Alex Smith gave in and decided to re-sign with the 49ers. But the team gave in, too. The Associated Press reports that Smith's new, three-year deal will pay him $8 million a season but as much as $33 million overall and $16.5 million guaranteed.
That's a step up from the three-year, $24 million deal with $10 million guaranteed that had been on the table for more than two weeks. The key is the guaranteed money, which signals the level of commitment to the player.
The initial contract offer would have allowed the 49ers to part ways with Smith and hand the offense to understudy Colin Kaepernick midway through the deal. The revised contract shows more of a commitment to Smith. It's also a show of good faith in what was a sobering negotiating process for Smith.
The revised contract offer also is significant in that the 49ers deviated from their usual, very business-like strategy of placing a value on a player and not going a cent higher than that number.
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In other 49ers news ... new receiver Randy Moss will wear No. 84, the number he wore when he entered the league with the Vikings. It had been worn by Josh Morgan in previous seasons. Morgan is now with the Redskins. Running back Rock Cartwright will wear No. 28, according to the team.
-- Matt Barrows
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