The San Francisco Chronicle just reported on SFGate.com that 49ers’ quarterback Alex Smith is out for the season and his ’Niner career may be over.

Although I really, really like Smith, I believe the ’Niners choosing him No. 1 was a colossal mistake by the Yorkville Family Front Office Circus that Nancy Gay of the Chron appropriately slammed down today in a column.

Although the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers has yet to prove himself by far, he has showed a lot of poise and maturity. It makes me wonder if former ’Niner offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy helped this once-proud franchise blow selecting Rodgers in favor of Smith, who operated out of a shotgun formation in college and has never really seemed comfortable underneath center.

Still, the kid has had four offensive coordinators in four years, this being his fourth. He came to probably the worst offensive team the NFL has seen in years and any young quarterback thrown into the NFL spotlight frenzy, not to mention the mental and physical challenges of being a top-tier athlete, is going to have struggles.

We have to remember he just started to blossom under Norv Turner on what was a horrible ’Niner team – so horrible that I have to hearken back to the humiliating era after the 49ers made their unsuccessful and brief run the early 1970s.

The great quarterbacks all had struggles; that’s not to say Smith was destined for greatness, but I still feel this class act of a young man can still play.

I hope his shoulder can be repaired, he heals and he comes back with a vengeance. He is such a good role model for young football players. He is a charitable man who is well-liked.