San Francisco 49ers: Sticking with Alex Smith, Not Interested in Peyton Manning

While various media outlets have mentioned the San Francisco 49ers as one potential landing spot for recently-released quarterback Peyton Manning, CSN Bay Area says the 49ers are "not interested" in acquiring the 14-year veteran. 

The team is sticking with Alex Smith and have an offer to re-sign him currently on the table, according to Matt Maiocco.

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The 49ers have an "offer on the table" to scheduled free agent Alex Smith and the club is not interested in signing veteran quarterback Peyton Manning, a well-placed source told CSNBayArea.com on Wednesday.

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The Colts released Manning Wednesday in an emotionally charged press conference, setting off a tidal wave of speculation about where the quarterback might play in 2012. Manning has no current plans to retire from the NFL despite several recent neck surgeries, including a spinal fusion in 2011 that cost him the entire season.

Several talking heads—including Tony Dungy, Manning's former coach, and long-time 49ers receiver Jerry Rice—are on the record connecting Manning to San Francisco.

Dungy said Wednesday (via Jason La Canfora) that Manning's next team has to be a contender with good offensive players, and that the 49ers are a team that fits that mold. Rice has appeared several times on ESPN pushing the team to sign Manning once he was released.

The 49ers obviously view the situation differently.

Smith led the 49ers to a 13-3 record in 2011 on a one-year, $5 million deal signed after the team hired Jim Harbaugh to be its new head coach. They are in the process of locking up Smith, 27, to a long-term contract, although that process has been a tedious one.

Maiocco pointed out earlier this week that contract talks between the 49ers and Smith were at an impasse because the former No. 1 overall pick was looking for money in the range of what Ryan Fitzpatrick earned last season with the Bills. Buffalo gave Fitzpatrick $24 million in guarantees, which the 49ers aren't likely to match.

In the end, Maiocco views the situation as one that both sides will eventually come to an agreement on. A yearly salary in the $9-10 million range over three years, plus $10-15 million in guarantees, seems like a deal that satisfies both parties.

For 49ers fans, don't hold your breath on the team going after any quarterback but Alex Smith this offseason. That includes 11-time Pro Bowlers with a straight shot to Canton.