Bay Area Sports Blog

Alex Smith, whataguy. Unlike the Warriors, Smith did actually give some money back to the fans. Today he restructured his deal, which Pro Football Talk reports is now in the $2-3 million range, saving the 49ers about $7 or 8 million next year.

But lest you think this is the first time Smith has been all sweet like a pot ‘o honey, turn your eyes on these fun facts. Awww, shucks!

* He’s from Bonita, near San Diego, which is known for its horse riding.
* When Mike Nolan called him to tell him the 49ers were strongly considering taking him at No. 1 in 2005, he didn’t even tell his own mother the news.
* He runs the Alex Smith Foundation, which helps foster kids reach college. Does the foundation’s penchant for football puns come from their founder? “Why does our society spend billions of dollars on foster children, only to abandon these kids when they’re on the verge of becoming adults? It seems like we’re dropping the ball at the goal line.”
* His freshman year at Utah, former Utes coach Ron McBride burned his redshirt by inserting him into the end of a blowout against San Diego State, and briefly into another game. Smith contemplated transferring but decided to stick around for a coach named Urban Meyer. It worked out.
* Later in his Utah career, Smith mentored upcoming quarterback Brian Johnson in many ways. Once, Johnson borrowed Smith’s car and the alarm started going off. Smith talked Johnson through the process of jiggering some wires to fix the blaring alarm.

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By Peter on Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 at 1:39 pm.
Tags: San Francisco 49ers