To Cool Bond Luke - Two things. One, the NFL has never been about seniority, nor sentimentality. It's about winning a SB ring. As I have mentioned several times, Bill Walsh statement on the subject is the player with the best ability needs to be on the field to make plays. Mr. Walsh was criticized many times over releasing a player before their time or not in the best interest of the team. Yet, Mr. Walsh's actions resulted in 4 SB rings. Get over your love of Smith, and, if you are part of the faithful, support the best solution to win the SB. Two, my dribble on the Yorks and spite is way justified. Obviously, you didn't go to the Stick, nor Kezar. You don't know of Christopher Milk. You don't likely have the investments in shirts, jackets, tickets, air fare, hotels, etc.. You haven't been in the stadiums to see the niners play in Dallas, Chicago, LA, Atlanta, etc.. Do all these things, invest your time and money on your team, then see it crumble with an arrogant owner, after the joy of having a DeBartolo, and Morabito as caretakers of the team (The exception of course to the GM Thomas reign.) Top it off, the ONLY team originally from San Francisco and it's home was always San Francisco, is going to be playing in SC. So what that SF passed $100 million offer to keep the niners here. An SF native and faithful has to vent somewhere. As to Smith, it is what it is. The one question I do ask of supporters of Smith is.... If things were reversed, would Smith been as successful in Green Bay (as oppose to Rodgers in SF)? After balking about it, most Smith supporters grudgingly agree NO. So much for my dribble.

Alex was not the first choice of the 49er faithful. Most wanted the guy from Redding and graduated from Cal, Rodgers, but the Niner Owners, with their new coach, Nolan, picked a Utah Grad Smith. Previously, the owner fired a favorite coach, Mariucci, and forced out a great qb, Garcia, from the team (by not providing incentives in his contract). Smith, then became the owner's, York's, boy to the eyes of niner fans. The next year the niners abandon the west coast offense and decided to build a new stadium in Santa Clara. Alex became the York poster boy and the niner faithful kept hearing the whining of Smith with the yearly changing of o.c. To be honest, seeing Rodgers success in Green Bay only added to the hostility toward Smith and, even today, the faithful still have deep resentment of the York's for ruining the team.

That Smith was only, at best, a Spurrier or, worse, a Steve Deburg, didn't help. Smith did collect a contract for a number 1 pick in 2005, an increase in 2008 and his resigning was for $8 M for three years, not much for a starting qb this off season. Expectations for Smith were out of line with his ability and resume.