Harbaugh, 49ers Will Not Let Alex Smith Decide His Own Fate This Offseason

Two days after losing the Super Bowl and blaming the referees, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said all the right things, blaming himself and the play-calling. He also mentioned the future of Alex Smith, the now high-priced back-up quarterback that likely wants nothing more than a fresh start in a new uniform.

Whether or not Smith gets that fresh start with another team will not be up to him, though, as Harbaugh stated on Tuesday.

            “I don’t think any player has those wishes granted when they’re under contract,” Harbaugh said via San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch. “And everything’s different. Every scenario is unique. It’s certainly not something we’re going to delve into and get into specifics.”

            ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the 49ers are going to shop Smith to teams this offseason, and Schefter also reported that teams are already lining up for Smith’s services.

            However, there may be a wrench thrown in the reported plans of Smith. The 49ers actually may keep him as their back-up quarterback next season.

            Smith is under contract with the team after signing a three-year deal in March 2012 worth $8 million per year. He will be owed $7.5 million on April 1.

            “I have great respect for Alex,” Harbaugh said. “Great personal friendship, togetherness with Alex. The team, we feel great about our quarterback situation. You can’t have enough good quarterbacks.”

            There is nothing that says the 49ers must get rid of Smith by releasing or trading him. There is also nothing that says it would be logical for the team to keep him, though. Kaepernick is the present and future of the 49ers at quarterback, and they have an unneeded high-paid quarterback with trade value at a career high.

            Harbaugh was just attempting to make a point on Tuesday. The 49ers are going to do what is best for the team when it comes to Smith’s situation in San Francisco. If that means they can find a trade partner for Smith with a decent return, they will likely go through with it. But if they cannot find a trade partner this offseason or the return does not benefit the team, then the best thing for the 49ers would be to release Smith and save the $7.5 million guaranteed to him on April 1.

            There is reason to keep Smith on the roster, though, and inhale the $7.5 million for a back-up quarterback. According to Harbaugh, Smith coaches Kaepernick more than anyone else, and that is still a valuable role for a young quarterback with just 10 NFL games under his belt and a veteran quarterback that has been through nearly everything the NFL can offer.

            If the 49ers should keep Smith, he is one of the only back-up quarterbacks in the NFL that can lead a team to a deep run in the playoffs. With Kaepernick running the “pistol” formation, a style of play that allows the quarterback to be susceptible to injury, it would not be a bad idea to have a capable backup waiting in the wings.

All signs point to the 49ers parting ways with Smith one way or another this offseason, but Harbaugh made it clear on Tuesday that the 49ers will do what is best for the 49ers.

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Report: Alex Smith Already in High Demand By NFL Teams

It is unknown what the future holds for Alex Smith. He will likely be in a new uniform next season, but little is known about whether or not he will be traded or simply released by the 49ers.

ESPN is reporting that teams are already coming forward and will inquire about Smith in the near future for a possible trade with San Francisco.

"The San Francisco 49ers will attempt to trade quarterback Alex Smith this offseason, according to league sources, and some believe they will be able to do it because there is not a great supply of available quarterbacks and there is a demand for Smith."

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Poor Alex: Smith's Toughest Week as a 49er?

Alex Smith had to fend off questions surrounding the latest report that he will request his release from the 49ers before the March 12 start to NFL free agency, as well as deal with the fact he will not be starting for the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.


It has been a week to forget for Smith, who was not given a booth at Media Day on Tuesday, only to be swarmed by reporters out in the open. It got so bad, he had to wear a headset just to hear the questions coming from the masses that numbered close to 60 people at one time.

What has gone unsaid is Smith's help in the growth of starter Colin Kaepernick. Harbaugh said earlier this week that Smith coaches Kaerpernick more than he does, something for Smith haters to take into consideration, as well as the many suitors he is sure to entertain this offseason via trade or free agency.

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49ers Only Have So Many Options When It Comes to Alex Smith, Free Agency

The 49ers are at a crossroads with Alex Smith.  They can thank him for being a good teammate -- despite replacing him as the starter -- and release him before free agency on March 12, or they can trade him to an NFL team in desperate need of a starting quarterback.

            According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Smith is expected to request his release from the 49ers before free agency begins in just over two weeks. It would give Smith and several needy NFL teams the opportunity for the full amount of bargaining time this offseason.

            However, the 49ers do not have to adhere to Smith’s request, nor should they. Smith is a valuable commodity in the NFL right now, and the 49ers intend to take full advantage of that even if they look like a heartless franchise because of it.

            As CSN Bay Area’s Ray Ratto writes, Smith may get the short end of the stick for the second time this season.

“So what do the 49ers actually owe him? Much. What are they compelled to do for him? Not much. And in the NFL, kindness is typically just a prettied-up obligation.”

This has never been more apparent than with head coach Jim Harbaugh, who stood by Smith’s side since he arrived in San Francisco, only to replace him with Colin Kaepernick once given the smallest window of opportunity.

When the 49ers’ situation with Smith really gets down to it, the NFC Champions really do not have many options here. Smith will be owed a $7.5 million bonus on April 1, and the 49ers are not expected to pay him that amount of money, especially for a back-up quarterback they have relatively no need for. NFL teams understand this and surely will anticipate Smith being at the top of the trade block as soon as the Super Bowl ends.

However, trading Smith is another whole different challenge for the 49ers.

Again, NFL teams know the 49ers will need to get rid of Smith by April 1, which leaves free agency as the presumed gateway to acquiring Smith. The only way Smith gets traded at this point is if a team in desperate need of a starting quarterback feels they cannot compete with the big money in free agency. In that case, the 49ers will likely be able to get a first to third round draft pick in return for Smith, setting them up for an even brighter future than they already have.

A trade is obviously the preferred route for the 49ers in the dispensing of Smith, but that may be easier said than done. The only way the 49ers will honor his free agency request is if they cannot find a trade partner before April 1, watching Smith’s preferred release date of March 12 go by.

Smith has done everything asked of him this season, despite having his starting job stripped of him after sustaining a concussion. The 49ers are now in the Super Bowl with Colin Kaepernick, and Smith at least seems like he cannot be happier for his teammates. At the same time, Smith’s time under center in San Francisco may have set back the 49ers’ franchise back several years, only to be resurrected by Trent Baalke, Jim Harbaugh and his coaching staff.

The 49ers do not owe Smith the right to be released on his own terms, and certainly will not harm the state of the franchise by doing so.

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Report: Alex Smith Requests Release From 49ers Before Free Agency

The 49ers are in a pickle -- give Alex Smith what he deserves by staying true to the 49ers by granting him release from the team, or trade him to one of several teams dying for a starting quarterback?


Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio is reporting that Smith has requested to be released from the 49ers before the start of free agency on March 12, something the 49ers will be discussing quite heavily post-Super Bowl.

At this point, a trade seems like a longshot for the 49ers. The entire NFL knows that Smith is expendable at this point, and the 49ers must get rid of him before his $7.5 million bonus kicks in on April 1.

The 49ers now have two options:

-Release him and thank him for being a good teammate, despite losing his starting job due to a concussion.

-Trade him.

A trade would realistically only come into play if a team that desperately needs a starting quarterback cannot compete money-wise in free agency with other needy teams. If so, the 49ers could get anywhere from a first to third round pick for the former starter, setting them up for an even brighter future than they already have.

Again, teams know the 49ers have to get rid of him, it's just a matter of when and how.

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WATCH: Alex Smith All Smiles in 49ers' Postgame Celebration

Alex Smith does not have to be all smiles in the 49ers locker room after a big win. His starting job was stripped of him after suffering a concussion, and given to a second-year player with a bright future.


After years of having to climb out of the proverbial ditch his career was in, he finally found the top in the 2012 NFC Championship.

His career might have jumped right back in that ditch now that he is the back-up to Colin Kaepernick. However, Smith showed no signs of that in Harbaugh's postgame speech after the 49ers defeated the Patriots on Sunday night.

All class, Alex Smith .......

WATCH HERE

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Aaron Rodgers: 49ers' Alex Smith Needs New Team

It is hard for Alex Smith not to be compared to Super Bowl champion Aaron Rodgers.

The San Francisco 49ers drafted Smith with the No. 1 overall pick in 2005 instead of taking Rodgers out of UC-Berkeley. The Packers went on to select Rodgers with the 24th overall pick.  Smith was widely considered the safer pick, but fast forward seven years and Rodgers has a Super Bowl ring and is a bonafide elite quarterback in the NFL.


Smith, however, has had his ups-and-downs in his career.  The most recent debacle -- and there are many -- was suffering a concussion in Week 8 against the Rams. It enabled back-up Colin Kaepernick to fill-in and eventually take the starting job from Smith. The decision to start Kaepernick over Smith was justified even further after the 49ers knocked off the New England Patriots on the road in sloppy conditions, while Kaepernick threw for four touchdowns.

The quarterback controversy that was in San Francisco, and now is no more, seemed to take a toll on Rodgers, who has his Packers team vying for the No. 2 seed in the NFC against the now Kaepernick-led 49ers.

Rodgers went on NFL Total Access and seemed to vent his frustrations with the entire way Smith's injury was handled by Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers.

"Alex and I are buddies, we both got drafted in 2005 NFL Draft, and he's been through a lot," Rodgers said in the 'NFL Total Access' interview. "I can't imagine to have to go through that many offensive coordinators and the turnover in coaches has been tough for him.

"He comes in, he's 70 percent completion, he's 100-plus quarterback rating last year, he's like barely over one percent interception percentage," Rodgers went on. "He's a great quarterback, he just needs to go somewhere he gets appreciated for the skills he has and hopefully he gets a chance next year."

Credit Smith, who has handled his benching due to injury with absolute class since the news spread throughout the sports world.  Smith has all the right to be frustrated, but has barely spoken a word about it.

However, it is pretty clear that Kaepernick is the present and future of the 49ers under center. Smith no longer has a place in San Francisco, and the only option would be for him and the 49ers to part ways after the season.

Smith and the 49ers agreed to a three-year deal worth roughly $8 million per year shortly after the Denver Broncos landed Peyton Manning. Smith likely wants to play for a team that will give him a chance to start, and the 49ers do not have an opening for a starting quarterback any longer.

That leaves the 49ers with two options, where they can either trade or release him. Either way, it is likely Smith will not be in a 49ers uniform next season.

Smith still has a lot to offer. His last full game as a 49er came in a 24-3 beat-down of the Arizona Cardinals, where Smith was 18-of-19 for 232 yards and three touchdowns.

Smith will surely be coveted by NFL teams once the new league year begins on March 12, 2013, and the 49ers will be listening to any and all inquiries.

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49ers Bordering on Divided Locker Room?

One loss into the Colin Kaepernick era in San Francisco and blame is spread around like the 8-3-1 team just lost an actual meaningful game.

The blame for the 49ers’ 16-13 overtime loss to the Rams on Sunday can be found placed on offensive coordinator Greg Roman for the less than creative play-calling, Jim Harbaugh for allowing the poor option play call that eventually led to the defeat, Delanie Walker’s dropped guarantee on a touchdown and Kaepernick himself.  Suddenly, the 49ers have problems, and potentially even bigger ones if things continue to go wrong in the coming weeks.

However, the issue that will continue to chip away at the 49ers is the one that may currently be the most sensitive. The blame on Kaepernick is a topic the 49ers cannot get away from, and it will potentially lead to a divided locker room, if it has not already.

Every loss under Kaepernick is another second guess from the fans and the team in the locker room. Alex Smith and the quarterback controversy is alive and well in San Francisco until Kaepernick and the 49ers book their flights for the Super Bowl.

Smith and the 49ers advanced to the NFC Championship last season, and only a trip to the Super Bowl with Kaepernick makes Harbaugh’s midseason change under center a success.

The first inklings of a divided locker room have already emerged. Before Kaepernick’s start against the Rams, Vernon Davis came forward and said he still felt like Smith was the starting quarterback. But after Sunday’s loss to the Rams, a report of Joe Staley’s reaction to the quarterback situation may have been speaking for the entire 49ers locker room.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Staley is not too happy with Harbaugh’s decision at who is currently playing quarterback for the 49ers.

“It’s not just 49ers fans who have gotten emotional about the decision to bench Alex Smith and start Colin Kaepernick.

“It turns out that offensive tackle Joe Staley has as well. One day during practice last week when 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh noticed Staley seemed down, he pulled him aside, and the two had a discussion about it.

“Staley explained that Alex Smith is his best friend, somebody he had blocked for throughout his entire career and he was disappointed to see Smith treated the way he was.

“Harbaugh explained why he made the decision that he did to Staley. It’s not that Staley didn’t believe that Kaepernick could do the job, but he felt that strongly about his friendship for Smith and the job that he has done.

“It just goes to show you that there is more emotion involved in a simple decision than to just go with Colin Kaepernick at this point in time.”

Staley has the right to be unhappy with the way Smith was demoted. Staley and Smith are known to be good friends, and Smith lost his job because he had a concussion. Judging by Staley’s role in the locker room, it is safe to assume he is not the only player feeling this way.

It does not negate the fact that Kaepernick is the better option at quarterback, though. Opposing coaches would rather prepare for a safe passer that does not take chances down field than a mobile quarterback with a shotgun for an arm.

However, the 49ers are still in the midst of a quarterback controversy, despite Harbaugh already naming Kaepernick the starter for next week’s game against the Dolphins.

           

When asked Monday whether Smith still has a chance to regain his starting job with the team, Harbaugh was not so quick to shut the door on the idea, per the San Jose Mercury News’ Tim Kawakami.

"Alex is not out of this. We feel like Alex, we’ve said it before, he is one of our guys.

"He’s won us a lot of football games. He’s preparing himself to play in each of these games every single week. That’s what his mindset has to be, as if he was the starting quarterback. So, that’s what we expect and knowing Alex that’s what he is going to do."

For now, which quarterback will play under center remains decided on a week-by-week basis, whether Harbaugh admits that or not. Another loss for Kaepernick is another second-guessing of Harbaugh’s decision -- Harbaugh knows this and the players know this.

It was a risky decision for Harbaugh to name Kaepernick the starter after Smith came off a concussion. If all goes well and the 49ers march into the playoffs with high marks, then it may be Harbaugh’s best decision to date. But if the 49ers stumble into the playoffs with Kaepernick at the helm and things get worse, then Harbaugh’s credibility and reliability may have taken a serious hit with the team on the field and in the locker room.

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Harbaugh: Alex Smith 'Is Not Out of This'

For the first time this season, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh was put on the defensive, admitting the blame for bad calls and directly answering the status of the team's quarterback situation.

Harbaugh did announce who his starter would be, announcing it would be Colin Kaepernick for next week's game at home against the Dolphins, but he did not waver when asked if Alex Smith had a chance of regaining the job of starting quarterback this season.

"Alex is not out of this. We feel like Alex, we’ve said it before, he is one of our guys.

"He’s won us a lot of football games. He’s preparing himself to play in each of these games every single week. That’s what his mindset has to be, as if he was the starting quarterback. So, that’s what we expect and knowing Alex that’s what he is going to do."

It is safe to assume that Kaepernick is the starter for the 49ers until he proves to Harbaugh and his teammates that he is simply too young to hold the job and lead a team to the Super Bowl. So far, he has yet to show even a glimpse of that being a possibility.

However, Harbaugh did leave a little opening for the discussion of Smith being starter once again.

So you're saying there's a chance .......

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Report: Staley Unhappy With 49ers Starting Kaepernick

One loss into the Colin Kaepernick era in San Francisco, and all hell breaks loose ..... reportedly.

49ers offensive tackle Joe Staley is supposedly upset with Jim Harbaugh's decision to start Kaepernick's "hot hand" instead of returning to Alex Smith post-concussion. Staley and Smith are known to be good friends, and reports within the last week say that Smith is not taking the demotion too well. Staley is not, either.


ESPN's Adam Schefter said this on SportsCenter:

“It’s not just 49ers fans fans who have gotten emotional about the decision to bench Alex Smith and start Colin Kaepernick.

“It turns out that offensive tackle Joe Staley has as well. One day during practice last week when 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh noticed Staley seemed down, he pulled him aside, and the two had a discussion about it.

“Staley explained that Alex Smith is his best friend, somebody he had blocked for throughout his entire career and he was disappointed to see Smith treated the way he was.

“Harbaugh explained why he made the decision that he did to Staley. It’s not that Staley didn’t believe that Kaepernick could do the job, but he felt that strongly about his friendship for Smith and the job that he has done.

“It just goes to show you that there is more emotion involved in a simple decision than to just go with Colin Kaepernick at this point in time.”

A divide in the locker room was what everyone feared would happen if Harbaugh chose Kaepernick over Smith. It reportedly only took one loss for reports to surface supporting that situation, as Staley is a giant influence among 49ers players.

If the reports are true, there is no one else to blame but Harbaugh. He got greedy with what he had, and instead of starting a safe quarterback that got them to the NFC Championship one year ago, he took a gamble on a young up-and-coming star yet to prove himself in the NFL.

Harbaugh toyed with the team's emotions, and now there is reportedly a full-fledged divide in the locker room with a 8-3-1 team with one-time Super Bowl aspirations.

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49ers: Feeling Sorry For Alex Smith

Thursday seemed to be "Feel Sorry For Alex Smith Day" not just in the Bay Area, but across the country. The prim and proper quarterback that overcame such hardships in his first few seasons finally came around once he was given a chance to succeed ......... then was replaced by the better quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.


Those feeling sorry for Smith must have missed the first five seasons of his career, coming off being the No. 1 overall pick and hitting "bust" status in no time.

The 49ers are now an elite team, and having a mediocre quarterback is simply irresponsible. Harbaugh gets it, and the team gets it (not publicly). The concussion just sped up the 49ers' natural selection process.

In honor of one of the saddest stories ever told that was bound to eventually happen but no one ever saw coming, I give you a list of literature to dry your tears on.

Alex Smith: 'I don't know what else to say' -- CSN Bay Area

For 49ers' Smith, season took cruel turn -- SF Chronicle

Alex Smith: 'It sucks. I don't know what else to say' -- SF Chronicle

Alex Smith wondering how he lost his job -- San Jose Mercury News

Don't feel sorry for Alex Smith.He makes 9 million dollars a year, he'll be fine.
— David Michael(@KingDavid_88) November 28, 2012

#5ThingsOnMyChristmasList An Alex Smith home jersey :) feel sorry for the guy.
— It`s Me Bruh (@MadeinusBreh) November 30, 2012

I sincerely feel sorry for Alex Smith. He looked angry, dejected, depressed and defeated talking to the press this afternoon. #49ers
— Fabio Panetta (@FabioPanetta) November 30, 2012

I do feel sorry for Alex Smith. The guy got hurt and lost his job all in less than two weeks. #rough
— Hannah H (@hannah_bean02) November 29, 2012

Why should I feel sorry for Alex Smith? An NFL QB making millions of dollars who can't throw the ball deep? STFU #49ers
— Johnny Cables (@JohnnyCables) November 29, 2012

Feel sorry for Alex Smith. Last full game he played on Monday night he went 18/19 with a perfect passer rating.
— Blake Washington (@Bee_Dot_Wash) November 28, 2012

What’s next for Alex Smith? He’s been through everything, which might be a large part of his free-agent appeal: ... bit.ly/114epeW
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) November 29, 2012

@mattbarrows You may have been with him longer but I have the "hot hands" of the relationship;)
— elizabeth smith (@lizbsmith11) November 29, 2012

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49ers' Vernon Davis: 'Alex Is Still the Man'

Clearly, the 49ers have found something in changing quarterback at 6-2-1 on the season. With Colin Kaepernick at the helm, they are now 2-0 and now among the favorites to win the Super Bowl.

However, not everyone agrees. Vernon Davis told reporters this after Sunday's gritty win over the Saints on the road.

"It's difficult, but I think Alex is still the man. In my heart I strongly believe that and you'll know next week. I'm sure Harbaugh will make a nice decision who he wants to go with but right now we have two outstanding playmakers. I'm sure Alex is still our guy."

The quarterback controversy is alive and well in San Francisco.

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Harbaugh, 49ers' Antics Made Kaepernick Start vs. Saints Inevitable

Wednesday's festivities at the 49ers' practice facility in Santa Clara made it blatantly obvious that Colin Kaepernick would be the starter against the Saints on Sunday, despite the 49ers' intentions.

Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter reported Wednesday night that Jim Harbaugh has told Kaepernick that he will be the starter vs. the Saints. Even worse for the other end of the quarterback controversy -- Alex Smith -- Trotter is
reporting that the decision had nothing to do with Smith's injury status.

BREAKING: Jim Harbaugh has informed Alex Smith that Colin Kaepernick will start Sunday, per source. Said decision not based on health.
— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) November 22, 2012

Wednesday did hold a lot of clues, though, even before Trotter's report. Alex Smith was once again wearing the black "no contact" jersey at practice, and Harbaugh unofficially declared Smith healthy to play Sunday. Kaepernick also received the first team reps at Wednesday's practice.

It will be the only real practice for the 49ers on a bit of a short week, and that very much played into Kaepernick reportedly getting the start on Sunday. Kaepernick was the only one getting first-team reps, and with Thursday being Thanksgiving, Friday being a travel day for the team and Saturday being a relatively slow preparation day before a game, it was inevitable that Kaepernick's status as the lead dog in Wednesday's practice was the final decision from Harbaugh.

Of course, that is not what Harbaugh wanted the media to think. More importantly, that is not what he wanted the Saints to think.

Harbaugh dodged the question left and right from the media on Wednesday, but he made a big mistake in concealing his hand. If Smith was starting Sunday and Kaepernick's Monday night performance was simply a back-up quarterback filling in for the definitive starter, then Harbaugh would have announced right then and there that Smith was the starter for Sunday vs. the Saints.

That was not the case.

However, Trotter's report did have some flaws in it.  What made the report so surprising was the fact that the decision was reportedly made without Smith's health being an issue.

There is still very much a quarterback controversy in San Francisco, and Kaepernick has not won the job, by any means. Smith has not been cleared to play yet, due to his concussion, although he most likely will pass the contact test prior to Sunday's game.

Smith was done in by the short week for the 49ers, and that certainly does not mean his era in San Francisco is over. Once again, Smith is not fully healthy, and the 49ers have a big game against an elite team.

- UPDATE 11-21-12, 9:37 p.m. -

Alex Smith just told @tdespn that Harbaugh told him Kaepernick would get 1st team reps but door open to start game based on practice

— Seth Markman (@tunasweasel) November 22, 2012

i have great respect for @tdespn and alex smith, and stand behind my report. harbaugh to alex: "I'm going with Kaepernick. Alex, I'm sorry."

— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) November 22, 2012

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49ers: Harbaugh's Teleconference Cancelled, Back to Hospital for Evaluations

Jim Harbaugh never got a chance to clear up the comments he made about his current quarterback situation after Monday night's thrashing of the Bears.

If you remember, Colin Kaepernick lit up the Bears' defense in Alex Smith's absence, and Harbaugh's postgame press conference after the game did
not shed light on who would be the quarterback vs. the Saints on Sunday, only saying he would go with the "hot hand."

The comments have since sparked a quarterback controversy in San Francisco -- advertently or inadvertently.

Tuesday's conference call with the Bay Area media was Harbaugh's time to either clear up what he meant by those comments, or stoke the fire even further, but he never got that chance.

Harbaugh's teleconference was canceled last-minute due to follow-up evaluations for his heart that caused him to make a trip to the hospital last week for an irregular heartbeat.

He is set to talk to the media Wednesday at noon in Santa Clara.

Among the questions that will be asked to Harbaugh, 99.9 percent will be about the Smith vs. Kaepernick newly developed saga.

Harbaugh will have two choices: Give fluff answers and let the media decide while keeping the Saints in the dark, or give Smith the starting quarterback status we all assume will happen in the end.

We can expect the former not just because there is a looming quarterback controversy for the 49ers, but because Harbaugh's tight-lipped ways led to a "dump-trucking" of arguably the best defense in the NFL last week.

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Harbaugh Noncommittal on 49ers' QB vs. Saints; QB Controversy Underway

According to Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers have two red-hot quarterbacks on their roster right now, and a decision will be made this week to determine who will be starting on Sunday vs. the Saints.

Colin Kaepernick blew the pregame expectations out of the water on Monday night in front of a nationally televised audience, and that will be
good enough to at least start some conversation around the water cooler as to who can lead the 49ers the rest of the way this season.

A QB controversy with a 7-2-1 team in complete control of the NFC West and Super Bowl or bust expectations on their mind?

Believe it.

"We really have two guys that have a pretty hot hand, but we will make that decision as we move forward," Harbaugh said after the game.

As expected or unexpected as his comments were after the game, Harbaugh did not commit to a quarterback on Monday night -- merely acknowledging the fact the 49ers have two hot quarterbacks on their current roster.

When a coach is as non-committal as Harbaugh was after the game, it is safe to say he has a QB controversy on his hands. It does not take much for Harbaugh to glance over a question with a blanket answer, which made the less-than-committed answer to the quarterback controversy on Monday night all the more intriguing.

Alex Smith is out with a concussion, but all indications from Harbaugh's coaching of the 49ers in the past have suggested that Smith will be the starter if healthy -- and he is sure to be healthy and cleared for contact this week.

However, can Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman ignore the amount of schemes and plays Kaepernick provides the 49ers with?

Kaepernick has the ability to run, to throw the short ball with touch and throw the deep ball with accuracy. While Smith's abilities are limited to managing the game with effectiveness, Kaepernick allows the 49ers to get elaborate with play-calls and that is how the 49ers destroyed the Bears on Monday night.

Smith is the safe play, though. He has taken the 49ers this far to where they are Super Bowl contenders. However, is it too early to give Kaeperick the keys to the castle after just one game?

Kaepernick has the hot hand after his Monday Night Football performance, but Smith has completed 25 his last 27 passes. They are equally hot and equally available to play on Sunday vs. the Saints.

Make way for the most anticipated week of 49ers practice in some time.

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Report: 49ers' Alex Smith Expected to Start Monday vs. Bears

Expect Alex Smith back under center for the San Francisco 49ers Monday night game against the Bears, despite the concussion he sustained in Sunday's tie vs. the Rams.

According to CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco, if Smith is cleared to play he will start for the 49ers, and all indications point to Smith being cleared to play.


Jim Harbaugh had this to say about Smith's situation on Monday:

"(He's) doing much better, had a good night's sleep last night," Harbaugh said. "And symptoms are positive today. He's visiting with a neurologist later this afternoon."

"Our doctors were good," Harbaugh said. "They were very proactive on that hit. They watched it on the monitors, and Alex had no symptoms after that hit. He was cleared to play. And then it appears it was the quarterback sneak, where he comes up and had blurred vision and that's when we brought in Colin immediately.

 Judging by the way Colin Kaepernick played on Sunday, albeit under intimidating circumstances, it would not take much for the 49ers to play Smith on Monday Night Football.

However, Harbaugh and his staff have encountered quite a predicament this week.  Smith is not likely to practice the entire week, and with Kaepernick healthy it would behoove the 49ers to have a full week of practice with a definitive starting quarterback before encountering the most impressive defense the 49ers will face all season in the Bears.

As Maiocco mentioned, Harbaugh is not likely to reveal much this week, other than revealing whether or not Smith will be cleared to play on Monday night -- which should be revealed within the next couple of days.

The speculated "quarterback controversy" between Smith and Kaepernick could work in the 49ers' favor in this instance. Smith is obviously the 49ers' undoubted starter, despite a rather impressive game by Kaepernick given the circumstances.  The Bears will not know which quarterback to prepare for this week, and given Harbaugh's reluctance to reveal anything to the media, Chicago may not know until game-time on Monday.

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San Francisco Giants: Bochy Shows Support For Alex Smith, 49ers

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith was originally fined $15,000 by the NFL for wearing a San Francisco Giants hat during Sunday's postgame press conference, following the 49ers' victory over the Detroit Lions.

Smith's fine of $15,000 was rescinded, and the NFL instead gave a warning to the 49ers quarterback.


The rule states that no player may wear non-sponsored gear 90 minutes before and after a game.

Smith's Giants support on Sunday broke that rule, although the hat has become a fixture on the head of Smith over the past year.

Earlier Thursday, the Giants showed their support of Smith and 49ers.

Manager Bruce Bochy wore a 49ers hat during the pre-game press conference, which caused quite a stir throughout the ballpark.

There is no rule that bars baseball players from wearing non-sponsored gear before or after games, but there should be a rule against a man with a 8 1/3 size hat making due with a 7 1/4 size hat, as Bochy did before their victory over the Rockies.

There has been no word from the MLB on whether Bochy will be fined for showing his support of a local team.

In addition, both Sergio Romo and Brian Wilson have shown their support for Smith.

Both said they will contribute their own money to Smith's fine, if he in fact wears the Giants hat again to a postgame press conference.

Alex, moonwalk your way down Market St. w an SF hat & Lombardi trophy & i'll take care of the fines you rack up @49ers twitter.com/BrianWilson38/…

— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilson38) September 20, 2012

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