Alex Smith: What to Make of Saga Surrounding San Francisco 49ers Quarterback

July 7, 2012   ·   Eli Nachmany   ·   Jump to comments

It's not as though Alex Smith threw too many interceptions last season or cost his 49ers a shot at glory in 2011.
Rather, it's just the opposite.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith had a very good season in 2011, throwing 17 touchdowns to just five interceptions and leading his 49er squad to an NFC West title. For Smith's critics, it wasn't nearly enough.
Smith endured a wide range of criticism in 2011 despite his growth into a capable starting quarterback, ranging from questions about his ability to be any more than a game manager to his issues on third down and in the red zone.
The drama around Smith intensified when the 49ers were rumored to be going after marquee free agent Peyton Manning. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has since refuted such rumors, but Smith is still content to use it as motivation.
If anything, Smith has become a more vocal presence over the last few months, which is something that fans are not used to seeing from the quarterback. Afte...

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