Alex Smith hasn’t thrown a football for 15 days due to his separated shoulder, but he’s clearly capable of swinging back in response to a verbal shot from his coach.
Smith, who hasn’t been cleared to practice, was asked today about Mike Singletary’s comments regarding a lack of offensive leadership in the first half of the season, an opinion Singletary expressed prior to the Broncos game. For obvious reasons, it was viewed by many as a thinly veiled criticism of Smith.
And Smith, recently named by the Sporting News as the 11th smartest athlete in sports, successfully read between the lines.
“My answer to that is that there’s a lot of different forms of
leadership,” Smith said. “It’s funny, I think you’re a good leader when
you win and you’re a bad leader when you lose, and that’s how I feel.
That’s how it’s always been. When you’re winning obviously your
leadership works. If you’re winning it’s working, if you’re not,
obviously then it’s put in question, especially in the quarterback
position.”
Smith, who has never been overly demonstrative on the field, said he’s
had frequent discussions with the fiery Singletary on the topic of
leadership. In an interview with SIRIUS Radio earlier this season, he
discussed his even-keel temperament on game day and how it differs from
his emotional coach. At that time, Smith said he could do without his
coach’s high-decibel counsel when he came off the field.
Today, Smith didn’t sound angry when discussing their differences, but he firmly defended his stance on the subject.
“He and I have different viewpoints on leadership,” he said. “I think
being a middle linebacker on defense and a leader is very different than
being a quarterback. Executing on the offensive side of the ball and
the defensive side of the ball are very different things. It’s a very
different mindset, in my opinion. We’ve talked about it; over the last
couple of years we’ve always talked.”
Whether the talks between Smith and Singletary will become less frequent this season remains unclear.
Troy Smith said he has not been told whether he will start Sunday
against the visiting Rams. He spent most of the bye week back home in
Cleveland, but offensive coordinator Mike Johnson faxed him information
regarding the upcoming game plan. Singletary won’t meet with the media until Wednesday.
It’s widely assumed that Smith will be starting. Linebacker Takeo Spikes
sounds as if he expects him to continue in that role after Smith led
the Niners to a 24-16 win over Denver in his third career start.
“This team does have some momentum coming behind it,” Spikes said, “especially with Troy out there starting.”
Alex Smith stayed in Santa Clara last week for rehab and says his
shoulder is pain-free as far as performing everyday tasks. He lifted
some light weights for the first time today.
Smith is clearly aware he may not be the starter when he’s healthy enough to play.
“That’s my expectation, that’s my mindset,” he said of assuming his
former role. “It’s not my choice though, it’s not my decision. If it
happens I’ll be ready, no question.”
Regarding his relationship with Troy Smith, he conceded that the lack of
clarity over their roles in the future can make things awkward. But
he’s been assisting Smith while he’s been sidelined.
“Opportunities come at different times and yeah it can be awkward and
difficult, but I’m not going to backdoor him or slight him or not give
him help if I can,” Smith said. “No question, I’m not that type of guy.
Never have been. Because in the long run Troy’s success has nothing to
do with mine. In the long run … At a time like this you kind of see what
kind of man you are. And that’s not who I am.”
• Linebacker Manny Lawson, not surprisingly, wasn’t in agreement with
the NFL’s decision to fine him $12,500 for a hit on Denver quarterback
Kyle Orton. Lawson shot wasn’t a helmet-to-helmet hit — he drilled
Orton in the upper torso — and didn’t draw a penalty.
“I don’t have too much to say about it,” Lawson said. “I don’t think it
was anything out of the ordinary, myself. But, you know, that’s coming
from a player. What else are we going to say?”
• The Niners released LB Eric Bahktiari and RB Jehuu Caulcrick from the practice squad and signed WR Lance Long and RB DeShawn Wynn today.
The 5-foot-10, 232-pound Wynn, selected by the Packers in the seventh
round of the 2007 Draft, spent his first three seasons in Green Bay
before playing with the Saints this season. New Orleans released him on
Oct. 12. He has started four career games — all in 2007 — and has 332
yards and five touchdowns on 64 carries. He has 14 carries in the past
two-plus seasons.
The 5-11, 186-pound Long signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free
agent in 2008 and has since played with the Chiefs and Jaguars, who
released him from their practice squad last week. In eight career games
(one start), he has 20 catches for 178 yards and has returned six
kickoffs for 106 yards.
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