Assessing the Peyton Manning Fallout for the San Francisco 49ers

After the recent free-agent signings and non-signings, 49ers fans can step back and say, “Well, that was interesting.”

To say the least.

Pursuing Peyton Manning left all kinds of harsh echoes around 4949 Centennial Way in Santa Clara.

The resonance will linger for a while as the team continues to search for an upgrade at right guard due to the loss of Adam Snyder, who signed a contract with the Arizona Cardinals last week. There’s also the draft in four weeks, which seems to be the team’s chief priority right now.

But one has to ask, what about hurt feelings, days spent caddying for a head coach and the meaning of Camp Alex in 2011? Here’s a pre-draft assessment of the Peyton Manning fallout with regard to the 49ers.

Franchise QB

It’s easy to forget that both Peyton Manning and Alex Smith were drafted first overall in their respective inaugurations into the NFL. Being first overall brings so much pressure to the individual. And it’s hard to find two overall No. 1s who have had more divergent careers.

Manning, taken in 1998, has a resume that will have people in Canton, Ohio, submitting plans to the local town council about adding a new wing for all the accomplishments of the former-Colt-now-Bronco.

Prior to 2011, it was difficult to find a more disappointing No. 1 overall quarterback pick than Smith. Taken first in 2005 by a defensive-minded coach who decided Smith was better than Aaron Rodgers, it was a decision that hung over Smith like a Christmas wreath.

The anti-Smith contingent remains strong and virulent, and many wear 49ers jerseys on game days. But none of that is Smith’s fault.

No two organizations took more divergent paths since Manning came into the league in ’98. The Colts knew what they had and they built a team to maximize Manning’s talents, adding capable offensive linemen like Jeff Saturday and receivers like Marvin Harrison and building a defense geared around rushing the passer.

The Niners threw Smith in before he was ready behind an offensive line that could only be called subpar. That led to hits and sacks, then injuries and then to his coach questioning his toughness. That led to another head coach, defensive-minded again, and more dysfunction and a terrible, unimaginative offense.

In the NFL, when you get a player like Manning who can orchestrate an offense and put you in the lead, especially in the second half, all you need are a couple of pass-rushers to take down the other team’s QB. Example: Dwight Freeney of the Colts became a star, which perhaps would not have happened had he played for a team that was behind a majority of the time in the second half.

Manning thus ranks as the ultimate “franchise quarterback,” the player at the center of the organization’s solar system. And it worked and led to two Super Bowl appearances and consistent, deep runs into the playoffs.

Not a Franchise Quarterback

In contrast, it’s easy to say that Alex Smith is anything but a franchise quarterback. He does not inspire fear or consternation by opposing defenses. No defense starts its game plan on how it can counter the ways of Alex Smith.

Which, again, is not Alex Smith’s fault. He does not possess the cannon arm like Rodgers or one of the Mannings. It wasn’t until his fifth year that he had some players on the line who could provide some nominal pass protection. And even now with Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree he finds himself looking at eight and nine defenders crowding near the line of scrimmage because the Niners don’t have a veritable deep threat.

But what he is, with his coach, is a competent quarterback who may not be the dominant part of the puzzle but is at least a critical part. There’s no way the 49ers finish the 2011 regular season at 13-3 without Smith making the right plays most of the time.

Five interceptions last season to go along with out-of-pocket moves like this (4:04 mark) make Smith a different (true) but functional and even championship player. By the way, Peyton Manning could never have made that play, especially today.

Smith’s build, his arm and his game never enabled him to become a Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers. But they do allow him to build on his inherent competitiveness to be a very good quarterback for the right team. Right now, that team appears to be the 49ers.

Business

It’s the way of the NFL. A team can draft a player, pay him, develop his skills and even help rehabilitate injuries in order to extend his career. And after a certain time the player has the right to market his skills to other teams.

At the same time, the team has the right to say at just about any time that a player does not fit its needs and thus can cut him. In many cases, it’s because the player is getting on in years, and though the player is still capable there might be a younger player who can perform to a level near that of the older player. Except the younger player will cost half as much in terms of salary.

The NFL is a business. Granted, it’s a game but in the day-to-day operations of selling tickets or marketing jerseys or assessing salary structure, it comes down to dollars.

Alex Smith has every right to be upset at the Niners for pursuing Peyton Manning. To which the Niner front office says, “Yes, but it was Peyton Manning.” If given the chance, every team with the possible exception of the Packers, Giants and Saints would be in the pursuit of Peyton Manning, if given the green light.

He’s that good. All Trent Baalke and the rest of the 49ers organization did is investigate a unique possibility that, had it ended successfully, would have made the 49ers the prohibitive Super Bowl favorite in 2012. And perhaps 2013 and ’14 as well.

Achievement

From Smith’s perspective, he can ask, “Where’s the love for Camp Alex during the 2011 lockout?” The love for his best season of his career in 2011? For his end-run for the crucial late TD against the Saints in the NFL playoffs, much less the two critical throws to Vernon Davis in that last-gasp drive that led to victory?

Smith has done well and the Niners need him. They would not have climbed as far as they did without him. And the same can be said for the team and Smith in 2012. Smith can get over the hurt feelings and lead the team again. And all he has to do is achieve.

A Super Bowl victory would do wonders for his case. It would be the ultimate “I told you so.”