Quarterback Alex Smith, who is out for the season with his shoulder injury, underwent a "relatively minor procedure" late last week, a team spokesman said.
Smith was placed on injured reserve Sept. 10 due to a fracture of a small bone in his throwing shoulder. Although the injury was at first believed to be a non-contact injury, such an injury is considered rare.
Smith shoulder healed well enough that there was no need to insert a screw to promote the healing process. Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala., who performed the iniitial surgery in December to repair a separated shoulder, removed a small piece of bone fragment and wire sutures from the previous surgery. The arthroscopic procedure had been anticipated for several weeks.
This recent procedure will not impact Smith's timetable for return. He should be available to throw passes during the offseason camps. But will it be with the 49ers?
When asked in early September -- before Smith's injury -- if the 49ers could bring back Smith next season if he did not prove himself this year, GM Scot McCloughan said, "The amount of money we're going to invest in him, he'd have to be proven that he is the guy - that when we get to the offseason, he's our guy for next year."
But after the season-ending injury, Smith asked then-coach Mike Nolan if he could remain with the team and attend all the QB meetings. Nolan said he could -- showing an open mind on both sides to consider maintaining the union beyond this season.
Smith is scheduled to earn $9.625 million in base salary next season. If he returns, it would likely be for a minimum contract, plus incentives. If he's on the team under his current deal, he would count $12.29 million against the 2009 cap. If the 49ers released him, he'd count $5.3 million.
* * *
I would be amazed if we did not release Mr.
Smith. He obviously needs a couple of years behind a veteran of a different team. I would be interested in Mr. Anderson from Cleveland if they're dealing
him, but as far as an understudy draft
pick it has got to be Nate Davis from Ball
State.
Matt,
Would it be worth while to say Alex what he thinks? Would he take a pay cut to stick around with the 49ers?
In yet another moronic non-move by McIdiot and Nowin, they had a chance to trade for either Shaun Rogers or Kris Jenkins to anchor this ridiculous 3-4 they have trying to run with Franklin and Soopoaga at the nose. Check out this piece from SI.com: Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins. The high-priced Jenkins gave his organization its money's worth in an incredibly dominating performance that was reminiscent of Browns DT Shaun Rogers' destruction of the Jacksonville Jaguars one week ago. Jenkins was the fulcrum of the Jets run defense from his nose tackle position, dominating the Bills offensive line so thoroughly Buffalo finished with just 30 yards on the ground. Jenkins finished with five tackles and stood up double teams like an immovable object, allowing the Jets linebackers to flow to the football, often untouched.
Even more impressive was his performance as a pass rusher. It is not easy for a 365-pound man to generate enough initial quickness off the snap to efficiently affect the quarterback's throws, but Jenkins was all over Trent Edwards and proved to be the biggest difference in the game, with some special assistance from Darrelle Revis and his two turnovers. Jenkins had two sacks and a host of other pressures, but it was his inside club move against Derrick Dockery that enabled him to force Edwards into an errant throw. Abram Elam picked off the pass and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown to give the Jets a lead they would never relinquish.
GM Scot McCloughan should be fired first before Smith is released. The Team of McNolan are responsible for the last 3 1/2 years.
I agree with Marco from Stockton-Fire McCloughan/Hire Holmgrem who would rebuild
our Niners into what they should be: Champions!
Alex will have to take a dramatic paycut next year no matter where he is going to end up.
He can choose to sign a minimum salary type of deal with us. Or he can decide not to restructure his current contract. In which case we are going to release him. Then he is free to sign a minimum salary type of deal with a club of his liking.
I am convinced that the majority of clubs is willing to sign him as one of four (or more) QBs for training camp.
Basically Alex can choose his next team all by himself.
Matt, if Alex is released, does he have any money coming to him from the guaranteed portion of his contract? i.e. Was his signing bonus pro-rated over the life of the contract?
If he does, I really don't see Condon allowing Smith to come back to the Niners for lesser number. If he has money coming from his current contract, then if he signs else where for the minimum, then it's really a wash. If he has no money coming then he may be back. Who knows, if the Chargers keep falling apart like they are, Norv may be looking for a job again...
Priority #1 is to get a coaching staff and a OC who will be with the team for at least 4 years. Posion pill the contract. Sign Kerry Collins to a 2 year deal with incentives as the starter. Shaun Hill will play out his contract as the #2/3 guy. Draft a Qb in the 2nd or 3rd round and sit his butt for 2 years to learn the system. That is how to develop a reasonable QB in the NFL
Every penny of his $24 million guaranteed is accounted for. I think some of the money might be deferred, but he'll get it whether he's here or not. After this season, the only prorated amount that has not counted against the cap is the $5.3 million I cited that would excelerate against the '09 cap if he were not around. --Matt M.
..oh oh...Mr. Maiocco ---its now " If he returns, it would likely be for a minimum contract, plus incentives"...i thought your opinion was he was done has a niner....
Hey Matt, the 49ers just waived FB Kirtman for TE Ryan from NYJ. Also noticed Kabeer Gbaja-Bjamila was waived last a few days ago. Is there any chance the 49ers maybe interested in Bjamila.
I agree with you Jon, it really does come down to the coaching staff. If they don't hire an offensive minded head coach (let's face it, the chances of Holmgren showing up are slim), they need to find an OC similar to what the Colts have with Tom Moore. Whether Alex comes back or they draft a QB, they need someone to coach and mentor them and not changing every year.
Matt, what is your feeling with Tollner? He has been a HC and OC and seems like he would fill the Moore roll perfectly. Was he ever discussed to take over OC before Martz was hired?
I'm still questioning whether Alex Smith's injury this year was fabricated. Most of us were thinking that JTO would stink it up and be benched by week 8 which would open the doors for Smith to start. That thought was for nil when AS was placed on IR. Agree with Jon in Socal in having stability at the coaching positions and drafting a QB next year. The problem is that once the new QB learns the system, the OC might leave and he has to start fresh once again. We've got to be able to lock down an offensive minded HC or a really good OC for several years to let our O and QB become cohesive. The more I think about it the more I'm pissed at Nolan. 3 1/2 years of building a 3-4 defense from a defensive minded HC and still have a pushover at NT in Franklin. Oh and don't get me started with Roman.
thank God some news on A.Smith.....can't wait to see him next yr lead the team. He should be well rested before next season...i have a feeling he will feel more comfortable with No Nolan around.
I think it's evident that Smith deserves at least a one final shot at making it in the NFL. I'm just not sure that it would serve the team's or Smith's interest that it be with the 49ers. On the the other hand none of the teams options looks particularly good right now in solving the QB situation.
it makes me laugh over all this fire McCloughan basing it off the smith pick. I kinda remember most teams ranking smith the top pick in draft, least i think i remember reading/hearing that. If smith played like most gm's thought he would, we would be praising McCloughan. If Holgrem was our gm back then, he prob would have picked smith, then everyone would be on the fire holgrem band wagon. Im not saying McCloughan needs to stay, im just saying i cant really remember absolutely 'hating' any of his draft picks or FA signings at the time it happened. I actually rememeber somewhat liking all of the picks...just my thoughts.
"...I cited that would excelerate against the '09 cap if he were not around. --Matt M."
Matt is *excelerate* a Freudian slip?
Alex gets scoped & I voted today. Big deal. He won't be here next year anyways.
Come folks the Niners stink! Do I have to repeat the last six years of losing seasons? Oh we need to sign this guy or that guy or bring in a good QB. Sure, what QB in his right mind is going to come here to play behind the worst pass protecting O line? Get Real!! We have become doormats for the NFL. We are in the cellar and have a long mountain to climb. We can't do anything about the owners but refuse to buy tickets. In fact we can't do anything else but complain and speak our minds. Jed takes a picture with a football in his arm in the locker room, like he his a QB. LOL! Bill Walsh said it best 5 years ago to Gary Radnich, the Yorks are bad owners.
I LOVE AMERICA.
Matt, you've stated that releasing Smith would still leave a $5.3mil cap hit, but what happens if the niners DO sign him to a reworked contract next year? Do they no longer take that cap hit because the contract was reworked rather than terminated?
Explain how a team that was way worse than the 5-12 record they posted last year, and they have gotten zero help from the draft this past April. Our 49ers have become a rotting corpse. Ownership is the WORST in team sports!!! Because of this, there is NO one in the building that has a GD clue!!! We used to have Walsh, Ralston, McVay; now we have Singletary, McCloughan, Marathe, and lucky sperm Jed! OMG! Wake up 49er fans and boycott this group of clowns! Do not renew your season tickets! Stop being lemmings!
Thanks for pointing out my really bad spelling. --Matt M.
Yes, I accpect better from myself. --Matt M.
I sure hope he voted!
Hey Matt,
Do you think (or know of) players or former players read your blog?
Have any of them ever commented on here?