49ers deal Alex Smith to Chiefs done

[Irving Cowboy]

Report: 49ers set to deal Alex Smith
UPDATED FEB 25, 2013 4:59 AM ET

Colin Kaepernick‘s ascension in San Francisco has put Alex Smith out of a job.

It was widely speculated that the 49ers would either trade Smith, who was leading the NFL in completion percentage when he went down with a concussion in Week 10, or grant him his release this offseason.

The Niners are reportedly “highly, highly unlikely” to release the veteran quarterback, but it appears that a deal for Smith is all but done.

Jason La Canfora of CBSsports.com reported Sunday that a trade for Smith is “effectively complete,” but cannot be finalized until the league year officially begins on March 12.

The 49ers’ trading partner remains uncertain, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport names the Kansas City Chiefs as the team most likely to acquire Smith’s services. The Chiefs are one of several NFL teams desperately seeking an upgrade at quarterback after Matt Cassel flamed out last season, and the upcoming draft is lacking in elite talent behind center.

Rapoport suggested that Kansas City likely will add Smith in addition to drafting a “developmental” quarterback in the later rounds. Acquiring a free-agent signal caller would allow the Chiefs to address other needs with the No. 1 overall pick, which could be Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel.

 

[Midswat]

Going to the Chiefs might be the best thing for Smiths career. Reid has a tendency to make average QB's look very good.

 

[bkeavs]

They have some talent there. WIth Reid and Smith there, i think they can at least take a positive step in becoming a solid football team

 

[Midswat]

Report: Niners don’t have a deal in place for Alex Smith
Posted by Mike Florio on February 25, 2013, 10:03 AM EST

ReutersThe 49ers have basically finished a trade that would send quarterback Alex Smith elsewhere. Unless they haven’t.

Not coincidentally, it’s late February in the NFL.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that the 49ers don’t have a deal in place to trade Smith once the trading period opens at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 12.

Barrows notes at the outset of his tweet that it’s lying time in the NFL. But if the Niners are letting it leak that a deal is “effectively done” (whatever that means) and not identifying the name of the team, there’s a good chance that there is no team — and that the tactic is aimed at smoking a team or two out of the weeds.

Many presume there will be an aggressive trade market for Smith. But with the 49ers unable to convince anyone that they’d keep Smith around against his wishes at $8.5 million, the Niners need at least two teams to want Smith. Otherwise, there can and will be no market for his services.

The Chiefs continue to make the most sense. But if the Chiefs are the only interested team, all Andy Reid needs to do is put on his poker face and wait for the 49ers to cut Smith.

Based on the trades Andy Reid pulled off while in Philly, we wouldn’t bet against Reid winning this hand.

The overlooked dynamic in the formula is Smith. He’ll have to want to play for the team to which he’s dealt. If, in the end, there’s only one team he wants to play for, it’ll make it very hard for the 49ers to get another team to the table.

Thus, until there are two teams who want Smith and vice-versa, it’ll be hard to work out a trade, regardless of the gadgets that may get employed to get a deal done.

Including but not limited to leaking to the media that a deal is “effectively done.”

 

[bbgun]

Meh. KC will soon be reminded that he isn't that good.

 

[Midswat]

Andy Reid makes crap QB's look like competent QB's.

 

[Midswat]

‏@JayGlazer
Deal has been agreed upon between Chiefs and 49ers. Compensation unclear but I'm told again Chiefs have made a clear commitment to Smith.

 

[Midswat]

Wow. Chiefs reportedly gave up a 2nd rounder this year and a similar pick next year as well.

Rich (49'ers) keep getting richer.

 

[bbgun]

Insane. One third round pick or fuck off.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

Matt Cassel all over again?

Though Smith is probably a better player. He'll at least be competent.

 

[superpunk]

Wow. Chiefs reportedly gave up a 2nd rounder this year and a similar pick next year as well.

Rich (49'ers) keep getting richer.

Meanwhile we've got the process.

 

[dbair1967]

Meh. KC will soon be reminded that he isn't that good.

Truth

 

[dbair1967]

Matt Cassel all over again?

Though Smith is probably a better player. He'll at least be competent.

I kinda doubt it. Smith isnt very good and only looked decent when he was basically hidden in the game plan.

Reid's offenses are centered around QB play. There's a reason Harbaugh decided he had to move on from Smith, because he cant be the center of an offense.

 

[dbair1967]

Andy Reid makes crap QB's look like competent QB's.

Is that why he had to get rid of Kevin Kolb? Is that why dog killer failed miserably?

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

I kinda doubt it. Smith isnt very good and only looked decent when he was basically hidden in the game plan.

Reid's offense are centered around QB play. There's a reason Harbaugh decided he had to move on from Smith, because he cant be the center of an offense.

He was playing really well this year before he got hurt, though.

Not saying he's some star, but he doesn't have to be. The Chiefs are just trying to put a decent team out there.

The way Reid knew McFlabb was finished and that Kolb sucked, I'd say he has a pretty good handle on QBs who can and can't play.

 

[dbair1967]

He was playing really well this year before he got hurt, though.

Not saying he's some star, but he doesn't have to be. The Chiefs are just trying to put a decent team out there.

There's a difference between playing "well" and being a good player.

He only appeared to play "wel'" because he was de-emphsized in the game plan. He did ok at avoiding mistakes most weeks, but was a big nothing in terms of being able to get the ball downfield and came up incredibly small vs the Giants at home last year in the playoffs. And thats why Harbaugh gave up on him.

 

[superpunk]

I don't think Reid has ever made average QBs look much better than they are. The only reason they won with mcNabb and co. was because of Jim Johnson. McNabb was always an average QB who couldn't carry a team. They had a gameplan revolving around screens and bombs, and getting Staley and Westbrook the ball. Vick played well for one year, but he was always capable of that. The rest of the time Reid skimped by with scrubs because he had one of the best DCs of all time winning 17-14 games for him.

 

[Theebs]

I don't think Reid has ever made average QBs look much better than they are. The only reason they won with mcNabb and co. was because of Jim Johnson. McNabb was always an average QB who couldn't carry a team. They had a gameplan revolving around screens and bombs, and getting Staley and Westbrook the ball. Vick played well for one year, but he was always capable of that. The rest of the time Reid skimped by with scrubs because he had one of the best DCs of all time winning 17-14 games for him.

Bingo.

That team won repeatedly on turnovers and great special teams.

It wasn't that Reid made Jeff Garcia a great player, it was that the Johnson Dawkins led defense was fantastic and allowed them not to have to out score people.

When the defense went bye bye after the 08 season so did Reid's eagles.

He is a god coach who will get the best out of his players without question, but not a qb genius or whatever.

Hs system is good and he knows how to build a gameplan with the best of them, but his best teams won on defense.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

There's a difference between playing "well" and being a good player.

He only appeared to play "wel'" because he was de-emphsized in the game plan. He did ok at avoiding mistakes most weeks, but was a big nothing in terms of being able to get the ball downfield and came up incredibly small vs the Giants at home last year in the playoffs. And thats why Harbaugh gave up on him.

He was leading the entire NFL in QB rating several weeks into the season this year.

And how did he come up that small in the NFC Champ game? Lost by a FG in overtime to the eventual SB champs, had 2 TDs and no INTs.

And Harbaugh gave up on him because Kapernick had something special. It's not like he benched Smith for some scrub.

For God's sake, I'll say it again, I'm not saying he's some superstar. But just above average would be a huge upgrade for them.

 

[Theebs]

He was leading the entire NFL in QB rating several weeks into the season this year.

And how did he come up that small in the NFC Champ game? Lost by a FG in overtime to the eventual SB champs, had 2 TDs and no INTs.

And Harbaugh gave up on him because Kapernick had something special. It's not like he benched Smith for some scrub.

For God's sake, I'll say it again, I'm not saying he's some superstar. But just above average would be a huge upgrade for them.

On top of that he is mobile.

Reid's expertise is offensive line and will most certainly rebuild there first. So having a veteran qb who can run is a huge plus.