Dawg Bites: QB Alex Smith to Seek Release from 49ers

It seems like ages ago, but Alex Smith used to be the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, and they were still considered Super Bowl contenders. And while he didn’t lose his job because of his performance, he did simply lose it to a more talented player in Colin Kaepernick.

However, that won’t stop Smith from being a hot commodity this offseason. He surely knows this, which is why he is reportedly asking to be released from the 49ers after the season, rather than be traded.

Whether he’s traded or simply released (a tough decision the 49ers are going to have to make), we do know that Smith will be somewhere else in 2013, and he’ll have plenty of suitors.

Cleveland is a possible destination for Smith, though one wonders just how he would fit into head coach Rob Chudzinski’s offense. Both he and offensive coordinator Norv Turner like to air the ball out downfield, and that isn’t really Smith’s strength. He’s more of a game manager, better suited for the West Coast-ish offense that was in town the past two seasons.

That might not stop the Browns from bringing in this “name” quarterback. And it could easily blow up in their faces if that’s the route they go.