Alex Smith finished with 49ers?

[Dagmar]

SMITH LANDS ON IR
Posted by Mike Florio on September 10, 2008, 2:17 p.m.

Less than two days after quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ career with the Packers unofficially began, quarterback Alex Smith’s career with the 49ers is unofficially over.

The team has announced that Smith has been placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury suffered in practice on Friday.

Recently, G.M. Scot McGloughan acknowledged that, if Smith isn’t the starter in 2009, the team won’t be able to justify keeping Smith and his $9.625 million base salary.

The Niners were considering both Smith and Rodgers in April 2005. When they chose Smith with the first overall pick, Rodgers commenced a 23-spot free fall, landing in Green Bay with the 24th overall selection.

Meanwhile, the Niners might be feeling some regrets about passing on Rodgers, who looked like an established veteran against the Vikings.

And the list of other teams that might be having second thoughts about not drafting Rodgers likely includes the Vikings, who had not one but two cracks at Rodgers. Instead, they took Troy Williamson at No. 7 and Erasmus James at No. 18.

Question: Where are they now?

Answer: Don’t waste your time looking for them on the Minnesota roster.

That's quite the bust... maybe should have taken Rodgers.

[JCMElway]

Maybe Minnesota offers the 9ers a bag of chips for Alex Smith.......

[Doggcow]

I love Cutler. All these other teams wishing for a QB, and we have what could be a legend.

[Smiling Assassin27]

Definitely done with the 9ers. If he's healthy and allowed to develop in a system with some continuity, he could be a fringe starter/backup.

[Los Broncos]

Did he really ever start?

[Kaylore]

I love Cutler. All these other teams wishing for a QB, and we have what could be a legend.

We're really very lucky. It usually takes several decades to replace a legend with even a marginally effective QB. Even the guys we've had in the interim haven't been that bad. We're a very lucky, blessed and unfortunately spoiled fan base. Shanahan will get a shrine in my new home.

[oubronco]

We're really very lucky. It usually takes several decades to replace a legend with even a marginally effective QB. Even the guys we've had in the interim haven't been that bad. We're a very lucky, blessed and unfortunately spoiled fan base. Shanahan will get a shrine in my new home.

Wait a minute haven't you heard Shanny Sux balls and should be fired

[Kaylore]

Spread offense QB's = suck in the NFL.

[Hamrob]

I don't think Smith is all that bad....i do think that the 49ers organization is pathetic these days.

The best thing for Smith would be to go to a team with a proven starter and really learn the game...then in 2-3 years when you get your next chance...make the most of it.

[Odysseus]

I love Cutler. All these other teams wishing for a QB, and we have what could be a legend.

I think it's funny. It's like "do you remember where you were the day they drafted Cutler?" It was like something as big as landing on the moon or the first time you drank beer. You just sit there with a stupid half grin on your face like you personally drafted the guy.

My hope is that the Broncos get a MUCH better backup than Ramsey or that Ramsey starts playing half as good as I thought he could play. He is no Kubiak.

[DeuceOfClub]

Sign Him.

[Jason in LA]

I think it's funny. It's like "do you remember where you were the day they drafted Cutler?"

Yes I do. I was shooting action photos from little league baseball in Orange County. I had just finished shooting a game and was walking back to my car. I had just walked past two baseball fields, and I was entering the area where the soccer field was. Then I heard on my pocket radio that the Broncos had drafted Cutler. It was an exciting moment. Well, I wasn't trying to get too excited, there was a girl's soccer game going on ;D

[Jens1893]

We're really very lucky. It usually takes several decades to replace a legend with even a marginally effective QB. Even the guys we've had in the interim haven't been that bad. We're a very lucky, blessed and unfortunately spoiled fan base. Shanahan will get a shrine in my new home.

And the 9ers were in a position to replace one HOF QB with another.

[rovolution]

"do you remember where you were the day they drafted Cutler?"

2006. Chillin on the bed watching the draft. I was looking forward to a Javon Walker trade that day...but in the first round, when i saw that Rams logo turn into a Broncos one...i had no idea what was going on..then Cutler was the pick...i was shocked at first...but then i was really excited when i saw the Vandy highlights and all the heroics he pulled off there.

And then this particular image always sticks in my mind from Jays first OTA session.


http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/034I1J80I8gvq/340x.jpg


You could just see how much bigger, stronger, tougher, more powerful Jay looks compared to Jake. one can see the upgrade simply by comparing the physical characteristics of the two...

Jay looked like the ideal QB if there could ever be one, molded from the perfect QB clay. And Jake looked like your average dude. I wanted the ideal QB. and hes the man now yeeaaaaaaaa.

Never worry on 3rd and long anymore!!!!

[NaptownChief]

I don't think Smith is all that bad....i do think that the 49ers organization is pathetic these days.

The best thing for Smith would be to go to a team with a proven starter and really learn the game...then in 2-3 years when you get your next chance...make the most of it.


Hard to say but Smith was on a really bad team that changed OC's every year he was there. If he were surrounded by a good team like Green Bay, had the same offense every year and got to learn under one of the best QB's of all time my guess is the results probably would have looked a lot different for Smith. And Rodgers getting thrown into the 9ers situation probably wouldn't have worked out too well either.

[outdoor_miner]

"do you remember where you were the day they drafted Cutler?"

I like this game. I remember it very well. I've been a huge Broncos fan since I can remember in the early 80s, but I was always just an in-season kinda guy. Didn't really follow preseason or the draft... Just a huge fan from Week 1 through the last game, and then dropped off until the next year.

Anyway, early 2006 was when I discovered broncomania (aarg) and then the orangemane, and started following things much more closely in the offseason. Looking at the draft sites, mock drafts, etc. It was the first draft I was really, really excited for. The draft happened on the day I was going to take my GMAT, and I wasn't sure that I'd be able to see who the Broncos drafted because I was getting ready to leave to take the test. Suddenly, I see the Broncos logo on the screen at 11, and I thought it was for sure Broderick Bunkley. I was convinced Shannahan knew we needed a DT. Cutler's name pops up, and I was just in disbelief. WTF? A 13-3 playoff team takes a quarterback of the future, ignoring the fact that we are 1 or 2 impact players (at least - that's what I thought at the time) from a Super Bowl run? I warmed up to the idea throughout the day, and was all aboard the Cutler bandwagon in no time. Of course, I thought Jake would handle things better and that Cutler was a couple years from doing anything...

Good times.

[tonngo0]

I wanted Cutler from the 2006 draft. I saw that he had a good combine and senior bowl, I thought we would have lost out on him. I was hoping that some how and some where Cutler would drop down like Rodger did, but it ended the Broncos moved up and picked Cutler.

[Garcia Bronco]

I still can't believe this guy was drafted number 1 overall and couldn't grip an NFL football (palm it).

[BABronco]

I like this game. I remember it very well. I've been a huge Broncos fan since I can remember in the early 80s, but I was always just an in-season kinda guy. Didn't really follow preseason or the draft... Just a huge fan from Week 1 through the last game, and then dropped off until the next year.

Anyway, early 2006 was when I discovered broncomania (aarg) and then the orangemane, and started following things much more closely in the offseason. Looking at the draft sites, mock drafts, etc. It was the first draft I was really, really excited for. The draft happened on the day I was going to take my GMAT, and I wasn't sure that I'd be able to see who the Broncos drafted because I was getting ready to leave to take the test. Suddenly, I see the Broncos logo on the screen at 11, and I thought it was for sure Broderick Bunkley. I was convinced Shannahan knew we needed a DT. Cutler's name pops up, and I was just in disbelief. WTF? A 13-3 playoff team takes a quarterback of the future, ignoring the fact that we are 1 or 2 impact players (at least - that's what I thought at the time) from a Super Bowl run? I warmed up to the idea throughout the day, and was all aboard the Cutler bandwagon in no time. Of course, I thought Jake would handle things better and that Cutler was a couple years from doing anything...

Good times.

post more often^5

[theAPAOps5]

I think it's funny. It's like "do you remember where you were the day they drafted Cutler?" It was like something as big as landing on the moon or the first time you drank beer. You just sit there with a stupid half grin on your face like you personally drafted the guy.

My hope is that the Broncos get a MUCH better backup than Ramsey or that Ramsey starts playing half as good as I thought he could play. He is no Kubiak.

Well some might look back at their reaction and not think of it too fondly. But have since come around of course.

[BABronco]

I remember I was playing on the computer listening to the draft and it said the broncos traded up. I ran down stairs to see what in the world was going on. I was already pissed because I was hoping to some how magically end up with Vernon. Turns out they drafted Cutler and i couldnt figure out what was going on. Took me awhile but then thought about how old plummer was and how we could use a qb to get groomed. Half way through the season I'm calling for plummer to get benched.

NV been so glad to be wrong.

[Cito Pelon]

#1 overall is a curse sometimes:

'95 KiJana Carter
'96 Keyshawn Johnson
'97 Orlando pace
'98 Peyton Manning
'99 Tim Couch
'00 Courtney Brown
'01 Mike Vick
'02 David Carr
'03 Carson Palmer
'04 Eli Manning
'05 Alex Smith
'06 Mario Williams
'07 Jamarcus Russell
'08 Jake Long

[Dukes]

I think it's funny. It's like "do you remember where you were the day they drafted Cutler?"

I was in Fallujah, Iraq sitting on a computer following the draft. Unfortunately the draft didn't start until after my 12 hour shift so I pulled an all nighter to find out who we got. I couldn't belive it when I saw Cutler go accross the screen. Unbelievable.

[Cito Pelon]

I was very happy when Cut was drafted. It was pretty obvious Jake was winding down his career. There sure was a lot of people thought the pick was better spent elsewhere. I bet ten years from now if Denver picks a QB in round one as Cutler's eventual replacement people will say the pick was better spent elsewhere also. But unless the League changes dramatically it's a good idea to have a competent QB ready to plug in as a great QB's career winds down.

[watermock]

I was surpised, but pleased. I could see without an overwhelming defense, Jake wasn't gonna get us even a Hunt trophy.

An overwhelming degense comes about 1 time a decade to 1 team 1 time. Bears, Ravens, Denver in 77 coulnt get it done.

Were about 3 defensive players away now.

[ward63]

#1 overall is a curse sometimes:

'95 KiJana Carter
'96 Keyshawn Johnson
'97 Orlando pace
'98 Peyton Manning
'99 Tim Couch
'00 Courtney Brown
'01 Mike Vick
'02 David Carr
'03 Carson Palmer
'04 Eli Manning
'05 Alex Smith
'06 Mario Williams
'07 Jamarcus Russell
'08 Jake Long

Crazy that out of 14 years, I'd only take 5 of the #1 overalls. I know people would say that Keyshawn was good for a while and even though I liked him, he runs his mouth too much and others would say that Eli won a Super Bowl, but that defense was a HUGE part of the reason they won. And right now, I don't know if I take Long over Clady, so it may be 4. Pace was dominate for years when he was healthy. Peyton is smart and a great QB. Carson's in a bad situation. And we all know from last year what Mario could do.

[edgemyster]

"Where were you when they drafted Cutler?"

I was at the 49ers draft party in Santa Clara waiting in the beer line. It was a complete surprise, but I was stoked because he was my favorite of the 3 QB's expected to go in the first.

Speaking of which, do the Broncos have any official draft party? The Niners will do their draft across the street from the party at their facility and then Nolan will address the crowd after. I was out in Denver this year for the draft and inquired with the organization, but they didn't return my messages.