• Green Bay Packers vs San Francisco 49ers preview

  Green Bay Packers - Found 21 hours ago ... great shape.  They nearly shut out the Cowboys, who are a much better offensive team than the 49ers.  Alex Smith has not been playing well...

• Punch Communications Identifies Media Highs and Lows of 2009

  Reuters - Found Nov. 20, 2009 Alex Smith, Account Executive and specialist in digital PR, has been closely monitoring the ongoing story surrounding the role of the free... Punch Communications Identifies Media Highs and Lows of 2009 - Earthtimes.org Punch Communications Identifies Media Highs and Lows of 2009 - Globe Investor Punch Communications Identifies Media Highs and Lows of 2009 - Canadian Business Magazine Punch Communications Identifies Media Highs and Lows of 2009 - PR inside Explore All

• Ted Tollner Q&A

  Inside The Oakland Raiders - Found Nov. 19, 2009 1 overall pick Alex Smith, with Shaun Hill a career backup? Tollner: I think to some degree there is.

• Hershey, Ferrero in talks over Cadbury: source

  Reuters - Found Nov. 18, 2009 ... not be materially different to that of a revised Kraft offer," at 820 pence per share, Nomura analyst Alex Smith said of a Cadbury-Ferrero... UPDATE 7-Ferrero, Hershey mull Cadbury bid, Kraft seen No.1 - Interactive Investor International Prospect of Kraft rival lifts Cadbury shares - Times Online DEALTALK-Cadbury's best defense may be hope of a new offer - Interactive Investor International World chocolate makers consider offers for Cadbury - USA Today Explore All

  AOL UK

• Talk of Reckitt doing a big deal

  Telegraph - Found Nov. 18, 2009 Earlier this year, David Hayes and Alex Smith the Nomura analysts who first raised the prospect of a Kraft bid for Cadbury argued that Colgate... UPDATE 2-Colgate stock up on Reckitt deal talk, company mum - Interactive Investor International Colgate Shares Hit Record High on Merger Talk - FOXNews.com Colgate Shares Hit Record High on Merger Talk - FOXNews.com UPDATE 1-Colgate stock up on Reckitt deal talk, company mum - Interactive Investor International Explore All

• 49ers hope Morgan-Crabtree receiving duo can energize offense

  San Jose Mercury News - Found Nov. 18, 2009 But I put the statistics and all that stuff aside, I?m not paying any attention to it.? ? Alex Smith on Aaron Rodgers Morgan supplants Bruce in 49ers' starting lineup - Sacramento Bee 49ers: Morgan replaces veteran Isaac Bruce in starting lineup - San Jose Mercury News Explore All

  Sacramento Bee

• Hershey, Ferrero in talks over Cadbury-source

  CNN Money - Found Nov. 17, 2009 ... not be materially different to that of a revised Kraft offer,' at 820 pence per share, Nomura analyst Alex Smith said of a Cadbury-Ferrero... Hershey, Ferrero in Talks Over Cadbury: Source - ABC News Video: Chocolate Wars Heating Up - MSNBC STOCKS NEWS US-Hershey, Ferrero in early talks on Cadbury-source - Interactive Investor International Ferrero family divided over Cadbury deal - Times Online Explore All

  Breitbart.com

• 49ers lead Bears 7-6 after 3 quarters

  Denver Post - Found Nov. 13, 2009 After Alex Smith threw an interception for San Francisco on the next drive, Cutler threw his second of the game. Gore, 49ers beat Bears 10-6, ending 4-game skid - Denver Post Mike Singletary, 49ers Punish Sloppy Bears QB Pass - Post Chronicle 49ers intercept Cutler five times in win over Bears - TheScore.com NFL Game Summary - Chicago At San Francisco - FOX 5 KVVU-TV Explore All

  Kentucky.com

• N.F.L. Roundup: Cutler Gives the 49ers a Hand

  New York Times - Found Nov. 12, 2009 ... snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Bears, 10-6, on Thursday night.Niners quarterback Alex Smith won for the first time... Jay Cutler tosses five INTs as Bears fall to 49ers 10-6 - USA Today Cutler at center of Bears' mediocre play, crisis of confidence - SI.com Jay Cutler gets picked on after slew of picks sink Bears in San ... - USA Today Cutler Gives the 49ers a Hand - New York Times Explore All

  Chicago Sun-Times

• 49ers intercept five passes in 10-6 victory over Bears

  San Jose Mercury News - Found Nov. 13, 2009 Quarterback Alex Smith threw for just 118 yards, with a long of 20. But Gore rushed for 104 yards, his first triple-digit game since Week 2... 49ers beat Chicago Bears 10-6 - San Jose Mercury News San Francisco pick off a badly needed win - San Mateo County Times Explore All

  San Jose Mercury News

Alex Smith

No. 11     San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback
Personal information
Date of birth: May 7, 1984 (1984-05-07) (age 25)
Place of birth: Bremerton, Washington
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	Weight: 217 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College: Utah
NFL Draft: 2005 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1
Debuted in 2005 for the San Francisco 49ers
Career history
As player: San Francisco 49ers (2005-present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Mountain West P.O.Y. (2004) Fiesta Bowl Offensive Co-MVP (2005)
Career NFL statistics as of 2009
TD-INT	23-33
Passing yards	4,885
QB Rating	65.5
Stats at NFL.com

Alexander Douglas "Alex" Smith (born May 7, 1984 in Bremerton, Washington) is a professional American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Smith was drafted with the 1st-overall pick in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the San Francisco. He played college football at Utah.

Early years

Smith is from Bonita, California. He has one brother and two sisters. His father, Douglas D. Smith, is the principal at the high school Alex attended, Helix High School. His uncle is John L. Smith, former head coach for the Michigan State University Spartans’ football team. His second cousin is Seattle Mariners first baseman Chris Shelton.

He played football at Helix High School. As a starter during his Junior and Senior years, Smith led his team to a record of 25-1, including two San Diego CIF section championships. He was named to the first-team all-conference and all-county squads in the San Diego CIF system. Smith also earned the conference offensive player of the year twice, and twice won the team MVP for Helix. During his time at Helix, Smith set a school record by throwing for six touchdowns in one game, and recorded the second-highest completion percentage in San Diego CIF history. While at Helix, he played with 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, who was also a finalist for the 2004 award, making it the first time a high school had two finalists at the ceremony.

Smith was president of his senior class in high school, and was also an excellent student who graduated with a 4.4 GPA one semester early by earning college credits through a program with San Diego State University. He pulled a similar feat in college where he earned enough credits to earn his bachelor's degree in Economics in just two years.¹

In 2006, Smith started the Alex Smith Foundation which assists former foster youth in attaining higher education. The program is currently reaching out to students in the San Diego, CA area.

College career

He played for the Utah Utes and wore number 15. He finished 4th in the voting for the 2004 Heisman Trophy, and was selected as the 2004 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year. He had a 21–1 record as a starter in college. He lead Utah to victories in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl and the 2003 Liberty Bowl. Smith graduated from the University of Utah with an economics degree in just three years with a 3.71 GPA.²

NFL career

At the NFL combine, Smith recorded a 4.7 time in the 40-yard dash, benched 335 pounds and had a 31-inch vertical leap.³ He also earned a score of 40 out of 50 on the Wonderlic exam.⁴

Smith was the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, selected by the San Francisco 49ers. In July 2005, Smith agreed to a six-year, $49.5 million contract with the 49ers; the contract includes $24 million in guaranteed money.

2005 season

Dealing with an injury and being taken in and out of the lineup by then-head coach Mike Nolan, Smith played in nine games in his rookie season, recording just one touchdown pass while throwing 11 interceptions.

2006 season

After the challenges faced by his rookie campaign, Smith went into the 2006 season with a new offensive coordinator (Norv Turner) and an improved set of offensive weapons around him. The 49ers used their top draft choice on Vernon Davis, a playmaking tight end from Maryland. They also upgraded their offensive backfield, trading underachieving running back Kevan Barlow to the Jets, making Frank Gore the feature back.

Smith also spent the offseason working daily with his new coordinator, wide receivers and tight end, while working to improve his technique and add bulk. The improved offensive cast clearly helped Smith develop in his second year, especially early. Smith's first three games of the season saw him throw three touchdowns, no interceptions, and amass 814 yards. After struggling in Kansas City, he then threw for three touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders, setting a career high. However, the next five games saw Smith resume his growing pains, averaging only 153 yards per game while throwing only six touchdowns and nine interceptions. Despite his difficulty, he led the 49ers on a three-game winning streak in November.

Smith met Joe Montana for the first time on November 5, 2006, during a game against the Vikings. The 49ers wore the throwback jerseys of the 1989 team which Joe Montana and teammates wore. The 49ers went on to win 9-3, upsetting the Minnesota Vikings.

In need of a statement game, the 49ers traveled to Seattle for a Thursday Night Football game against their division rivals. During the broadcast on NFL Network, Cris Collinsworth noted that were he starting an NFL franchise, he would had taken the Broncos rookie quarterback Jay Cutler before Alex Smith and fellow rookies Matt Leinart and Vince Young - and that Smith was not even close to the others.⁵ Going into the 4th quarter, the 49ers were trailing the Seahawks 7-3, and pulling out a win looked unlikely. Smith however performed brilliantly in the fourth quarter, and drove the 49ers on a long touchdown drive down the field early, taking a narrow 10-7 lead. Late in the quarter, with the same score, Smith struck again - shaking off an almost certain sack, rolling to the left and completing a pass to Frank Gore for a touchdown to give the 49ers a 10 point lead. On the next drive, Smith cemented the victory by leading yet another touchdown drive, and rushing for a touchdown on a naked bootleg. Collinsworth had earlier in the game observed that "Alex Smith is the best I've ever seen him. That drive is the best I saw," and on seeing his touchdown run, commented "What a second-half he has had!".⁶

After losing to the Cardinals the following week, the 49ers final game of the 2006 season was against a Denver Broncos team looking for a playoff berth. In a major upset, the 49ers defeated the Broncos and knocked them out of the playoffs. During the game at INVESCO Field, Smith threw for 194 yards and a touchdown, leading the team to a come from behind victory for the second time in three weeks.

Overall, Smith improved in his second year by throwing as many touchdowns as interceptions. He threw for 16 TDs, 16 interceptions, 2,890 yards and a 74.8 quarterback rating, all improvements over his rookie year, and all well above what would normally be expected of a 22-year-old-quarterback.

2007 season

Smith entered the 2007 season learning under a third offensive coordinator in three seasons. Norv Turner was hired as the head coach by the San Diego Chargers. Jim Hostler replaced Turner. Hostler's system is a mixture of the offensive system installed by Turner with elements of the West Coast offense installed by Mike McCarthy for the 2005 season. During the offseason, the 49ers added wide receivers Darrell Jackson, Ashley Lelie, and rookie Jason Hill as new offensive weapons for Smith.

In the season opener on Monday Night Football against the Arizona Cardinals, Smith led the 49ers to a 20-17 win in a two-minute comeback. While down 17-13 with less than two-minutes left, Smith drove down the field, highlighted by a 25-yard scramble. After the scramble, he threw a 22 yard pass to Arnaz Battle that was fumbled on the one-yard line, but recovered by a 49er so the ball was placed back on the one-yard line with 26 seconds left. The following play Battle ran an end around for the game-winning touchdown. Smith finished the game 15 for 31 with 126 yards and two rushes for 37 yards.⁷ Had Darrell Jackson not dropped a perfectly thrown pass in the end zone prior to Smith completing the comeback, his numbers would have been even better.

On September 30 in the first quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks, Smith injured his right shoulder after getting sacked by Seahawks defensive tackle Rocky Bernard. Smith suffered a grade-three separation and the initial diagnosis was that surgery would not be required. Smith missed the next three games before returning to the 49ers' starting lineup on Sunday, October 28, 2007.

The 49ers did not win a game again until November 25. Among all NFL quarterbacks who qualify for league statistics, only the Jets' Kellen Clemens had a poorer passer rating than Smith (57.2), Smith completed under 50% of his passes, far below the league average of 60%. Smith was at odds with 49ers head coach Mike Nolan over the severity of his injury. Nolan believed that Smith was healthy enough to play while Smith felt that the injury still affected his ability to throw accurately, an account that was supported by players from the Seahawks⁸. Nolan decided to rest Smith following a loss in that game to the Seahawks on November 12 and start Trent Dilfer to allow Smith's shoulder to recover. Upon further examination following the decision, according to orthopedic surgeon James Andrews, the shoulder did not significantly heal as Andrews thought it would. Smith would not play again in the 2007 season.⁹ On December 11, 2007, Smith was placed on injured reserve to undergo surgery on the shoulder.

2008 season

Smith on the sidelines in November 2008

Smith entered Training Camp competing for the starting quarterback job with Shaun Hill, who won both of the games he started in 2007, before suffering a back injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and J.T. O'Sullivan. Smith will be learning under a fourth different offensive coordinator in four seasons; Jim Hostler was fired and replaced by former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator and St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator/head coach Mike Martz. Unlike the previous three seasons, where offensive continuity was somewhat maintained, Martz's system was completely different. Smith was announced as the 2nd string quarterback for the 49ers' initial preseason game on August 8 against the Oakland Raiders, behind O'Sullivan, who was elevated to starting quarterback partly due to his familiarity with Martz's offense when he was on the bench with the Detroit Lions. Smith threw five of nine for 51 yards. He again started as the second string quarterback in the August 16 preseason game against the Green Bay Packers which the 49ers won 34 to 6. O'Sullivan was starting quarterback against the Chicago Bears on August 21 in the third preseason game, where he performed extremely well, throwing 7 of 8 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown. Smith threw 6 of 17 for 83 yards and a touchdown.

On August 22, 49ers head coach Mike Nolan announced¹⁰ that J. T. O'Sullivan, who had competed with Smith and Hill, would replace Smith as the 49ers' first-string quarterback for Week 1 of the 2008 season. This decision led former NFL coach Jim Mora to call Smith a "bust," and argue that the 49ers should not have drafted him as the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.¹¹

On September 10, the 49ers placed Smith on injured reserve after Dr. James Andrews confirmed the team's diagnosis of a broken bone in Smith's shoulder,¹² believed to have been caused by a wire left in his shoulder from the previous surgery, which had sawed through the bone ¹³. Regardless, the 49ers' general manager, Scot McCloughan, said that the 49ers expect to release Smith before the 2009 season, when they would owe him a salary of $9,625,000.¹⁴ After Nolan was fired on October 21, 2008, the 49ers expressed interest in having Smith remain for the 2009 season if he was willing to renegotiate his contract.¹⁵ On March 10, 2009, the 49ers announced that Alex Smith's contract had been successfully restructured and that he would stay with the team. Smith took a considerable paycut to remain with the 49ers, with whom he is under contract for the next two years.¹⁶ Smith will make $4 million a season in 2009 and 2010, in addition to base salaries that weren't immediately made known. In his previous contract, he was scheduled to make $24.6 million in the final two years. [1]

2009 season

After restructuring his new contract with San Francisco, Smith lost the battle for the starting QB position to Shaun Hill. However, in a Week 7 game against the Texans, Smith was made the quarterback at the beginning of the third quarter after Hill had performed poorly in a 0-21 first half deficit. Smith led the team back with 3 touchdown passes that were all to TE Vernon Davis, but fell short of victory 21-24. ¹⁷ The next day on October 26 at his weekly press conference, head coach Mike Singletary named Smith as the 49ers's starting quarterback.¹⁸

Career statistics

College

Professional

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Alex Smith

• Alex Smith at ESPN.com