Reports: Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers Agree to 3-Year Deal

Published: 20^th Mar 12 7:56 pm

by Kris Hughes
Network Manager

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Reports: Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers Agree to 3-Year Deal

Cary Edmondson- US PRESSWIRE

According to several reports, including ESPN’s John Clayton, the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to a 3-year deal with quarterback Alex Smith, the terms of which are yet undisclosed.

The deal reportedly will pay Smith around $8 million per season, and should be a substantial improvement from the $4.9 million which he was paid in 2011.

With the San Francisco 49ers’ flirtation with Peyton Manning– who today formally signed a 5-year, $96 million deal with the Denver Broncos– Smith began to test the open waters of free agency, meeting with the Miami Dolphins this past week. In retrospect, Smith met with Miami as a bargaining chip to re-establish his position with San Francisco should the 49ers be unable to convince Manning they were the best fit for the former Indianapolis Colts signal caller.

These same reports mentioned that Alex Smith met with 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh on Monday afternoon to discuss the potential of him returning to the Bay Area and the money that would seal the deal.

Although the Niners are paying additional for Smith’s services going forward, the new weapons which are on board could make it well worth their while. The recent additions of Hall-of-Fame bound wideout Randy Moss and former New York Giants standout Mario Manningham will give Alex Smith plenty of new weapons to work with along with those he already had on board including Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis.

Bolstered by a solid running game led by Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter, the 49ers offense should be a handful for NFC opponents with the quarterback situation now solidified.

Jim Harbaugh will find a way to use all of these weapons to the best of his ability and the Bay Area should be alive with hope again this fall when the first NFL games hit the gridiron.