Here’s what Adam Schefter just said on Sportscenter about Colin Kaepernick and Alex Smith’s future.
SCHEFTER: “They reserve the right to go back to Alex Smith at any point if Kaepernick struggles. We don’t know how long that leash for Colin Kaepernick will be. But the fact of the matter is if Kaepernick plays the way that he has the last two games, it’s going to be his starting job and it’s going to be his starting job indefinitely.
“If that’s the case, then you take a look at Alex Smith and his contractual situation. He will be unhappy being a backup, and the 49ers and very few teams in the league would be willing to carry a quarterback who is scheduled to make about $8 million as a backup.
“It creates a situation where clearly, if Kaepernick performs well, as he has, that would make Alex Smith expendable this offseason.”
49ers RSS feed
Loading ...
Too entertaining not to re-post. Here is what Alex Smith’s wife just said on twitter in response to Matt Barrows posting the odds Alex is back with the 49ers next year:
@mattbarrows
“Odds on whether Alex Smith will be a member of the #49ers in Week 1 of the 2013 regular season?”
elizabeth smith @lizbsmith11
“Would you like to make a wager on this one?? ;)”
elizabeth smith @lizbsmith11:
“You may have been with him longer but I have the “hot hands” of the relationship;)”
Go to respect her for the “hot hand” comment. Hilarious
Hey hot hands, get some hand warmers cause that’s what backups use.
Absolutely classless remark.
“Classless” and “Bayareafanatic” go together like peanut butter and jelly.
Elizabeth must be pleased that her husband is going to sit on the sidelines with less chance for another concussion this season.
I say good for her for the light-hearted nature of that one!
She’s hot and nice. Met her and the kid at open TC before the 2011 season. They’re a good unit.
I still think you trade him and don’t cut him. Our top two QB’s next year would be making a combined $8.8M. That is still way below the NFL average of the top 10 teams. We can afford to keep him and trade him for a 2nd round pick thanks to Kaep’s dirt cheap contract.
Not so sure he can be traded, he’s due a 8 mil bonus on 4/29/13, they may have to release him and get nothing for him, we need to know more about the words of his contract.
When could you trade him. I know the deadline is past. Isn’t it like the first week in March?
You have that wrong, he gets a 1 mil bonus, if he is here at that time, and then 8.5 mil for the 2013 season. So
for that reason they will try to trade him or let him go.
I doubt that. If the front office folks do not want to pay his salary they will release him which gives him the flexibility to find a position he wants, and also perhaps to come back as a backup with a salary cut.
Don’t forget the reputation impact on players and agents around the league. Being flexibile (ie. granting him his release) makes this a more attractive destination for other players. That plays a factor. You can’t always play hardball with every player, even if you have them under contract. It can backfire in the long run.
By the way Mood, I see you’re a fan of Mike Tanier. Great, great stuff he writes!
@Angus
Agreed. The Niners F.O. is respected by the agents (including Rosenhaus) because they act with integrity.
Yes, I’ve been a big fan of Tanier for a few years now. That column he wrote on the “Siege of Fort McNabb” at Football Outsiders some two years ago was a masterpiece.
It frustrates me that the beat writers don’t talk more about Alex Smith’s contract.
It is not clear that the 8 million is a bonus payment. Maiocco stated that the salary would be guaranteed for 8 million for the season if he was on the team march 1. Which would lead me to understand that the salary would be paid during the season like any other deal- he just would be paid no matter if he was cut or injured during the offseason.
If that is the case- the guy is tradeable- and would seem like a good deal compared with a Kolb like contract. 8 million for a starting QB is a bargain and the team that took him could drop Smith with little risk.
But so far- none of the beat writers will talk about it. It is annoying
I agree, it is annoying.
I would also like to know the salary cap implications if Smith is on the team past March 1, his salary becomes guaranteed, and then he’s traded.
Grant, a little help?
@ Angus:
If the money in question is salary, there are no salary cap implications from a trade. His 2013 salary would count against the cap of the team that receives him in trade.
If Smith received a signing bonus upon the signing of his contract (I don’t think he did, but cannot remember for sure) and the 49ers trade him, then the unallocated portion of that bonus (2/3) would count against the 49ers’ 2013 cap.
He’s due a payment of 1 miilion on April first and is guaranteed 1 million whether he is cut or not.
His actual salary for next season is 7.5 mill which is a bargain for a starter, but steep for a backup. Smith is tradeable if the Niners decide to go that route but they may just let him choose his own path out of respect and let him become a FA by not paying the bonus.
I fully expect them to release him and allow him to become a FA. Out of respect.
How can you say he can be traded because when on the market this past off-season as a Free Agent, he did not even get a sniff? Despite his record last season, nobody was interested. That, alone, tells you plenty!
This just in:
Schefter reports that if it rains out today, the streets are going to get wet.
No kidding! Isn’t there like some matchups we could be looking into. What might we be looking at as far as some new Fisher trickery. Something! This is getting old quickly! I have a feeling that karma has a funny way of rearing its ugly head!
Yeah, didn’t mean to sound like such a smart-ass but there’s no way that AS stays with the same amount of zeros on his paycheck.
Im kind of worried about this game. Fishers a really good coach and he’ll have the Rams ready to go again. Those trick plays last time were really lame but i expect Sealy to have the ST ready for anything.
Seems to me that Smith’s future is somewhat tied to Tolzien. It must be a great problem to have, i.e., two starting quality quarterbacks. If Tolzien is “ready,” it would diminish Smith’s value, especially at his salary.
OldTime..
Tolzein could be a factor in Alex’s future with the team, but I doubt it. As Pete posted, he is due the $8,000,000 in April, so that in itself is the mitigating factor for the 49er’s. Also, take into consideration the ‘turmoil’ Alex has gone through here. From his standpoint, he may have come to realize that he gave it his best shot, and that it’s just not meant to be…… it’s time to move on, get on with life in a new environment.
I don’t know where all of you who say 8 mil get that from, it is 1 mil, if you read Rocket’s statement
above that is exactly what will take place.
Grant,
What is your best guess as to who fills the open roster spot?
My best guess would be waiting to see what’s going on with the kicker situation for right now!
@ Jack:
A kicker if Akers cannot go.
Guess I should have refreshed before answering.
Claude/Montana,
Yeah, that is what I though too, but if not a kicker where do they go?
If I had to guess, I would say someone to help with returns, but I don’t know who is available.
Yes, I was going to say special teams as well!
LaMichael James returns kicks…
Chad Hall. Just signed to practice squad this week.
>>LaMichael James returns kicks…
He was doing his darndest to make that a true statement in pre-season.
I’d be worried if we had to go with LMJ fielding kicks come playoff time. Lets hope CK can lead us to *really* insumountable leads.
I’m guessing Nate Kaeding for this week.
Thanks Grant
I think they should bring back Josh Johnson as the 3rd QB for next year behind Tolzien. He showed some flashes this preseason and Harbaugh likes him and said he played as well as Tolzein this preseason which I agree with and actually think his upside is higher than Tolzein cause he is much more mobile. He didn’t sign with another team. Believe he is in the UFL
He is in the living room, on the couch.
For a reason…
I actually think he is in the CFL or the UFL. Anyone?
Johnson was with Sacramento in the UFL, but they ceased operations. He is not playing anywhere right now.
I am surprised with the crappy second string QB’s in Pittsburgh, Phoenix and others, he can’t find a job.
Neal,
Johnson throws a pretty ball, looks the part, but he is just not a good quarterback. His career numbers prove that.
I actually don’t think Johnson looked bad. I’d give him another shot in camp.
I’ve seen Tolzien. He’s bulked up. But I’ve also seen him throw. Not a lot of zip. And IMO he did look like he was outplayed by Johnson in preseason who BTW knows this offense.
I say continue to kick the tires. Johnson needs to put on 15 pounds of muscle this offseason though.
Jack,
He looked good in the last exhibition game of the season, granted most of the players were all cut. Look what he did with AS, maybe he could make JJ a good second alternative. He got to be better then Charley Batch and John Skelton.
Neal,
If John Skelton and Charlie Batch are your benchmarks you are scraping the bottom of the barrel. If the guy was good they would have kept him. They kept Tolzien instead. That tells you all you need to know.
I bet JJ is better than both Jets QB’s. He’s young too. Just needs to bulk up a bit.
Flackseed anyone lol.
Bay,
Again that is not saying much.
We are not talking about a starter, we are talking about a third stringer on the cheap….
What part of “he is not very good” are you missing? And he isn’t cheap, he is counting $500k against the cap already from his signing bonus. If they thought he had value he would still be here.
Elizabeth, Alex is very smart and you must be a great lady and I know you and Alex must know that Harbaugh is a Con Man. Alex should tell Harbaugh to take a hike and Demand to be Traded or Released immediatly !!! Not at the End of the Year. Harbaugh will try to Con Alex into staying but for his own selfish reasons as insurance in case kaepernick gets injured. Unfortunately Alex’s Career in SF is over. It’s time to move on. Alex has been wronged and there is no point in Staying Any Longer. Harbaugh only cares about himself. Help Alex make the Right Choice. Why help Harbaugh ? by being his insurance policy. Alex will not be around in 2013.
Best Regards
Welcome back Primate
Wronged, the team stuck with him for eight years! Harbaugh took the time to coach him up and put him in a position to be a starting qb for someone else next year! Let’s not forget how many teams were lined up to sign Alex last year. That’s why he ended up signing a contract that gives the 49ers the option to move on. Had he signed a contract with guaranteed money beyond this year, he would still be the starting qb. Bottom line, the 49ers helped Alex get a starting job next year.
Sour grapes. Fortunately for 9er fans Alex is a better man and more of a team player than you. Plus you’re overlooking the fact that Harbaugh brought Smith’s career back from the dead. Before last year Smith was considered a bust and before this year strictly a game manager.
Lol. That’s oneniner. Lmao. How pathetic
What a joke! Are you kidding me Don! Alex was con by jh! Alex had made millions of dollars because of this organizations commitment to him and because of jh he is in a very marketable position! I truly respect Alex Smith, he is a team player a good character guy but this is a business!!!! Stop crying and support the team and enjoy your money in the bank Alex.
I really feel bad for AS he really gave his all. But it’s not fair to the team and fans if the best player don’t play. I hope we do every thing we can to put AS in a place were he will be happy! We can’t show him the class that he showed us! Do the right thing niners and work with AS and let his agent land him where he can get a chance to keep playing. He just was not the best player at his spot. It’s only right that kap plays if he has put in the work to grow passed AS. Gore said that much and I really respect frank. So if he said that kap has put in the work then he should be the new 49ers starting QB! And I Like that JH has every one on the team in mind. To make this move when AS is playing the best of his life. To see that it’s still best to let the best man play. I think all the espn guys for got that! Not the oldest. Smith could not share playing time. He would loose his timing when kap came in. Stinky from espn forgot that and said that JH was wrong for not starting AS. Come on dude if kap is the better player them he has to do the right thing for the team! It would not be fair and it keeps guy working hard knowing that they are playing for there jobs if they don’t step up every day! That’s good for the team! And the fans to see the best the niners have to offer! It’s not hard just fair! Best man wins!
I wonder if in addition to all the things that have already been covered in the shall-Smith-or-Kaepernick-start? brouhaha, there isn’t a bit of Baalke in the mix?
I’m asking because I wonder if by not playing will Alex miss out on any incentives he might have otherwise been eligible for? After all, his numbers are very, very good and obviously if he doesn’t start a playoff game he can’t earn a bonus for a win there either.
I have no idea if it’s part of the decisional equation, but Kaep playing may be saving the 9ers some dough in addition to any performance advantage they may feel they are obtaining.
Just wondering …
The amount of money to be made if they win in the playoffs far, far outweighs any miniscule performance incentive savings. It’s all about winning.
Will Alex Smith end up with the Raiders? It turns out he has a connection – his wife Elizabeth was a Raiderette!
I read something along the lines of how the Raiders have been watching the 49er Kap situation closely and they’re working hard to get Prior ready to go!
The Niners should thank Al Davis’ loose lips. Niners learned he was pining for Kaep, which is why they moved so aggressively in the draft.
Or maybe it’s cause they REALLY wanted Dalton.
I could see a scenario where he gets released before April, takes the Sgt Peppers tour around the league, no one wants him as their starter and he resigns with the 49ers as the backup.
He will absolutely be picked up as a starter, we have a very skewed perception here on how good a player Alex is. KC, JAX, AZ to name a few would have no problem starting Alex.
Miami is the only team I know of that sniffed his jock strap.
Razor,
By the time it became evident that the Niners might be in play for Manning, there really were no starting jobs available for Smith. This idea that there will no teams interested in a 29 year old QB, who is in the top 5 in QB rating and yards per attempt, along with 20 wins in a season and a half, is absurd.
Rocket,
Yeah, so? What’s your point?
A comment being aburd has never stopped anyone on this blog, before.
exgolfer,
Truer words have never been spoken.
The only team that was reported to sniff, that means zero, unless you believe everything on the internet. Totally different scenario and a new year with new needs for each team. Alex only helped ‘his’ cause with his play this year. There’s 6-10 teams that would be really foolish not to look into picking him up, there isn’t a very large supply of adequate QB’s. If we stepped out of our Ninerhood and extreme QB expectations we have around here, we would notice, mediocrity and suckiness is abound at the QB position.
I can’t see any team picking him up that’s going to count on him leading them to the land of milk and honey. I could see a head coach using him like Harbaugh did.
Razor- Teams that are REALLY looking for the land of milk and honey, already have their QB. There’s only a handful of teams that are ‘set’ with their starting QB.
Again… we are so skewed here. There are 20 teams that would LOVE a QB to play as Alex has shown the last 2 years.
Uh, all coaches are REALLY REALLY wanting to get to the Super Bowl. I am not aware of the 20 teams that you refer to not wanting to get there. I imagine they will draft a QB to groom while maybe hiring Smith to tutor, and play until he is ready.
Yes Razor I realize everyone wants to get there, that goes without saying. But do you really think Dennis Allen or Pat Shurmur really thought their team is at the doorstep of a SB this year? The vast majority of teams are really looking to just get better. Having a tough, experienced, smart and efficient QB showing your young stud the ropes is a pretty viable way to improve your team.
I bet the Steelers wish they had him as Big Ben insurance. Alex >> Batch
The football gods giveth & the football gods taketh away. Kaep is clearly better than Smith, but he’s a young qb who will need a strong run game in the playoffs. The loss of Hunter was a huge blow in terms of keeping Gore fresh & providing another back good st blitz pick up. Hopefully, gore will be fresh enough to carry a greaterload. As talented as Kaep is, the team isn’t designed to be a high volume passing offense.
Best guess … the Raiders will send two #1 draft picks to the 49ers for Smith.
Sorry. Al’s not making those decisions anymore.
That was Hugh Jackson, Al would never give up those amount of drafts for Palmer.
And the point of this is? It’s pretty obvious that, at some point, Kaepernick was going to challenge Smith for the job if his performance (in practice or on the field) warranted it. The surprise is only that he got an opportunity sooner than expected (albeit due to an injury), and showed he was ready much sooner than many expected. Schefter is basically stating what everybody, at this point, could deduce from the available info.
The risk with Kaepernick still exists. He’s been tremendously impressive in his opportunities, but it’s still a very small sample size. The more interesting question is what happens if the Rams and Jeff Fisher, who are the first team to have some prior game film and on field experience to work off of, manage to come up with a game plan that better limit Kaepernick’s ability to escape the pockets on the outside and capitalize on some of Kaerpernick’s risk taking down field?
I’m genuinely excited by the potential of Kaerpernick, and feel the future for the 49ers with him at QB is very bright. While I have been impressed by Alex Smith’s resilience and game smarts, and do feel he’s better than many give him credit for being, I’m not blind to the fact that Kaerpenick’s upside is greater. That was evident when he was drafted.. the question was simply when it would be realized.
I hope that Kaerpernick’s inevitable ‘inexperienced QB’ moments remain relatively benign. Thus far, it’s mostly been noticeable in occasional clock management gaffes and tendency to hold on to the ball a little long (albeit, for him, it’s turned out really well more often than not to date). Nothing that has hurt the outcome. If it remains that way, the 49ers will truly have a chance at running the table.
This is what gets me upset guys like Craig that just don’t get it. The best player plays! Dude are u that dumb to not see that $$$ is not a factor right now. Maybe in the off season but we are trying to win a SB. How can guys not see that buy the way the team plays! Best man up! Look at aldon he was better so he got the nod. Dude can’t u see how the team plays all out! Or they will be next to hand over there jobs. It’s fair and the right thing to do! Not if Trent is putting this out there! JH would not have it any other way! Come on dude! Really it’s not that hard to see! Can’t u see how good this kid is are u on mars or what! Kap is dining thing that no other qb has done in his first two and a half starts! Almost 70 completion % no other player two start out has done! Look it up before u think strings are bing pulled! Kap has worked his way on to the field! His hard work! Even his team mates see that too! And have spoke on it like frank!
Players lost for season with Kap in the game, josh morgan, hunter and williams. Whos next?
Shocking words from Kaepernick: http://www.theonion.com/articles/colin-kaepernick-admits-he-learned-nothing-from-wa,30548/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_campaign=standard-post:headline:default
The Onion got you Grant
You do know that The Onion is a satire newspaper, right?
LOL Grant!!
Heh, Grant knows what’s up.
Nnow that they are Onion material, it means the Niners have fully arrived :)
Hilarious.
Now the Smither’s won’t eat onions now because ” onion = haters
You can be a Niner fan and defend A. Smith against bad coaching and interlopers like JTO or Troy Smith and still realize that Kaepernick looks better than Alex.
Those of you who wanted Cody Pickett to be your starting QB are still wrong. Alex, has been under bad circumstances most of his time in SF. When he finally got a decent coach his play and stats have reflected it.
As Barbieri used to say, two things can be equally true: Alex Smith was the best option in SF for most of his career but now Kaepernick is.
Grant, please, please, say you knew that was from the Onion and that you also know that the Onion is satire.
Whether he did or he didn’t, he will say he did now.
You got onioned. I hope. Lmao the article was funny though
what a bunch of bs! I am shocked Grant that your are providing this none sense on your blog. Come on Grant
Is it just me or did anyone else notice our offense didn’t score enough points to beat the Saints. If it wasn’t for our defense we would have lost by 3. When Smith was playing and we won, we didn’t have to rely on the defense. Kaepernick is good, but not ready to lead us to a title.
Another delusional post from a guy who overlooks the fact that Harbaugh puts the offense into conservative mode when he has a considerable lead and dials it up when he needs to get the lead. Witness: the first drive of the second half and the first drive of the 4th quarter served 2 totally distinct purposes.
The Basic laws of human stupidity are on full display once again.
http://www.searchlores.org/realicra/basiclawsofhumanstupidity.htm
” When Smith was playing and we won, we didn’t have to rely on the defense.”
Thanks for the laugh…
relevant item from Sando’s chat this morning.
Barry (SLC, UT)
Do you believe that Kaepernick is overrated at this point? If it wasn’t for our defense (the same one that everyone talks about for carrying Smith and the offense last year), he’d be standing at a 1-1 record. Also, the tie against the Rams counted against Smith but Kaepernick should have been able to win that game.
Mike Sando (1:51 PM)
Perhaps. How do you know the 49ers would have lost without the defensive touchdowns? Can we really assume that Kaepernick would have played exactly the same way the rest of the game without those defensive scores? For all we know, the 49ers would have had to open up the offense. Kaepernick might have thrown three picks or three touchdown passes in that type of game. Hard to just take away game-changing plays and then analyze players as though nothing else would have changed, either.
BCruz,
How was that Kool-Aid today, I know you are joking when you said that AS never relied on our defense to win a game, just David Akers.
Another “half-glass-smith” excuse
it was just you
Pick’em Rankings heading into tonight’s game:
Angus 119
Crab 118
49erGirl 118
Coffee 116
DRogue 115
ninermd 114
rocket 113
JackH 112
hjt396 105
Midwest 96
Chris 88
Didn’t realize I was winning! I stunk it up two weeks ago, must have had a good last week. I’ve really got to stop picking the Bills…
just keep those paypal deposits coming
Coffee – Thanks! You’re moving up.
I bank on my consistent 10 a week avg to reliably earn third or fourth place like a champ each year.
Cohn do u remember how Joe Montana was with Steve young? Do u think it could be playing out like that? That’s sounds about right. It would not suprise me if AS and kap were at odds! I mean kap was like I want this job and took it! So I bet AS was hurt how up front kap was about it! and AS was never a good leader and it seem like kap has got the locker room looking his way and I read how JH was asking guy how they felt about kap. he is doing what a leader is born to do get control and lead. What u think Cohn?
Grant, any word on who will get Hunter’s snaps?
I think its odd that both players were injured by Vilma on the same play. Last time we played the Saints Vilma injured Ginn. I was against the year long suspension for Vilma before, but now…..?
To help clarify my point on not having to rely on the defense to win close games. And to clear up my delusional thoughts, I show in the first 8 games of the year when Smith Started and the Niners won the 3 close games the defense did not score. (packers 9/9 30-22, lions 9/16 27-19, seahawks 10/18 13-6,) the other 3 games the Niners won by an average 33.3 points. Your welcome for the laugh Jack, but no joke was intended.
If you get a chance, find Colin Cowherd’s review of Smith’s W-L record and how the defense contributes to his success. The breakdown is similar to yours, but covers the last 25 games that Smith started. Essentially, the data show that Smith can win with defensive help, but cannot lead comebacks when needed.
Neal, The kool aide is the best here good ole SLC.
I will admit the field position the defense provides does help. I was just referring to the defense having to score for us to win.