SANTA CLARA – San Francisco general manager Scot McCloughan said Wednesday he still believes Alex Smith has a bright future in the NFL, but that if the quarterback spends this season on the sideline, it won't be with the 49ers.
Asked if the team can afford to keep Smith if he's not the starter next season, McCloughan was blunt.
"You can't. You can't," he said. "The amount of money we're going to invest in him, it would have to be proven that he is the guy going into the offseason, that he is our guy for next year."
Smith is scheduled to earn nearly $10 million in base salary next season, far too much for a backup quarterback. Furthermore, if J.T. O'Sullivan has a good season, the 49ers will be pressed to sign him to a lucrative, long-term deal. The team signed the former UC Davis star to a one-year, $645,000 deal in the offseason.
McCloughan admitted he was surprised that O'Sullivan had leapfrogged Smith for the starting job this season and said he believes Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in 2005, has more talent than O'Sullivan.
"But that doesn't matter," McCloughan said. "You have to go out there with the guy that understands the system and knows how to work the system best."
At the close of the 2007 season, coach Mike Nolan's power over personnel issues was given to McCloughan, who was promoted to general manager. As such, McCloughan can fire the head coach.
McCloughan was asked if Nolan's job will be at risk if the 49ers start slowly this season.
"I can't answer that right now," he said. "That's all looking out into the future. We're planning on getting off to a 3-1, 4-1 start and going from there. We're living week to week. And that's what you do in the NFL."
Et cetera – The 49ers are the healthiest they've been in years. Only two players, linebacker Parys Haralson and nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, are on the injury report, but both practiced Wednesday. Haralson sprained his shoulder in the exhibition finale Friday; Franklin sprained a knee.
• Nolan said the 49ers have not chosen between Bryant Johnson and rookie Josh Morgan to start at wide receiver. There also is a battle at left guard between Adam Snyder and David Baas and at "Ted" inside linebacker. Nolan has said Jeff Ulbrich is leading Takeo Spikes for the linebacker spot.
• The 49ers will wear their throwback uniforms twice this season – at home against Seattle on Oct. 26 and in the season finale against Washington on Dec. 28. The Seattle game is alumni day; the finale is fan appreciation day.
Read Matthew Barrows' 49ers blog at www.sacbee.com/blogs.
