St. Francisco
45-35 Never Forget
Quarterback Alex Smith is staying with the San Francisco 49ers after agreeing Tuesday to a restructured contract that sharply reduces his base salary.
The former No. 1 overall draft pick was due to make nearly $10 million in the upcoming season under the contract he signed in 2005. Financial terms of the restructured deal weren't immediately available, but the 49ers now have Smith under contract for the next two years at a salary more commensurate with his four up-and-down seasons with the team.
"Alex expressed a deep interest to remain with the team, and that feeling was mutual," 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said in a statement released by the team.
McCloughan would have released Smith before training camp without a reworked deal.
The contract allows Smith to join the 49ers on Monday for their first offseason team meetings and a weekend minicamp under Jimmy Raye, San Francisco's fifth offensive coordinator in the quarterback's five seasons. Smith couldn't have participated in the workouts without a new contract because of insurance liabilities.
Smith missed most of the past two seasons with injuries while feuding with former 49ers coach Mike Nolan. After Mike Singletary replaced Nolan midway through last season, Smith became more outspoken about his desire to stay in San Francisco.
Smith, whose recent honeymoon delayed negotiations on his new deal, is still hoping to live up to the promise that compelled the 49ers to choose him at the top of the notoriously flimsy 2005 draft ahead of Aaron Rodgers, Braylon Edwards, DeMarcus Ware and Shawne Merriman.
The 49ers still believe the former University of Utah star has potential that he hasn't tapped after just one full season as their starter, in 2006. Smith has passed for 4,679 yards in 32 career games, throwing 19 touchdown passes and 31 interceptions.
Smith separated his throwing shoulder during the fourth game of 2007 on a sack by Seattle's Rocky Bernard. Smith attempted to return quickly from the injury, but his struggles opened a rift with Nolan, with each accusing the other of misunderstanding the injury.
Smith underwent shoulder surgery after the season, but he then broke a bone elsewhere in his shoulder. He didn't play at all last season, undergoing more surgery in October to clean up his shoulder.
After the 49ers failed last week in their pursuit of free-agent quarterback Kurt Warner, who re-signed with the Arizona Cardinals, Smith is expected to head into training camp in competition for the starting job with Shaun Hill, who is 7-3 as a starter over the past two seasons. San Francisco also signed veteran quarterback Damon Huard last week.
Raye is the 49ers' seventh offensive coordinator in the last seven seasons, and the annual installation of a new scheme has led to offenses that were the NFL's worst in two of Smith's previous four seasons.
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I know a lot of guys think Smith is a bust...but I've always given him the benefit of the doubt. He's been through two season-filled injuries, and a handful of new offensive coordinators. He's never really had a chance to settle into the starting QB role. Hopefully he can get a chance again, and prove everyone wrong.
The former No. 1 overall draft pick was due to make nearly $10 million in the upcoming season under the contract he signed in 2005. Financial terms of the restructured deal weren't immediately available, but the 49ers now have Smith under contract for the next two years at a salary more commensurate with his four up-and-down seasons with the team.
"Alex expressed a deep interest to remain with the team, and that feeling was mutual," 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said in a statement released by the team.
McCloughan would have released Smith before training camp without a reworked deal.
The contract allows Smith to join the 49ers on Monday for their first offseason team meetings and a weekend minicamp under Jimmy Raye, San Francisco's fifth offensive coordinator in the quarterback's five seasons. Smith couldn't have participated in the workouts without a new contract because of insurance liabilities.
Smith missed most of the past two seasons with injuries while feuding with former 49ers coach Mike Nolan. After Mike Singletary replaced Nolan midway through last season, Smith became more outspoken about his desire to stay in San Francisco.
Smith, whose recent honeymoon delayed negotiations on his new deal, is still hoping to live up to the promise that compelled the 49ers to choose him at the top of the notoriously flimsy 2005 draft ahead of Aaron Rodgers, Braylon Edwards, DeMarcus Ware and Shawne Merriman.
The 49ers still believe the former University of Utah star has potential that he hasn't tapped after just one full season as their starter, in 2006. Smith has passed for 4,679 yards in 32 career games, throwing 19 touchdown passes and 31 interceptions.
Smith separated his throwing shoulder during the fourth game of 2007 on a sack by Seattle's Rocky Bernard. Smith attempted to return quickly from the injury, but his struggles opened a rift with Nolan, with each accusing the other of misunderstanding the injury.
Smith underwent shoulder surgery after the season, but he then broke a bone elsewhere in his shoulder. He didn't play at all last season, undergoing more surgery in October to clean up his shoulder.
After the 49ers failed last week in their pursuit of free-agent quarterback Kurt Warner, who re-signed with the Arizona Cardinals, Smith is expected to head into training camp in competition for the starting job with Shaun Hill, who is 7-3 as a starter over the past two seasons. San Francisco also signed veteran quarterback Damon Huard last week.
Raye is the 49ers' seventh offensive coordinator in the last seven seasons, and the annual installation of a new scheme has led to offenses that were the NFL's worst in two of Smith's previous four seasons.
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I know a lot of guys think Smith is a bust...but I've always given him the benefit of the doubt. He's been through two season-filled injuries, and a handful of new offensive coordinators. He's never really had a chance to settle into the starting QB role. Hopefully he can get a chance again, and prove everyone wrong.
