49ers Say Alex Smith Hasn't Requested Release From Team
NEW ORLEANS (CBS / AP) -- Farewell, Alex?
Alex Smith leaving the San Francisco 49ers after this season is a topic CEO Jed York isn't ready to address.
But York made one thing clear Thursday: Smith hasn't requested his release after the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick lost his starting job to Colin Kaepernick.
Smith certainly hopes to remain a starter somewhere, and that doesn't seem likely anymore with San Francisco, his only NFL team.
While the 49ers would love to have two winning QBs, York realizes that might not be a realistic luxury as far as Smith is concerned.
"Alex and I started with the 49ers the same year in 2005 and I've known Alex for a long time. And that's part of the overall analysis you do at the end of the season, not just for one player but for everybody," York said.
He continued: "And you figure out what's best for guys, what's best for the team, and you figure out. Is there a spot for him on the team from a cap standpoint? Yeah, absolutely there's a spot for him on the team. From a need standpoint, it's pretty nice to have two quarterbacks that you feel that you can win with. Is there going to be a demand for a quarterback who's played as well as he had the last couple years? Yeah."
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