2012 NFL Free Agents: 49ers Continue Tradition of Messing with Alex Smith

Alex Smith's time with the San Francisco 49ers has never been easy, and his relationship with the team took yet another twist on Friday.

As reported by ESPN, the 49ers worked out Peyton Manning and put him through a physical this week. The 49ers are now among a three-team list of finalists for Manning's services, joining the Denver Broncos and the Tennessee Titans.

Mike Klis of The Denver Post passed along what kind of numbers it would take to land Manning:

"

My previously reported contract parameters for P. Manning were too low. Broncos, Titans, 49ers working off his old five-year, $90 mil deal

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 16, 2012"

As pointed out by Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, forking over that much money to a single player doesn't sound like something the 49ers would do. But if they're among the finalists, that means there's clearly mutual interest between Manning and the Niners.

So in the meantime, Smith's own contract situation will have to wait. That makes the situation a little awkward.

Okay fine, it makes it really awkward.

Like Manning, Smith is an unrestricted free agent. And for the first time in his career, he's in a position to cash in, as he's coming off a solid season in which he and the Niners came a few unlucky bounces away from going to the Super Bowl. 

Last week, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reported that Smith and the 49ers both wanted to renew their partnership, but they were having trouble agreeing on years and guaranteed dollars. Typical contract stuff, but nothing Smith and the 49ers couldn't work out.

Now here we are a week later and the 49ers are a stack of papers and a pen away from signing one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

The first thought (or one of the first thoughts) that pops into one's head is that the interest in Manning could be a mere ruse meant to get Smith to agree to the Niners' terms. If the team is getting the impression that Smith thinks he's hot stuff, lining up a ringer who is hot stuff could prove useful in terms of lighting a fire under Smith's rear end.

Either that, or the 49ers are sincere about their interest, in which case they're indicating to Smith that they think they have a better chance of winning a Super Bowl with Manning than they do with him.

I don't blame them. Nor should you.

Despite that, I'm simply amazed at how the 49ers have found yet another way to mess with Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft. First it was a revolving door of head coaches and offensive coordinators, and now it's this.

In between was a season in which Smith got to relax and enjoy the leadership of a head coach who was behind him 100 percent of the way. Indications were that the good vibes between Smith and the Niners were going to continue, but now all bets are off.

If the Niners sign Manning, Smith presumably won't be back at all. If the Niners fail to sign Manning, they'll turn their attention back to Smith and try to reassure him that things between the two sides are as shiny as they've ever been.

But that won't be the case. The 49ers have sent a message to Smith that they think they can do better than him, and their pursuit of Manning is sure to rile up a fanbase that has had a love/hate (mostly hate) relationship with Smith for years.

If the Niners get Manning, the fans won't be sad to see Smith go. If the Niners have to settle for Smith, the fans will surely be bummed that the 49ers couldn't land Manning.

Through it all, the message Smith will be getting is one that he's heard over and over and over again:

You're just not good enough.