Smith 'one tough' QB

<p>Quarterback Alex Smith was in no way jeopardizing his future when he continued to play Sunday despite excruciating pain in his throwing shoulder, according to the team's medical staff.</p><p>Smith sustained a Grade III separation four weeks earlier. He was reminded of the injury when he took several big hits on that shoulder in the 49ers' lackluster 31-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints.</p><p>Coach Mike Nolan on Monday defended his decision to keep Smith in the game, saying the team's doctors make the call on whether a player is healthy enough to play.</p><p>While it might be difficult to believe Smith's presence gave the 49ers a better chance to win, it is possible his determination to remain on the field could have some long-term benefits.</p><p>After all, if his teammates didn't know it before, now they certainly understand Smith is not going to run away and hide when things get difficult.</p><p>"He's one tough S.O.B.," 49ers rookie tackle Joe Staley said. "Seeing a guy get out there and play while in that much pain just makes you want to play harder for him. You could tell in the huddle that he was hurting, but he didn't want to let anybody know it."</p><p>Smith has never fully emerged as a leader on the team. The 49ers have 11 team captains, but Smith is not one of them. Veteran backup Trent Dilfer represents the quarterbacks as a captain.</p><p>Even though his performance was not sharp, his teammates certainly paid attention to what Smith endured to take every snap in the game.</p><p>"Any other quarterback would've come in and taken off his pads," 49ers running back Frank Gore said. "Alex kept fighting."</p><p>Said Nolan, "I know after the game when we huddled up, some guys called out his name as far as being a leader on this football team."</p><p>Smith acknowledged he wanted to remain in the game, in part, to prove he was not going to give up when things get bad. But he was also realistic in what he accomplished.</p><p>"There's nothing to be glorified about playing hurt and losing," he said. "It's all about winning."</p><p>Nolan on hot seat?</p><p>Nolan is 39 games into his tenure as 49ers head coach. He has a 13-26 record.</p><p>But it wasn't until a day after the team's miserable showing against the Saints that he was asked the inevitable question about his future.</p><p>Owner John York has rarely spoken publicly about the state of the football team since he hired Nolan in January 2005. However, York does talk with Nolan regularly. The two men spoke in the locker room after Sunday's game. They had another talk later in the evening.</p><p>"The state of the football team right now is the responsibility of the head coach," Nolan said. "Our 2-5 record is my responsibility. That's what we talk about. He leaves those decisions and that responsibility to me."</p><p>Nolan, who said he is never motivated by job security, was asked if he worries that he is not meeting the owner's expectations.</p><p>"No," he answered. "I'm worried about meeting my own expectations and those should be good enough for the owner."</p><p>Frustration hits boiling point</p><p>There were a few thrown helmets and one flipped bird. Selected 49ers players clearly lost their composure during the team's shockingly bad performance.</p><p>Fox broadcasters Matt Vasgersian and JC Pearson implied they saw some quit in the 49ers. Nolan strongly disagreed.</p><p>"I don't construe those actions as quitting," Nolan said. "We have too much character on this football team. Our issue is poor performance. And we need to pick that up."</p><p>Kicker Joe Nedney, who apologized for his use of the middle finger directed at some hecklers, met Monday morning with Nolan.</p><p>The club will not take any disciplinary action, but the league is expected to punish Nedney. Last year, Michael Vick was fined $10,000 for a similar obscene gesture.</p><p>No need to throw red flag</p><p>Nolan said referee John Parry advised him he could not challenge the ruling of a third-quarter play in which Saints' fullback Mike Karney appeared to catch a short pass and then fumble. The play was ruled incomplete on the field, but the 49ers thought it should've been a fumble.</p><p>"It's not a reviewable play because it's one of two things: It's an incomplete pass or an inadvertent whistle," Nolan said. "And an inadvertent whistle is not reviewable. There was no way to overturn it."</p><p>Getting used to it</p><p>Smith and Gore plan to continue playing with their injuries. Gore said he was thinking about his right ankle sprain during Sunday's game. Just like Smith, who feels the shoulder every time he does his job of throwing passes, Gore's ankle affects him when he makes a cut while running.</p><p>"I wish this would've happened in the bye week," Gore said. "It's just nagging. I'm going to have to just keep (managing it) if I want to play."</p>