Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Quarterback Alex Smith has agreed to a new three-year deal to stay with the San Francisco 49ers, sources confirmed to ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton.
The 49ers and Smith reached agreement on a deal that sources told ESPN senior NFL writer Chris Mortensen is set to pay the former No. 1 overall pick an average of roughly $8 million per season.
Smith had been weighing a three-year offer from the 49ers. The 27-year-old made $4.9 million in base salary in 2011, plus earned a $1 million bonus for reaching the playoffs.
Smith’s future in the Bay Area came into question after the 49ers were revealed as a late entrant in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. Manning signed a 5-year, $96 million deal with the Denver Broncoson Tuesday.
Smith, a free agent, visited with the Miami Dolphins over the weekend after the 49ers met with and worked out Manning and put the former Colts quarterback through a physical exam.
49ers CEO Jed York told CSNBayArea.com on Monday they would like Smith to return, but the decision was up to Smith.
“We have a contract on the table and it’s up to him,” York told the website. “We’d like for him (Alex Smith) to be here, and we’ll see where it goes.”
According to the Sacramento Bee, coach Jim Harbaugh met with Smith for an hour Monday in an effort to get the quarterback to return to San Francisco for the 2012 season.
Smith struggled early in his career but threw for 3,150 yards and 17 touchdowns with only five interceptions last season as San Francisco went 13-3 and made the NFC championship game after an eight-year playoff drought. He orchestrated six comeback wins, four on the road.
San Francisco running back Frank Gore, who works out each offseason in Miami, said Sunday he hadn’t spoken to Smith. Gore has long supported Smith through the quarterback’s up-and-down seven NFL seasons.
Now, Gore and the 49ers are sitting tight to see what happens next.
“It’s crazy,” Gore said. “I’m waiting for whatever happens. I know coach Harbaugh and (general manager) Trent Baalke feel good about what they’re doing.”
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