As the NFL's lockout drags on, the San Francisco 49ers seem increasingly committed to bringing back veteran free agent QB Alex Smith to provide some continuity to their offense as it transitions to new coach Jim Harbaugh and his staff. Asked who his starter under center is likely to be in 2011, Harbaugh said Tuesday night on NFL Network's NFL Total Access: "Well documented, on record, that we very much want Alex Smith to be a 49er next year -- and really is a 49er. In my mind -- and hopefully in his mind -- he is a 49er, and we look forward to having him competing for that starting quarterback position next year." Smith, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2005 draft (23 spots ahead of Aaron Rodgers), has only won 19 of 50 career starts but did post a career-high 82.1 QB rating in 2010. Naturally, Harbaugh is also looking forward to developing second-round QB Colin Kaepernick, whom the Niners traded up to get. Harbaugh gushed over the skill set of the former Nevada star. "A lot of things that we saw in Colin that made him the best fit for the San Francisco 49ers for our system of offense. Spectacular athlete, very strong throwing arm, wired kind of like the all-American guy -- takes a lot of pride in his own personal performance, a guy who's won coming from behind and really changed that program for the better at Reno," said Harbaugh. Source: USAToday
