon. Dial it back a bit man…
Now that we have re-signed Alex, I will return to my blind homerism. LOL:
Peyton Manning’s career Playoff Record: 9-10
Peyton’s career Postseason QB rating: 88.6
Alex Smith’s career Playoff Record: 1-1
Alex’s Postseason career QB rating: 101
# of career playoff comeback wins: 1 EACH
# of career playoff game winning drives: 1 EACH
Last 24 starts:
Peyton Manning 14-10, 93.26 qb rating, 626/944, 6696 yards, 48 TD/24 INT, 66.31% completion% pct., 7.09 yards per attempt
Alex Smith: 17-7, 92.61 qb rating, 412/689, 4969 yards, 32 TD/8 INT, 59.8 completion% pct., 7.21 yards per attempt
Last 3 seasons, passes thrown 21-30 yards:
Peyton Manning: 64/209 30.6 completion pct., 23 TD/13 INT
Alex Smith: 25/65 38.5 completion pct., 6 TD/3 INT
Passes thrown 31+ yards:
Peyton Manning: 22/80 27.5 completion pct., 9 TD/7 INT
Alex Smith: 11/34 32.4 completion pct., 4 TD/3 INT
After 4 neck surgeries, 36 years old, Peyton is worth $72 million more? HELLLLLL NO!
Very interesting…
That is a sobering stat!
What about Super Bowl wins? How do those numbers stack up agianst each other?
The only Super Bowl Peyton played in during the time spans I used for those stats is against the Saints two years, when his offense only scored 17 points and he threw 1 td that was canceled out by the pick 6 he threw down 24-17 late in the 4th quarter. The following season his offense only put up 16 points in a 1-and-done loss to Mark Sanchez at home.
But yeah, Peyton did win a Super Bowl 5 years ago against Rex Grossman, throwing 1 td/1 int with an 81.8 qb rating.
@el
How many Super Bowls has AS had next to PM?
How many did AS throw the game away?
The only significant difference in those numbers is Peyton did much more volume, which means his team depended on him more.
@Raiq
It is all reputation. Nothing more.
PM and the Colts have really stank the last several years. The reason why they kept winning the division is because Houston was losing it. Had the Colts been in a tougher division, PM and the Colts don’t make the playoffs in his last couple years.
Look at the Super Bowl stats (the one he won). PM stank it up. Look at AS stats in the Title game. Yet PM is remembered as a God for winning and AS as a loser.
Try to remember that the Bears reached the superbowl because of their defense. Any QB would have had a tough time against them.
But he still won a super bowl, right? Regardless of the numbers and who he played? Stats, are stats, are stats. They gage performance, not grit, heart, leadership, passion, etc. They can be so skewed…
So, we are to look at each players stats the last 24 games, but then totally dismiss the rest of Peyton’s achievments? Or, we’re comparing an aging future HOFer QB last 24 starts to Alex Smith?!? **grimaces** Is it me, or is something amiss here?
Even though Peyton Manning lost his a$$ in the playoffs, it was sitll better than what Alex did. Well, with the exception of last season. Manning is a proven winner; an aging winner, but a proven one nonetheless. The only number(s) that count, in my book, are wins. DOn’t get me wrong. Alex is on his way and I believe in my heart of hearts he WILL win us a super bowl. However, let’s not go off our rockers here and compare their career numbers. There’s just no comparison!!
“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics“.
~Samuel Langhorne Clemens
grimey, good point, but whenever I bring up the tough D Alex faced against the Giants, I get crickets. And he threw 2 td/o int, 97.6 qb rating, put up just as many points as Brady did in a dome.
Peyton struggled the entire playoffs during their SB run, posting a 70.5 qb rating over 4 games, which actually ranked worse than Rex Grossman. He just wasn’t good that postseason despite having incredible talent. Greatest regular season qb ever. Ordinary in the playoffs. Sad.
Also good point about the comparison between Alex and Peyton, that Peyton did it at a much higher volume, carrying the offense. This is something I hope the coaches will allow Alex to do, as we know he excels under pressure, but alas we are a running team. Hopefully the signings of Moss and Manningham and Harbaugh’s first offseason will lead to a much more aggressive offense.
DS, I think you’re mising my point, so I will clarify:
Manning wins games. I was using the SB comparision because he has WON one, Alex hasn’t. It is wins, not stats, that get you into the playoffs, then to the SB. Mannings over all record as a starter is 117-59. So, I say, how can we (or I) look at the last 24 games of each and say, “Wow! According to these numbers, Alex can hang, if not, out-gun Peyton Manning!!” You can’t!! It’s skewed. Why not just say, Alex has performed exceptionally well the last 24 games (which is true) and leave Manning out of it. Both have lead different career’s, under dfferent circmstance, under different lengths of time. And let’s not ommit the obvious …. one is Alex Smith and the other is Peyton Manning for Pete sakes!! It’s about wins, DS, not stats. That’s my point. Ask ANY player in the NFL if they’d rather have earth shattering stats every single year, of their entire career, or WIN one Super Bowl.
Raiq, Good stuff. How long did it take for you to put all of that together?
@elGuapo, you’re right that the stats are just the stats. Obviously they need context. I didn’t post them and say Alex will be equal to or better than Peyton, but rather that they tell me Peyton isn’t worth $72 million more.
@Jack Hammer, not long, but too long. Can be found at their espn.com player profiles.
Raiq, yeah, I know. Thanks for taking the time to put it together.
The use of stats on here is usually very subjective depending on how one wants to twist their opinion, not saying you were.
How do Manning and Smith stat out against each other in 3rd down conversions on called passing plays and in the red zone?
Raiq, I agree with you about the Giants D. They weren’t ranked very high but they got healthy toward the end of the season and were very formidable in the playoffs. The 9ers didn’t help themselves in that game however, playing to the Giants strength, which is rushing the passer. The run game was successful but the 9ers seemed to go away from it.
@Jack, wish I could find those 3rd down stats, but so far I’ve only found them for 2011 at Washingtonpost.com. Alex ranked just outside the top 20, I think at 35.9%, which placed him 0.2% ahead of Cam and 1-2.5% behind Eli, Stafford and Cutler. Of course, this doesn’t include sacks. It’s the sacks and us ranking dead last in rushing on 3rd & short that killed us the most on 3rd down.
Red zone, all I’ve found is espn.com’s overall stats from inside the 20 yard line. In his last 3 seasons, Peyton has had about a 106 qb rating and averaged a td per 3.44 attempts in the red zone. Last season Alex had an 80.6 qb rating, td per 7.5 attempts in the red zone, but prior to that, excluding the season he played injured, he’d averaged a td per 5.0 attempts in the red zone with a 101.8 qb rating. In 2010 he had a 118.7 qb rating, td per 4.67 attempts.
@el
No, I got your point. I just try to write a short reply before my longer reply, which this one is.
You’ve been here longer than I have, and I must believe you have seen at least one of my “anti-stats” posts. I hate them. In football, they suck. If you are trying to figure out if a certain drug will help you or kill you, stats are the way to go.
To find out if a QB is any good, they really suck.
You seem to have actually quoted a me a few times in your post. Wins are what matter. I agree. A lot.
P.S. In a general stats class, they teach you to try to have an n=32 or so. So, the last 32 games would be better. But, 24 games…not that bad a sample size at all.
I look at the QB as the guy who actually manages the team to wins. So, yeah. I hate how that term means something less than a winner. And that is all I want at every position. Winners. You get 22 winner starters on your team, and guess what happens? You win.
I have seen every AS game. I have not seen every PM game. But when I do see PM, it is usually a big game (ie playoffs or a tough team). And PM does not “light my fire” in either. PM sucks in the playoffs. There is a good reason why he is not called the best QB ever. And why he is called the best regular season QB ever. As a Niner fan, we all know who the best ever was. Garcia (joking). And why he was the best ever. He made plays against tough teams in big games.
PM does not. Think hard about it. How many tough teams (good teams) can you remember PM just placing a whooping on in the playoffs in his 12(?) year career? Heck, in the regular season, how many times?
I bet you won’t come up with many. And a lot fewer in the playoffs. JM did whoop a lot of good teams. More than once over a long span of time.
I am not comparing AS stats to PM’s. Not at all. But, if you’re telling me AS with his 6TD 0Int’s in his only playoff season (2nd best in the NFL playoffs next to the winner EM) should be dismissed (I know you’re not, but just let me at it) as him not being a big game QB, then I don’t buy it. If you’re telling me (I know you didn’t) that PM wins the Super Bowl if he is here and healthy, etc is statically higher than AS, I say you’re wrong.
It took PM 4 tries to get a playoff win. he had a few home games as well, and a top 2 seed more than once. Has he ever had a win like AS had against NO? Has he ever had a loss in the playoffs where he had 0 turnovers and threw 2 TD’s? Note: This has nothing to do with the defense either QB has. Especially since AS didn’t get a short field on either due to getting a TO.
If not, then maybe we should take the guy (we did) who lead us there rather than the guy who only led his team once and looked bad all the while in that playoff year doing it.
grimey9er, yeah that was one case where I was really frustrated that we didn’t run more, considering how depleted we were at WR and the type of defense the Giants were playing.
@Raiq,
In response to your comment: ” This is something I hope the coaches will allow Alex to do, as we know he excels under pressure, but alas we are a running team.”
******
If you look at Jim Harbaugh’s background at Stanford, he tailors his offense to the talents and strengths of his squad. His offense evolved when he had Andrew Luck as opposed to with Tavita Pritchard and Toby Gerhart.
IMO, if Harbaugh has a QB and an offense that can pass effectively 40 times a game he will do so, likewise with a power running game. He wants to win games , whichever way.
Harbaugh’s last year at Stanford, the offense was balanced but with a very effective passing game.
So, IMO, it’s upto Alex Smith and his offensive weapons (Receivers, TE’s and Backs) to show Harbaugh in practices and in games that it can be done i.e. carry the offense the way Peyton Manning did at Indy. They will not lack coaching as the 2011 season has shown and the F.O. has added Receivers.
Even in 2010 at Stanford, Harbaugh ran it 58.5% of the time. Maybe 53% if we discount the runs in 4th quarter blowouts. So if he did that with a QB we’re told is the best prospect since Peyton, I’m thinking Alex doesn’t have much chance to be passing it 60-65% of the time. Then again, we were inexplicably pass-happy in the playoffs.
@Raiq
Unless JH changes his whole philosophy that lead to turning the pathetic Cards and Niners around into serious Title contenders (year, really likely), JH is not going to have any QB throw it up like DB does in NO.
Even if DB were here. A lot of fans here are under the impression that JH will do it if we had a different QB. But there is no history at all to suggest he would. And history is the best measure to determine the future.
At least until Orson Wells invents the Time Machine. I know he is dead, but since he has all the time in the universe, he can still invent it.
Gotcha’ DS. Glad we’re on the same page.
And Raiq …. Fair enough. I believe that Peyton is/was worth the money, regardless of the stats, but I can see why you posted them. I gotcha!!
^Yeah, I don’t have a problem with Harbaugh’s style. It’s not what I want to see or what I believe Smith can do best, but I’m not going to say Harbaugh should change what’s worked for him. I do question the personnel we have to run his system, since we were dead last in short-yardage rushing, but he’s never had an offseason, so no doubt that will be addressed.
@Raiq
I know. And we almost did it all. Then this whole debacle happened. I wouldn’t have considered changing up the guy who did all the did for anybody right now.
I think a good part of last years magic was the fact that AS’s teammates rallied around AS more than ever, and then for the franchise to do what they have done…I’d be like Whowwww. This was our knight and we acted like we acted? What happens to me as a player?
This goes beyond “market price” for AS or any player.
Mike,
Looks like you may have forgot a little thing called Superbowl win. Sure it was merely an oversight on your part.
Sorry for the dry sarcasm, but to attempt to put Alex’ one playoff run numbers against Payton’ career does not win any causes for Alex.
Peyton goes down the Colts get the first pick in the draft. Brady goes down the Pats go 11-5 with Johnny Castle at QB. From my observations the flaw with Peyton was that Belihick got in his head and it took a long time to get rid of him.
If only stats were the one playing on the field instead of Alex. Stats mean little when the player getting the stats isnt really very good at his job.But if stats are what make you feel better about having a mediocre QB then whatever lets you fool yourself is fine I guess.Makes you forget realityI prefer to see the good and the bad with eyes wide open,not with head in sand and only quoting facts that support my hopes and ignoring the stats that dont and the reality that he is mediocre.
Damned right! Bring back Nate.
Free Nate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It isn’t just stats, when Pro Football Focus rates a player they take EVERYTHING into account. How well the o-line blocked, whether the receiver dropped the pass or caught a pass that was badly thrown, whether the quarterback made a bad read or a bad decision, whether he threw it away, etc. Maybe I’m wrong and you are a former NFL scout or something, but I’ll take the eyes of people who study the NFL for a living over some commenter. And I think it would be unwise not to take other qualified opinions into account.
Unless, of course, Tim, your eyes don’t see well enough. According to your theory, one could argue that the Colts had a better season than the Niners.
Naturally, the immediate retort is a stat: 2 wins vs 14.
Depends on how good Luck turns out to be.
Alright, let’s go beyond stats. Alex Smith restructured his rookie contract and stuck with our busted ass team while the front office and 6 offensive coordinators mucked about and did everything they could to ruin him. He organized offseason camp during the lockout without a contract, after a reduced salary – and financed it himself. He engineered 6 epic 4th quarter comebacks in 2011. And despite being booed, bashed and derided, continues to lead the men of the San Francisco 49ers. Pretty good to me.
Just improve this season please this schedule won’t be so kind and can’t count on comeback wins all the time. Let’s get ahead so we don’t have to comeback. Please!
All you Alex haters will see this was the best thing for our beloved 49ers how about a little credit where its due Alex welcome back and were going all the way next season glad Peyton is in Denver and your the man in the Bay area
Here..Here!
Hear hear
Not a hater. Glad to have Alex back. Far from being ‘the man.’
@AES
You should not have replied here by saying that.
It makes it appear that you are defending yourself. And if you are not a hater, then you don’t need to defend yourself.
(I am not calling you a hater just so that we are clear)
Welcome back, but not glad Mannings in Denver. Would have been a automatic Superbowl. Now we have a Good shot at winning it. Wheeew
Promise all trumps and etc. Yep they believe in stats I know its not NFL but stats don’t lie that’s the truth..
I am glad he came to his senses and put all this emotional reaction aside and signed with the best team to succeed. Now is time for Alex to show the world he can get better in the same system with confidence in his ability to take it to the next level. GO NINERS
Agree raiq. And in Denver ill bet the house he’ll be one and done..
With this signing out of the way bay area reporters are gonna have to spend some time investigating actual facts and situations. On Chronicle Live they were already trying to conger up a QB controversy with Kaep. Making things up will get harder for the media now but won’t stop them. Just need to be more sly about it.
So as i said before Alex Smith is here to stay. But like i also said Smith was Mark sanchez from 2 years ago. A decent qb who rode his d to the championship game. They both had carrear stats and the best years of their carear. Now Alex cannot afford to be sanchez of last year. He regreesed big time. Alex has to fly now. The sky is the limit Lets fly and bring home ring number 6
Grant thank you! Remember as much crap everyone gives you and your father, you are the ones getting paid! The rest of us are either releasing tension or causing tension!
I hope they dont end up like the damn Jets. In order not to, Smith has to ball this year. As of right now, that could be a big possibilty.
@md
Sanchez was never as good as AS was this year.
Fact is neither was good enough. NO RING NO BUENO! They both rode the defense to a Championship game. Smith gotta step up his game this year. The FO wont be having a mediocre year again……thus the contract. I think Smith can do it.
@md
This could go wrong between us very quickly.
So, I’ll just end it saying I am glad you will be cheering him on come Sunday at home. And give the opposing team something to make them see the hearing doctor about.
I keep hearing analyst say the niners have a tougher chance because of more elite qbs in the nfc.. Well what they are lagging to say is we have a young(outsude of rodgers and j smith) up and comming ELITE DEFENSE tgat can only get better. How many of the nfc teams can say they have an elite D and qb. None.. Thats the string thats keeping us on top. Elite D always shines. check championship game. Istill say only reason saints came back is because we got soft on o and d. I hope we dont make same mistakes this year. Now im not analex fan because i still think hes still to timid to be elite. Elite is taking nothing wrs and rbs and tes and making them something( Brady and Manning). Smith proved he couldnt do that. What we do have is chemistry and now Alex has weapons all the way around. He has to work on his deep ball bcause u guys will see moss will be ready to go. Alex has nomore excuses. We might not hit 13 wins but dammit we are about to FLY…
Its ok Grant, my gut feeling is always out of wack too. One thing tho, most teams only have 1 true insider. Hell I come here and nfl.com to get the scoop. All the extra b.s. doesnt bother me, I just wait for it to happen. No sense in over speculating. Thats Grants job. I think this is the best deal for the Niners. Hated to hinge our hopes on old noodle neck. It saves us money to sign a few other key pieces. We know what we are gettin with smith. Could b a whole lot better, but it could b WAY WORSE. Smith isnt wrong, but he knows JH revived his career and with some added talent like Moss and Manningham he would retarded like Manning not to sign here. Manning will regret signing with the mules. cold, tebow should b turned into a Rb. Period. I couldnt complete more than 46 percent. Lets go Niners. How did the G swhartz work out today?
Looks like Jordo “there is no me without you” was WRONG again. When TTebow was being discussed I mentioned that AS would be signed. My guess is that JH and AS won out. The FO is full of financial guys – PMurathe and GYu – that are pinching pennies when they should be focused on dimes. It seems now they will keep the same dynamics as last year. Let’s hope the rest of the players with contracts expiring at the end of 2012 have learned something. Hmm.
Based on the outcome, clearly CK is not ready and they were lucky enough not to win the PM sweepstakes by mortgaging the team on PMs neck. It is time to start focusing on the draft! All good!
Hofer/Alexfan11,
You mean wrong in how alex was was waiting to sign because he was trying to allow the FO to sign mire free agents before he signed his deal. In essense he was butt hurt about his own contract. These last 3 weeks have been great. I enjoy the speculation and the predictions. Hopefully we sign Smith some competition. The NFL was not impressed with his bid for free agency.
J23 is right Hof….. We all have our predictions. Its all in good fun. You all just cant always be right like me. lol Cmon guys.. The fact is Smith isnt as important than he thought he was, and the 49ers still want him to be their QB. Cant you two shake on it and move on? For all we know next year Smith could be a pro bowler or get yanked by game 6. You two are bright when it comes to football. Probably work better together.We all know were 9er fans. Cheers to that. Right?
Its obvious that his value is here. I predict that in 2 years, the salary cap will be up 25 to 30 mil and with 1 year remaining on his contract or sometime within that last year, Alex will sign a big extension and you and every one else on this blog will be happy about it.
Now thats going out on a limb!
Jordo Blamertude,
How hurt was he? He was working for an ownership that hired two of the worst HCs ever, was a bystander when MMartz started JTO at QB, watched while the FO entertained KWarner a la PM, drafted CK as heir apparent albeit very raw, played it cool while PM chose Denv, etc, etc. I don’t think AS felt this was anymore than what JY and his penny pinching FO had done in the past. AS held out, PM chose Denv, and the JJ/TT brigade were losing credibility by the second. And what happens??? They sign AS today like I said they would. Even if it is $8M a year, they gave him soft incentives to make over $10M+. Looks like AS gets the last laugh as usual!!
Hofer,
glad you got your guy back. But really gloating right now is unbelievable. I’m embarrassed for Smith. No one wanted him. He’s being paid less than Fitz, Sanchez and Flynn who is a career backup.
How about you save the gloating for when and if he fixes the holes in his game. The holes that are so obvious that we monetarily low balled his offer and guaranteed it for one year.
Gloat when gloating is called for. Otherwise you come off no less annoying that DS…..
As for Kaepernick, Smith is going to have to fight him off like crazy this summer. May the best man win….
Md,
You are correct. Hofer was scared he was gonna lose his boy though. Like I said, hopefully he gets some competition. Hopefully he wins us a super bowl. I’ll wait to chew his azz out til he stinks it up in training camp! Lol.
Hofer:
“Based on the outcome, clearly CK is not ready and they were lucky enough not to win the PM sweepstakes by mortgaging the team on PMs neck. It is time to start focusing on the draft! All good.”
I agree with the latter part of your take, but we can’t completely close the door on CK. Signing Alex to a bargin contract does not speak volumes as a strong committment. Alex’ signing only ensures that he will be a 49er. He will still compete with CK/Tolzien during TC. The challenge of making the long and accurate throws to M.Manningham, and R.Moss now is amplified two-fold from just having VD.
Training camp will be about Alex taking more gambles and risks which may be a different animal for him. CK may surprise during TC if he can make the long and accurate throws. We’ll see when the time comes.
AES, I’m very happy with the outcome. A homegrown QB is leading the SF 9ers! Good luck to Denv. Ha! CK or AS may the best homegrown QB win!
Homegrown QBs. Absolutely – *thats* the Niners way. We don’t take other team’s castoff QB’s, other teams take OURS!
Lets get some order back in this universe.
So you wouldn’t take brees, Rodgers, big Ben, or Brady? I think they would take the homegrown statement out.
I didn’t say I would. But you know our history, md – that’s not the 49ers way. Steve Young you might argue was not home grown. But the fact he was a nothing in this league when he got here makes it a different case than the “rent-a-SB-QB” scenario you are advocating.
Hof. Agree and disagree. I still tgink peyton would have brought a title. (elite d and qb) But ur right Manning would havr cost us millions. But i also dont think we offered manning that much. It was about money. Our roster was superior to all of tge other guys. My gut tells me it was all about the benjamines. I still think Smith could benifit from competition. not just be givin the job. But like u said lets focus on the draft and continue to get better.
You guys! … Much of the time I also disagree with some of the things that Grant says but come on guys. Give him a break with some of these comments. Grant, you must have ‘armadillo skin’ my friend.
Grant has been practicing major knee-jerk journalism this off-season. Some of us just call it like we see it.
Once he calms down and starts approaching this stuff with a level head, I’ll be happy to compliment his work.
But he’s jumping on anything & everything lately…
“DOOD! Kaepernick to Mike Wallace because Peter King thought it was a good idea!”
“ZOMG! Tebow should go to the 49ers!”
“WHUT!?!? My gut says Alex won’t sign soon!”
Sometimes, you just have to let things marinate a bit and approach news & rumors with a calm perspective… and then you react.
And yet they keep coming back. Go figure.
49ersWebzone.com son… you know this as much as I do.
when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
Alex definitely signs with the Niners. if he didnt walk away after the prior week, we wont be able to keep him out of the facility
Grant – kudos to you for sticking your neck out with your predictions, wrong though they may be.
I am sure over time, you’ll do better
Once most of the morons on here figure out what an opinion means, this sight will be fun. Everybody is the great Whodini when it comes to their opinion.
Boss, Boss, de Plane, de Plane, maybe we can leave Fantasy Island and get back to reality.
@Andrew
Isn’t Fantasy Island supposed to be a great place to be? I mean you have Kahn!
The blog the last few days has not been as fun as Fantasy Island. At least not to me or the type of fantasies I would have it sure hasn’t been.
Hooray…?
Or something much worse happening to you.
@Grant
Please delete my post at March 20, 2012 at 7:29 pmsince it makes no sense now, and may somehow imply something to somebody I have no intention to “attack” later due to how the blog organizes posts.
Thanks.
someone mentioned they other day Alex Smith is like jason voorhees…he has been stabbed, pitch forked, burned and buried yet keeps coming back for more…i really hope he wins a super bowl and progresses as a qb then oneniner can feed everyone a bunch of crow
That was me.And onelame said Smith would make the FO budge and the 9ers need him more than Smith needs them. Who are you? His little brother or the mother that talked him off the ledge when Manning was rumored to sign. If you agree with that Troll, then your far from Jaws……Your a guppy! His crow truck has spoiled! And Im a season ticket holder. Buh Bye Guppy
MD, the FO came to their senses. I would have loved to hear the interchange between JH and the bean counters. This wasn’t about hurt feeling as some think. AS has been through plenty before this latest FO circus. He was fighting for principle and he won out. They came to him and when the dust clears, it will all come to light!
ninermd your ready to just attack arent u…he is going to be the niners qb next year and i just want them to succeed…plus after enduring everything for him to come back over and over has to prove his mettle some doesnt it
Yes it does jaws. But defending onelame and taking my post out of context isn’t going to make me happy. It’s beyond onelame making people eat crow. When your wrong for 7 straight years. You really can’t make anyone eat crow. Alex smith has been through the ringer. And is still here. That was my point. If he gets us a Super Bowl I would be glad to eat tons of it. But come on. When you get 7 chances for a prediction and the team around smith is the strong point. How much crow can you really dish out. Onelame is a smith fan not a 49er fan. The longer your around the sooner you’ll figure this out.
Hof. Disagree. The 49ers went to JJ agent and who knows who else. Smith came to them. You know smith had no leverage. Please name me a team that was going after him for a starting job that he would have succeeded at. Let’s keep it real. Smith needed the 49ers more than they needed him.
Right onelame… Sorry you can’t debate with me. Take your pokes and run, but remember this. You weren’t around when manning was coming, you’ve been wrong for. 7 years, and nobody likes you. You’ve even had smith fans turn on you. So ask yourself who’s the social moron. Onelame your so pathetic no body wants anything to do with you here. That’s why ….. No one responds…… To your dumba**…….. Your a laughing stock here. You know it like everyone else does. Your qb got lowballed and he’s playing for what he’s worth. Truth hurts but hey the 9 ers needed him more right???? Lmao!!!!
Stan – of course it was me who wrote that comment. I had to check out the article after you told me about it. I couldn’t help myself.
Ohh….Ok. It went straight to “hot topic”..It takes me going off on rebublicans to do that…wink.
Crap ,typo. rebooblicans at least would have been funny…
Anybody who isn’t a Republican now days is a Communist in this state at least
What state is that Tree Limb?
lol.
I’ll just leave that there.
DS:
“Look at the Super Bowl stats (the one he won). PM stank it up. Look at AS stats in the Title game. Yet PM is remembered as a God for winning and AS as a loser.”
I have never called Alex a loser. The most expressive name i’ve hurled at Alex was calling him a ‘bonehead’ a couple of years ago when he fumbled against the Eagles which led to a TD.
PM is not a god (unless you want to compare his body of work against Alex’), but to compare one playoff game form Alex against Payton’ career playoffs game borders on insanity.
You say that PM ‘stank’ it up in his SB win. I would love for Alex to ‘stank’ it up and win a Superbowl. Yeah, I could live with that, and I would venture to say that Alex would feel the same way.
Alex stunk it up in the NFC Champ game. I agree comparing these two is nuts. one is making 95 mill and the other??? That says alot.Ds “your crazy. I like you but your crazy man” in the Will Ferrel voice from Old school when he had a FN dart in his neck. lol
Granted Alex did not play well in the NFC championship, but the two TD throws to Davis were things of beauty. The two Davis TDs alone make it hard to say he stunk it up.
Trouble with Alex is that he shows occasional flashes of brilliance and then lapses into mediocrity. We see great Alex for a couple of series, and then bad Alex pops up. That is what is so frustrating about the man.
Nevertheless, I have faith in Harbaugh and I believe with a full off season and training camp he will be able to get rid of “Bad Alex” once and for all. Let’s wait and see.
Go Niners.
Good post Rick. I agree with you, but in a game of that magnitude and the comparison to mannings playoff games. It’s foolish to compare our guy to a legend.
“Trouble with Alex is that he shows occasional flashes of brilliance and then lapses into mediocrity.”
I’ve always agreed with this sentiment. However, last season he really made some nice improvements in his game.
Not perfect, but in this system, as all the experts were talking about, he looked pretty damned good. This is what he was drafted for. We’ll have to see how this “betrayal” drama shakes out and how he responds to having two years in the same system and an improved receiving corps.
I’m not sold on Moss just yet, but Manningham may prove to be an upgrade over Crabs. I hope they pick up one more receiver or draft one to grow. I’m OK with Ginn sticking around but his primary value is special teams, in my opinion.
@Adam
Every QB can be described like that. There were long stretches in the title game and the Super Bowl where EM was far from even minimally acceptable. I wish somebody would compile a long video of each HOF QB’s many moments where they were not HOF like QB’s. Just to remind everybody that no QB was great all the time.
But, he found a way to win. And AS found a way to win a lot of games this year. “Clutch” moments far outweighed “damn” moments.
And don’t discount Ginn as a big factor in our success last year. Getting him back as a returner is a big deal in my view. I agree with you about him not being a WR (how can he drop that perfect pass on 4th down against Baltimore)?!
@AES
I never said you stated those things at all in my post. I also never stated or implied your name either.
All I’m saying AES is if AS had a playoff series like PM had in the one year he won it all, that the fans would be screaming to get rid of the guy.
If AS threw only 1 TD and had 1 Int to boot in the Super Bowl, a bunch of fans here would freak out. Even if we won by 20+ points. It would be “AS rode the coat-tails of the defense and ST. I could have done that, blah, blah, blah.”
@md
V Cruz (Giants WR) made $0.4million last year
MC made $5.7 million last year
Guess which had the better year? Contracts for pro athletes (NFL anyway) is not dictated by the performance of the player. But rather a bunch of other crap. I think it really sucks. Maybe you do as well. I don’t know.
And, I’m sure your movie reference was a compliment to me in some “Odd Couple” way, but I may be better off not knowing how/why since I have not seen that movie and it is not on my instant queue for Netlfix.
: – )
DS says, “V Cruz (Giants WR) made $0.4million last year
MC made $5.7 million last year
Guess which had the better year? Contracts for pro athletes (NFL anyway) is not dictated by the performance of the player. But rather a bunch of other crap. I think it really sucks. Maybe you do as well. I don’t know.”
DS, You keep bringing this up. Crabtree is making that money because he was the #9 pick in the draft, and Cruz was an undrafted signee, no other reason. Does it look crazy now based off their production? Sure it does, that is why one of the sticking points during the lockout was the rookie pay scale.
Compare Crabtree’s contract from the time before the slotting system was implemented to that of the #9 pick in 2011, Tyron Smith (Cowboys). Based on his slot he was awarded a 4 year, $12.5m contract, averaging $3.125m per. Even if Crabtree were drafted under the new system he would still cost way more than Cruz.
Don’t fret though, when Cruz gets the opportunity to be a FA he will more than likely end up making double what Crabtree got last year.
Yes Jack.
Thank you for telling me that.
Now, can you please tell me the symbol for TD, because I don’t know that. (sarcasm)
I know why he gets paid what he gets paid. I can still moan about it though when a guy making like 14.25x less than him is like 14.25x better than him.
I have that right. You have the right to disagree with me.
But, please stop with the posts where you act like I don’t know why he gets paid what he gets paid. I know why. Do you really think I don’t get it? Seriously?
DS, all i’m saying is that your case of comparing Payton and Alex’ playoff numbers have no merit. This is an obvious bad case of spinning numbers in an over-the-top effort to validate Alex. Payton must be judged by his body of work, it’s asinine to take one bad or a few bad playoffs games as a measuring stick.
Alex did a good job last year, but for anyone to honestly believe that he would give us a better chance at winning a SuperBowl over Payton screws all logic and does a disservice to Alex.
Sorry you see it like that AES.
But playoff wins and performances in those wins and how long it took to get them (opportunities)..to me anyway is not something to be ignored.
Those things matter. If they don’t then JM isn’t anywhere near the QB PM is. Not even close. In fact JM is nothing next to a lot of other guys playing right now if you don’t evaluate like that.
Big games. Good performances. Wins when it matters most. Translation: Playoff games. That is how I judge QB’s. Not stats. Not at all. Not against some crappy team who has no right to even play you they are so bad. And PM has had a lot of games in his career (who else in his division is worth a damn for much of his career?).
If you think I am now just changing my tune about how important good playoff wins and performances are to me for the simple reason that it favors AS, you are wrong.
Look at my posts all year about VD. I bashed him a lot for playing poorly. That perfect TD pass with no defender near him (Cleveland game?), I let VD have it.
And since the NO game…I’m talking the guy up like no other. Same criteria. Big games. Big moments. Big performances. Big wins.
Grant that gut feeling is just gas. Thank god this is over. Smith will be our QB or 2-3 more years and we are destined for the SB. We have a complete team. Well we will when we sign a RG. It’s on folks. After Alex has a 27td and 8itn year, hopefully we will trade Keapernik. Keap is garbage.
i heard the deal is 2 yrs $12 million with an option for a 3rd year for $8 million
People said Alex smith will be hurt because he had a break out year. ALEX SMITH DIDNT HAVE A BREAK OUT YEAR! He just didn’t play bad last year. The only season stat he had that’s impressive is 5 int. He was 19th in passing yards, 17th in TD, 19th in passing yards & 11th in passing %. Just because you don’t play bad doesn’t mean you had a great season.
His failure to pick up first downs on 3rd down is a very bad sign. People say that stat is not that big of a deal, they couldn’t be more wrong. If a qb is unable to complete on 3rd down is a good indication he can’t pass on a defense that KNOWS he going to throw it. Plain and simple Alex is not a top 10-15 qb and if your not one of those your job is never safe and it should never be.
So you don’t buy what almost all the experts were saying last season?
Experts as in pros, not schmoes. Fan opinion is fun but not really worth much.
@Adam
“Fan opinion is fun but not really worth much.”
I know what you meant to say was:
“Fan opinion is fun but not really worth much, except for DS.”
:- )
Bummer
Thank God the drama is over.
The team went 14-4 with Smith. The entire D is coming back intact plus they have added Manningham and Moss. I don’t see any reason why the Niners cannot win between 10-12 games this year even if SMITH DOES NOT IMPROVE ONE BIT.
I would like to think Smith will be improved, so I think the #1 seed in the NFC is a legitimate goal and well within reach.
Go Niners.
are u kidding rick? Smith has to get much better. People are going to be gunning for the 49ers now. They surprised a lot of people last year.
I know what you are saying, but honestly, with the best Defense in the league coming back intact, can you really see us losing more than 4 or 5 games regardless of who plays QB. I just don’t think so. Of course, with a mediocre QB, it is hard to go far into the playoffs no matter how good your defense. Just ask the Jets and the Ravens. That is why Alex must improve. I have faith in Harbaugh. He will improve Alex. Let’s wait and see.
I believe Alex will improve his 3rd down conversions while still
keeping interceptions to a minimum. If he does that I just cannot see us losing more than 3 regular season games. 13 wins should be enough for a #1 seed in the NFC.
Go Niners
OK. Its been a while, but I recall that in the heat of an argument, Bay equated A.Smith with Flaco as a failed QB. But heck, guys & gals, that’s a hella compliment from Bay, all in all, for Alex. It takes Alex from Sadsack to Flaco. Imperfect but not loser. And it makes some sense to me. I actually think that Alex is better than Flaco at extending plays behind an inferior OL.
Now Flaco has lost Grubbs, so let’s see.
BT, add CFleener to the receiving corps and AS will be lights out. If he isn’t, CK will take over and we’ll still be lights out. Better than PM ehh?
Wow Hofer, you’re in the “Niner Night Owl Club” tonight. You sipin on the vino on a Tues?
I’m about done for the night man.
I don’t know about getting Fleener, que sera sera. I sure could see that working. C’mon: Manningham and Moss. Crabs & VD & Delanie. Add Fleener or a quality wideout (will need time); can’t be all bad.
Let’s see if they bring in depth at RB in late rounds or FA.
Uh, Hello? Don’t we still need help at RG? Like to see that covered, at least a little bit.
Surprised, really? I mean yeah, maybe the first few games, but that excuse doesn’t work after that. Teams knew exactly what was coming. They watch film. They’re allowed to adapt.
Will it be harder this season? Maybe. But don’t expect Harbaugh and Roman to run things exactly the same way twice.
They may “surprise” teams again. Who knows.
Come on Trent – show the guy a little love. Really! Demonstrate that the Niner’s organization has some class and take care of your QB. Next years schedule is a hell of lot tougher, so don’t be such a coconut. You threaten to undermine your locker room, if you haven’t already. Heal it!!
For now Alex is the man so man up and root for the niners if your not a niner fan why are you wasting your time on this blog I for one know were in it to win it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really think the John Elway persona is the main reason we lost Peyton. Elway is like John Wayne, movie star looks, carried teams on his back, rode off into the sunset with two Super Bowls. He leaves football and with zero experience is asked to run a franchise, and is pretty good doing it. Peyton can hang with Elway, Harbaugh is too intense. I don’t think Peyton would ever carry Harbaughs’ golf bag.
Andrew, take a look at all of PM’s HCs to date, not big personalities to say the least.
Andrew,
JH has a caddy. His name is Alex, and he will be caddying next year.
Jordo, so was VFangio JH’s caddy. Do you know that caddies in the PGA circuit make over $500K per year? Do you have something against Caddies and that line of work! You seem to think it is a low level position?
Denver had the cap space to give PM wepoons that he wanted and PM will run the offense he wants to. It was a year to year deal with 18M this year. We could not add PM buddies and sign the guard and rookies
weapons lol
@Waterman
I dunno. I kinda like ‘Weapoons’. Its like weapons + harpoon. Sounds lethal and badass.
BTW: Waterman……..like in Hawaii? Full spectrum waterman? Like Daniel Boone was a ‘Frontiersman’?
I’m a mainlander, but always admired that skillset. I got to meet a couple on Maui’s North Shore.
@Waterman
The weapons the 49ers have are good or better than what Denver provides him with. His Colt wide receivers have signed elsewhere, the Denver running attack does not strike fear and can the offensive line pass block. Dallas Clark may be available, but he’s hurt every year and I’ll take my chances with Vernon and Delanie any day. Too much pressure to sign with the Niners, he’d be tabbed loser if he didn’t win the whole thing.
Liberal city, no NASCAR, etc. We have the better team I agree.
Andrew from R…. – Did you really say John Elway has movie star looks? Well……I better let 9erGirl grade Elways appearance.
@Crab15
I don’t think movie star looks. But John Wayne didn’t look like a movie star. At least not a good looking one.
He has nice hair.
DS – You know you just set yourself up for a 9erGirl thumping! :-)
I gotta agree with Andrew about the hair. Can’t believe I just said that.
@Crab15
The last full post I read from 49erGirl she was telling me what religion I was.
Hint: I have never written a post about my religion. And she attacks me at will. I don’t care. She stalks me. Wish she found some new friends and stopped bothering with people who don’t want to be around/interact with her.
DS – Be careful that’s my girl. Well I thought she was til that Max (Romeo) dude showed up. :-)
BTW, what happened to Romeo? M.I. A.
@Crab15
Everybody here has one or two people who they are cool with that others who they are also cool with don’t like. But both like you.
49erGirl is that person for me and you.
For me and md for instance, I am cool with oneniner, and md. But md and oneniner….not so much for one another
There are a few more I can bring up, but you get my drift.
And max is cool. Had a little conversation with him about where to find free episodes of PBS shows like POV and such on youtube. He thanked me. Haven’t seen him around for awhile. Doesn’t come off as somebody who wants (not that anybody does) to be in the drama the blog has been in the past few weeks.
I could be wrong. Maybe he is writing another story.
Good night Crab15 and all!
Goodnight DS. Just remember, you know you are amazing when people you don’t even know hate you.
Also Manning didn’t mind signing for a GM who took longer to finally win a SB than he did ;)
I was wrong. I said something like 3 years 33M 12M guaranteed. I thought Alex would have some leverage with the seachickens and Flynn would go to the fish.
Hofe – Congrats you got your boy! I was hoping for Manning and 23J jinxed it. Then, like 9erGirl I was hoping for a fresh start at QB and 23J jinxed that!
First there was “The Jordan Rules” in 1988, which was a defensive strategy used by the Detroit Pistons against Michael Jordan.
Now in 2012 we have “The Jordan Curse”, which is a ploy used by Alex Smith to afflict severe, agonizing pain onto an old blog-buddy of mine named 23J!
Good evening Crab,
AS is the best choice. Clearly CK isn’t ready and they definitely weren’t going to roll with TT or JJ (LMAO). Now they can focus on the lower tier FAs, draft, and OTAs schedules. Go 9ers!
We might be about done.
Crab15,
You think I jinxed us bro? I guess we can beat Alex? My last 2 bullets in the gun are Josh Johnson signing in the next week and he and Kap going after that #1 spot. Gonna be interesting.
Manny Lawson is available. Remember the fights over loosing him?
Give Ward a call – could another ring hurt?
I thought Josh Johnson and Kaepernick were going to battle it out to see who would be the qb?
Shhhh!
That is next weeks rumor. Don’t let that out yet Sean.
Naw. Carmozzi & Druckenmiller.
ok brotha
2 weeks rumor mill. All that more reason to hush…hush.
Yeah. We don’t want to drive up the price on Carmozzi, Drunkenmiller, or even Akili Smith.
Well I guess this settles it, now we don’t have to hash out QB issues for at least 2 years!
What about that #7 dude?
Someone’s knocking at the door, somebody’s ringing the bell,
someone’s knocking at the door, somebody’s ringing the bell,
do me a favor, open the door and let ‘em in.
23J & all you Niner night owls – I hereby declare, this is now the CK7 theme song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3t10NEKGdw
Way to go! That’s perfect; but only for 2012. Next year (2013) its gotta be Joe Satriani’s ‘Sunrise’, cuz the New Age will compete to start. Terry Bradshaw and Brett Favre needed time and then thrived.
I really like CK’s upside.
Tuna – Right on.
Freaking sharks another loss going to the game on Saturday and they can be out of it bad day in sports and boy wonder return to the niners
Sucks to be you….
That isn’t the worst of it. Dogs go to the bathroom outside and get treats for it, but I do it ONE time…
Oh, Neal, that’s tooooooo funny. I had a temp worker, men’s room too full, hadda pee, took one behind his own car in the p-lot and got vilified for it. I tried to stand up for him and got fired for it that day. Got a new job in 25 minutes and started the next day. Hired him and we worked 15 years together. Wanna talk yerBuhahahahaha?
Brotha tuna,
Their is another Neal who is trying to imitate me, who I believe is in the pervert section of San Quentan, can’t take credit for it.
They need to unload Thornton. The guy disappears when the going gets tough. I got to see a game in San Jose in 08. Great rink and fans.
The team has no heart and every Wilson trade this year has back fired, losing Heatly and Setog was 40 goals this year.
Yeah, that trade was a disaster. I’ve been a fan of Marleau but he can’t seem to amp up his game. I’ve never been a fan of Thornton, as you can tell, and he is definitely not the best Joe on the team. I’d take Pavelski any day.
Of course, take my ramblings with a grain of salt as I’m on Oiler fan and aside from the miracle 06 run(thanks to Pronger and Roloson) I haven’t had anything to cheer about come playoff time.
Wine glass is empty, see y’all mañana.
Just a thought,
Alex Smith see’s the writing on the wall with a young and hungry CK waiting especially after trading up for him. So he knows he needs more gauranteed money to hold it off a little longer while either he gets better or gets ready to ride the second half of his career on the bench. I’m not mad at him. Although I was all for bringing in PM, he is a hall of famer so how couldn’t I be, I’m happy we’ll finally get to see what AS will be in his 2nd year under the same coach. I just hope they take the training wheels off and let him “roll” by himself. Lets see what his football instincts are made of.
On the other hand, let CK sit and learn more. A whole training camp should work wonders for he and Tolzien.
@oneniner
But if that were true (never drafting AS)…there would be no blogging on the Niners in the bay area.
Think of the employment locally that never happens if AS is not drafted.
All those other guys combined had fewer posts written about them than quite a few of Grant’s hits on recent blogs.
Yeah the owe him what they offered in the first place. A contract that measures his success last season. Deal with it. He’s still here. That’s not good enough for you? Onelame it’s not normal to have a man crush like this. Alex came crawling back because he had no place to go. The FO doesn’t see him like you and ds. Neither does the other teams in the nfl. Or he’d be getting more attention And more money. Now your turning your back on MY team. Talking about the GM of the year. Take a hike hater!
If you’re concerned about your civil liberties, this may be of interest to you – drones in the US:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uASSnzH87h8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sorry for Going way off topic
As much as some are horrified that AS signed with the Niners, the one thing that is of benefit in all this if you hate Alex is, he will be extremely motivated once again, like last year to prove the doubters wrong. with more established weopons, another year in thesame offense, and the support of the lockeroom, this guy is gonna play like there is no tommorow. Nothing better to have than a motivated athlete who’s mentality is me against the world.
I agree with some concern. I think this slap in the face went a little deeper. I don’t think he will be an a** but you have to wonder if he really trusts the FO now. Does he feel wanted? He’s put it behind him In the past, I hope he can do it this time. The pressure on him this year is bigger than ever. I really don’t think the niners will be happy with the same year he had last year. It’s obvious they want better wr play and qb play. I’m in doubt because the one solid thing he’s had in his career is inconsistency. When or if he succeeds this year it will be the first time he’s ever been consistent. Buckle up and roll with the next season. It’s gonna be a good one
MD, you have to wonder if any of the players trust the FO or JH. I’m still thinking it is the bean counters trying to pinch pennies and not focus on dimes. Wait until contracts are up in 2012. Remember, FG wasn’t happy last year before they restructured his contract. Good to see VD and FG back AS after the contract was announced. BTW, I’m not sure why everyone thinks CK is the answer. If the 9ers thought CK “was all that” why bring AS back??! But I’m with you, let’s just get a step further this coming year and win the damn SB!
Hey One,
MD is more open about AS’s return than some with blamertudes here (see Jordo). Pick your battles. It’s not about you being right, it’s about the teaming getting to the next level and winning the SB. Cool your jets dude!
…you should take your own advice Hoferfan67 -”Pick your battles”……
for 7 years ninermd has clearly articulated in a dumb way that he hates Alex (actually to be clear he hates the fact people like Alex)….that is not me making things up……and why can’t he speak for himself…..whtz ur biz in this anyways?
…….and where do you the idea that it was about me being right?…….do you have any facts to back that comment up……or are you just repeating what the haters say?
..funny thing is if you go back and read the comments……ninermd actually was “begging” for credit for suggesting Manning would sign with the broncos……
……again Pick your battles!!!!!
One, AS is back and will start. If he does well, who cares what the blamers think. He now has better receivers and he’ll have a whole offseason to work on his game. I’m interested to see if they add more weapons on offense via the draft. All good.
What happened here? Or do I want to know?
@hof
Your post at March 21, 2012 at 8:10 am is confusing man.
oneniner wasn’t even on this thread (unless the post was deleted) until after you directed your post to him. Makes it hard to tell who did what and why. If you think one did something wrong, go to that thread or open up a new one. This just confuses the heck out of me.
Drama. Nothing to see here, move along. :)
@DS…not sure why Hof….decided to comment on my bitch slapping of ninermd…..maybe he his bored…….
@Hof….of course its all good on the team side…..Alex has better tools to succeed…I am happy…..
…ninermd remains a social moron……and responding to jordan23 is like commenting to a wall….so why bother?
You guys should stop with the personal attacks and all the high school cheerleader drama. It’s dumb.
@Adam
A good part of it is solved with an ignore button.
We all know who really can’t stand each other. Get an ignore button on the blog. Then Grant tells those who we all know just hate on one another to use the ignore button on each other (I would) or get banned…the blog environment gets better in a hurry.
Lol I don’t know what communist country you live in, but in America you have the freedom to GET LOST. Please use these rights ASAP! Whiner.
According to AP sources Smith’s new contract calls for $8m per season with $16.5m guaranteed and can pay him up to $33m with incentives.
Jack, MFlynn’s contract net was actually $19M so AS def did much better than him. I mentioned yesterday that AS would get incentives to carry over the $24M. He held out and won versus the FO bean counters – great! I’ve got to believe JH and the FO had some interesting discussions. lol
I kind of doubt that. I have a feeling Harbaugh couldn’t care less. He will schmooze Smith or he’ll schmooze CK.
Until I’m satisfied he’s not a used car salesman, I’m not buying a thing he says anymore. Press conferences will all be, “blah blah blah,” to me. No news here, move along.
He’s lost my respect in this debacle.
I have a hard time with people who talk out both holes. Never know which face to look at.
Adam, could be true. That may be the feeling PM got when talking with him. He felt JElway was more sincere but hey, who knows! It is either JH telling players what they want to hear, or the FO pinching pennies. It will all come out when the dust clears.
@Adam
Who are you talking about?
JH, TB, or both?
I’m assuming it isn’t AS or CK.
Adam, maybe this whole Manning pursuit was all Baalke and Jed. You cant blame Harbaugh, in fact you cant blame anyone. The team tried to upgrade a position, it happens all the time. Its a business, the NFL is a ruthless, what have you done, or what can you do for me lately business. There are no feelings or emotions in any of this.
“He’s lost my respect in this debacle”
Grow up!
I don’t know. I actually hope I’m way off wrong on him. I was REALLY pulling for Harbaugh so this thing kinda breaks my heart (metaphorically of course. :P)
I have a hard time with deceitful people though, in general. If you can’t be sincere in words and deeds what else is there? You know what I mean?
So this one is tough for me, as a fan and as someone who REALLY wanted Harbaugh to coach here.
Adam says, “He’s lost my respect in this debacle.”
Get over it! Alex obviously has.
If you listened to his press conferences and thought that everything was sincere then please give me a call. I have some nice ocean front property in Arizona that I would like to sell you.
When they start winning again in 2012 you will be back in love with him again.
“The team tried to upgrade a position, it happens all the time.”
Of course it does, FDM. And if you’d read any of my other comments I am absolutely fine with that. I gave manning tons of props (although I had some concerns) and said it would be an upgrade (if all the conditions were met.)
What I don’t like is the way they handled this. It could have been done much better. Don’t pump Smith up, pretend you mean it, and then cut him off at the knees. It doesn’t do any good for the players on the team, the office reputation or for Smith.
And please don’t tell me to grow up. My tourettes will act up, I’ll call you the C-word, and then punch you in the mouth. It’s a terrible habit. ;)
@Adam
But, TB controls the personnel.
I was wrong in thinking JH controls the QB part.
It can all make sense if you think TB was the one directing this. Because when it comes down to it, it is TB’s job. You, me can disagree with him. But, I don’t think we can blame JH though.
TB was fine with letting AS walk. JH was not. Does it seem more likely to you that TB would let AS walk now, or would it be JH?
“You think you know. But you don’t. And you never will.”
“If you listened to his press conferences and thought that everything was sincere then please give me a call. I have some nice ocean front property in Arizona that I would like to sell you.”
Hindsight is 20/20.
I don’t know what “everything” you’re talking about but as it relates to Smith only the Alex haters claimed that Harbaugh was blowing smoke (now we know they were probably right.)
I would assume most fans bought in to Harbaugh just like the players did. The casual fan probably won’t even know anything has changed but… whatever. Seems to me there’s a classier way this could have been handled.
Or maybe someone should have warned Harbaugh early on not to make disingenuous statements about Smith because they were always going to shop around and this stuff could come back to bite him in the a__.
Hofer, Who cares about Flynn? I never mentioned him. I only was giving Smith’s numbers.
As for you getting it right that he would win out, good for you. Take a minute and pound your chest. You are a brilliant mind.
“When they start winning again in 2012 you will be back in love with him again.”
I’ve been a fan since the Brodie days – good and bad. That isn’t going to change but I will certainly look at Harbaugh with a less-than-trusting eye from now on, that’s certain.
Not that one fan’s opinion makes one bit of difference to the organization but there it is.
Adam, I believe that Harbaugh does think that Smith is good, but if he feels that he can upgrade the position he will look to do it.
He did the same thing last year with Matt Hasselbeck, and lost there too. Smith knew all along last year too that they may bring in someone for him to compete with, was fine with it, and ended up having his best season yet. The only difference this year is the media circus because it was Manning so it got a lot more attention and has been overblown.
The only people that feel he betrayed Alex are the Smithers that were hurt because they felt their guy was being dissed. Like I said get over it. Alex has, and it is now time to get down to business.
“TB was fine with letting AS walk. JH was not.”
I don’t buy that for a second, DS. Sure they can do their good cop / bad cop thing but I don’t buy the Harbaugh part of it.
He’d have been just fine with Mannning on board, had their secret workout and sales pitch been more successful.
One of Harbaugh’s Many strengths is recruiting. This wasn’t Baalke secretly meeting with Manning it was Harbaugh and Roman.
Which look, it’s all fine. I’m just saying don’t go out there for a whole year and blow smoke and pretend the guy is your best friend. He’s a tool you’re using and leave it at that – at least it’s more honest.
“TB was fine with letting AS walk. JH was not * in 2011*”
I meant last year, not what just happened.
As it was reported, Matt Hasselbeck was to be brought in for competition. He had a CHANCE to win the spot. He wasn’t guaranteed anything.
That he was not guaranteed anything and because our O-line was not up to his standards, he went elsewhere.
However, where you would be right, and I just read this the other day (and had NEVER heard this one before) Singletary’s crew went after Big Ben in 2010.
In general, I have no problem with upgrading any position on the field, whether it eventually turns out to be Manningham over Crabs or Tebow over Smith. Whatever they think works.
Like Dickey, Ratto, Barrows and some others have said though, this was kinda sleazy. And we should be better than that.
“The only people that feel he betrayed Alex are the Smithers.”
Wrong. Like I said, I’ve been a fan of this team since the Brodie days. The Red & Gold isn’t perfect and we can be tainted by scandals and all that just like anyone else. Uncle Eddie finally fell, etc. But this thing has always been as classy as it can be.
Now we’ve got mentally challenged thugs fighting in the stands and shooting each other in the parking lot and we’ve got some shady stuff going on up top. Just needs to be cleaner is all I’m saying. This has always been a pretty classy operation (as much as can be in a brutal sport) and that’s how it needs to be.
As for Smith, he did the only thing he could do if he actually wants to keep playing. He’s pragmatic, if nothing else.
I heard the Big Ben thing before. But no details except that they tried it. I have no idea how far, or how serious it got/was.
Well Alex I was rooting for you to go to Miami the entire way. And I felt a knife twist in my stomach when the story broke you could return. But since you’re here now, best wishes for a productive year and hope you and the team continue to improve.
Might be better for you to OD. Probably less painful. Knife seems harsh.
Looks as though AS got $33M and $16.5 in GUARANTEE. Wow!
….Good for him….he deserves it…….again the haters were wrong
Haters were wrong about what? His only value was to Harbaugh being a serviceable QB keeping the seat warm until #7 is ready.
Smith got more money and I am sure the FO did that to mend fences but the low value associated with Smith is there and it is league wide…..
I guess Harbaugh is a hater since he tried his best to upgrade the position. Stupid comment, Mr. Crabtree.
If CK doesn’t step up soon he may never make it. As long as the QB is homegrow and JH’s pick, I’ll roll with it!
Harbaugh chose Manning because it was best for the team, not because he was home grown. Sad to know that you wouldn’t support what’s best for the team because it doesn’t support your agenda.
.”…….Now, he is getting some job security and a nice raise to boot.
“Oh, I’m excited,” tight end Vernon Davis said in a text message. “I’m glad. Alex deserves all good things that come his way.”
49ers CEO Jed York had said the team’s three-year offer still stood despite the pursuit of Manning, and it was just up to Smith to sign.
“I don’t think there will be any bad blood because he went to Miami for an interview,” former 49ers running back great Roger Craig said Tuesday. “That’s part of the process, it’s the nature of the beast. He has to do what’s best for him and his family. I’m pretty sure the 49ers are going to work something out. Players love him, fans love him. I love him.
“I think Alex wants to get this put to bed so he can focus on having a great year, an All-Pro year this year,” Craig said. “He doesn’t want this dark cloud over him. It’s really his time, and he understands the business. He knows it’s a good situation.”…..”
If Alex Smith only got 16.5 million guaranteed that must have been the reason he wavered so long. In Smith’s eyes, that’s insulting.
As for incentives, most players take the bait but rarely do they attain their incentive targets.
Crab, actually that is quite good. Two years salary guaranteed. MF only got $10M from Seattle in a total deal of $19M. Now let’s talk draft!
Actually $19M with total of $26M in incentives for MF.
Spin doctor
@ Adam
I’m going to respectfully disagree with you, my friend, about JH. I think you may be over-reacting to the diss of Alex in the pursuit of PM. What’s it to me? Well, I always read your posts and find them thoughtful and well explained. Even when I don’t agree I can see your point, so I thought I’d throw out a couple of thoughts.
JH is and will be ruthless about trying to win. He’d replace Patrick Willis if he could find somebody better. Going after PM was just that, imo. There’s no polite way to bring in someone to try to take your job. I think the players understand that in a larger sense, although any person is going to feel resentment. The context is ‘No Mercy’, between the white lines or in personnel issues. I do remember all the stuff Jim said. When he called Alex elite, that was our clue. AS did a good job last year but he wasn’t one of the top 3 or 4 QBs. Harbaugh knew that when he used ‘elite’. So is he lying? Or just relentlessly positive? Your opinion is worth as much as mine, but I can give JH a pass. As I said yesterday though, getting ‘caught’ at pitching to Peyton was messy. What kind of secret could it be with Condon representing both? That was a Doh! Just some thoughts……