NFL Free Agents 2012: What Alex Smith Changing Agents Would Mean for 49ers

Free-agent quarterback Alex Smith is reportedly considering changing agents, a league source told Kevin Lynch of The San Francisco Chronicle. The report could mean the end of his career in San Francisco.

Smith, who took the 49ers to the NFC championship last season, was reportedly not happy with San Francisco's contract offer last week (though Smith has said those reports were false). and is now deciding on whether or not to pursue other opportunities with a different organization.

On Friday, it was reported by ESPN's Chris Mortensen that the 49ers were the third team in the Peyton Manning sweepstakes, after Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman flew to Duke University to watch Manning workout, as well as take a physical.

Given that news, Smith is reportedly considering changing from agent Tom Condon, who is coincidentally Manning's agent, as well.

But if Smith is actually considering changing agents, as a league source said, then this really affects the 49ers in a major way.

For Smith to change agents would mean that there is no way for him to go back to San Francisco next season. The reason for him changing agents would be that there is a conflict of interest between his current agent Condon, Manning and the 49ers, and that he feels betrayed by the 49ers organization.

It also tells us a lot about what the Manning situation is like in San Francisco. The 49ers must be extremely serious to land Manning if Smith is this irritated at the organization that he would change agents.

It also means there may be some interest from Manning toward the 49ers, as well.  

For Smith to switch agents would mean that maybe he knows something the public does not. It might mean that Condon is paying more attention to the interest of the 49ers in Manning than the 49ers' interest in Smith.

But Smith should feel betrayed. The team he managed to the NFC championship is turning their back on him to go after the hottest thing in football right now. Smith stuck with the 49ers through thick and thin, and San Francisco has finally decided they are done sticking with him.

However, this also puts the 49ers in quite a pickle.

If Manning decides he does not want to sign with the 49ers, then the team has a disgruntled Smith who probably does not want to return to the team, given the reports about him switching agents. That would leave San Francisco hung out to dry with Colin Kaepernick under center next season. It was quite a risk for the 49ers to workout Manning with the type of backlash they inevitably could have received from Smith.

The news about Smith possibly changing agents tells us more than we think, and it is leaning towards the direction of Manning having great interest in the 49ers.