Alex Smith done for year

[MapleLeaf]

From espn.com

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers put quarterback Alex Smith on injured reserve Wednesday with a broken bone in his right shoulder, probably ending the former No. 1 draft pick's disappointing four-year career with the club.

Smith, the top pick in the 2005 draft, had surgery on his shoulder in December to repair three torn ligaments, the product of a separated shoulder from a game in late September 2007. He appeared to be at full strength in training camp, but experienced severe pain in his shoulder last Friday while making a long throw during practice.

Dr. James Andrews, who performed Smith's last surgery, confirmed the team's diagnosis of a broken bone in Smith's shoulder, though the quarterback and the team still don't know how it happened. Smith already was struggling with new offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system, losing his starting job to journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan during the preseason.

Smith likely will require more surgery, coach Mike Nolan said. The 49ers signed quarterback Jamie Martin, a veteran of Martz's system, to back up O'Sullivan and Shaun Hill.

The 49ers almost certainly will release Smith before next season, because general manager Scot McCloughan said last week the club can't risk paying $9 million in base salary to a backup quarterback in 2009.

The problem facing Smith and the 49ers is the final two years of his contract. He is scheduled to make $24.6 million over the next two seasons, but the team isn't going to pay him that to be a backup. The first overall pick in 2005 draft, Smith had an 11-19 record as a starter, completing only 54.4 percent of his passes.

Smith passed for 4,679 yards with 31 interceptions and 19 touchdowns in his first three seasons with the 49ers, who selected the former Utah star with the first draft pick of Nolan's regime. Smith has never found a consistent NFL groove while playing for four offensive coordinators in four seasons and throwing to one of the league's worst collections of receivers.

San Francisco's offense finished last in the NFL in 2005 and 2007. Smith received a share of the blame even though he played only part of his rookie season and missed most of 10 games last year. In 2006, his only full season as a starter, Smith posted respectable numbers for offensive coordinator Norv Turner while the 49ers went 7-9.

Turner then left to become San Diego's head coach.

 

[Pugz]

PM7 is prolly crying his eyes out..

 

[jarrod2323]

now.... officially a bust

 

[.GR]

LOL!

 

[The Young One]

I told you PM7

 

[.s31t]

Alex Smith <Censored>ing blows anyways.

Aaron Rodgers >>>>>Brodie Croyle >>>>>>Alex Smith.

 

[Mexi]

Jarrod speaks the truth as if anyone had any doubt

 

[playmaker7]

PM7 is prolly crying his eyes out..

Close, I was actually in the living room when I saw this on ESPN and curled up in the fetile position screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" at the top of my lungs for about 3 minutes straight.

I just don't want to deal with this at all. He told them last year that he was aching in his shoulder and Mike Nolan just didn't want to believe it and look what happened.

But Im hoping the 49ers will leave him to watch this year and keep Mike Martz and hopefully he can have a FAIR chance to start, if they keep him and heres wishing they do, next year.

 

[Pugz]

They won't keep him, he's gone. He'll have to prove himself for another team.

 

[Dice-J]

Wonder which team would sign him

 

[playmaker7]

Hes the symbol of an era in SF really. I think they need to keep him because he's gonna show ALOT of progress if he goes to a team with a decent OL and WR core. You can say he has some of the worst weapons in all of football on the 49ers...

Think about it this way, would you wnat to be behind that poor OL and have those mediocre weapons?

 

[jarrod2323]

honestly, it's gonna be like David Carr -- let both sides start anew

 

[playmaker7]

You know what, my friend said the EXACT same thing yesterday, using the EXACT same words...

But if Smith starts anew, given a good team, he'll make them wish they took the chance and kept him

And seriously, right now all they have is J.T. O'Sullivan, Shaun Hill, and Jamie Martin...do they really want to give up Smith?