NFL Free Agency 2012: Alex Smith, Dolphins in Contract Negotiations

It looks like Alex Smith was not messing around after all, as Pro Football Talk is reporting that Smith and the Miami Dolphins have begun contract talks.

AP reports that Smith was was working out for the Dolphins today, and the meeting lasted a reported five hours (via ESPN).

The free agent took the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC Championship last season, but according to ESPN, San Francisco has shown interest in free agent quarterback Peyton Manning over the last week.  Manning worked out for the 49ers at Duke University on Tuesday and took a physical.

So it turns out it was not a bluff.

It appears Smith is dead-set on leaving the 49ers and seeking a future with a franchise other than San Francisco.  NFL.com said he was upset with the contract offer the 49ers made a couple weeks ago.  Since then, the 49ers offered him a three-year, $24 million deal, which Smith was reportedly mulling over.

But how can Smith go back to San Francisco now?

He feels disrespected that the team would turn their back on him and focus their attention on Manning.  Instead of accepting the 49ers' offer and returning back to Jim Harbaugh's system—the only one that has worked for Smith—it looks as though he may be traveling the bitter route by taking his talents to South Beach.

SFGate.com reports Smith was considering changing agents yesterday, after an apparent conflict of interest with his agent and Manning.  Both Smith and Manning share the same agent, Tom Condon.

Whatever the outcome is, Smith is not playing around anymore.

It also leaves the 49ers in a very difficult situation—if Smith's talks with Miami are as serious as we are told (via Pro Football Talk).

If the 49ers do not land Manning, and Smith chooses not to come back to the franchise that has taken him back time and time again, then San Francisco could be left with second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick at the helm next season.