During Alex Smith’s 8 years in the bay it hasn’t been all rosy. He was the 1st pick of the 2005 draft a draft that has produced arguably the best QB in the game currently in Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was taken later in the round so that put a lot more salt in the wound. Smith and Rodgers will always be connected if you like it or not. Me as a 9ers fan I used to get pissed every time I saw Rodgers flourish with the pack because I wondered damn he could be doing that for my team. Hey, but who knows it would’ve worked out in the bay area for him but we all can imagine right, I’ll save that argument for a later date.
For the 1st 6 years of his career(5 of which he played) it was pretty bad watching Smith at QB. He showed potential at times which in turn made people believe maybe we had something just to next game play piss poor. Turnover in the coaching ranks, injuries and the talent around him didn’t help at all. Many people, including myself, were ready to help get Alex on a 1st class ticket to the place of his destination as long as it wasn’t San Francisco.
Once Jim Harbaugh was hired as the new head coach for the 2011 season and something changed for Alex. He finally had a coach who cared about him and put him in a position to succeed, he hadn’t received this kind of love since Norv Turner bolted to the Chargers (one of his many OC’s in San Fran). Before the season everybody wanted Alex gone but after the season there was hope Alex could at least win games for us. Hell I even gave him some props on the site because of how well he played; I know that’s a shocker. He led us to an 13-3 record and to the NFC Championship game where the 9ers were just a few special teams fumbles away from playing for the super bowl. Last year was a hell of a run for Alex he had multiple winning drives, capped off by the thriller against the Saints. Seemed to look like everything was on the up and up.
Smith was a free agent during the off season, San Fran flirted with Peyton Manning for a little bit which in turn made Smith visit Miami just in case. The elephant in the room is Colin Kaepernick the teams 2011 2nd round pick from Nevada, we will get to him later. After everyone kissed in made up Alex resigned with the 9ers for 3 years 24 million. Not a bad deal but not a mega deal especially for somebody that is your main QB.
This year Alex started where he left off in the ’11 season with a career high QB rating, on pace to beat his personal best achievements, even had a game with only one incompletion and had the 9ers with a 6-2-1 record in the games he started. Everything was going pretty good for Alex until the Rams game, where he broke out of the pocket and got crushed as he turned his back to a defender during the run. Alex had a concussion, in they say you can’t lose your position due to injury, if you are not among the elites that rule doesn’t apply folks. Colin got to start against the Bears on Monday Night Football in the kid hasn’t looked back since leading the 9ers to a 5-2 since he has been starting.
For once in my life I feel sorry for Alex the man did nothing to lose his job but get hurt. Life isn’t fair but next year he probably will be playing for somebody else unless Colin gets hurt.
Two Reasons:
- Colin, Colin, Colin, Colin and Colin Kaepernick- The Bears game mortgaged him an opportunity to play longer than just one game, the game on Sunday night against the Pats sealed, Smith’s and Colin’s fate. The man balled out on the road against New England in the rain. The only thing that can reverse this situation is a major injury. Sorry to any 9ers fan who is emotionally attached to Alex because the marriage is over.
- The 9ers have the ace they can release before April 1st and not be liable for the remaining 2 years 16 million left on his deal.(Will try to trade him to a QB needed team before the draft)
