The 49ers may have wanted Peyton Manning to wear red and gold this season, but since he's not available they decided to stick with the guy who got them to the NFC Championship Game last year. Sources say that San Francisco has re-signed Alex Smith to a three-year deal worth an average of $8 million per season. Smith seemed to have something of a breakthrough in 2011, but was his ascendance something of a fluke?
2012 expectations?
The 49ers went 13-3 and made the NFC Championship Game in the 2011 season. The addition of Randy Moss could be just the thing needed for San Francisco to really make a run at the Lombardi Trophy.
Is Smith elite?
Alex Smith had been heavily criticized during his time in San Francisco, but 2011 was a fantastic year for him -- 3,144 yards, 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
Any lingering issues?
Smith was obviously the backup plan for San Francisco in case it missed out on Peyton Manning, but are both sides professional enough to make it work?
