Window for Niners’ Smith still ajar

<p>SANTA CLARA — When former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith lost the starting quarterback job to J.T. O’Sullivan in training camp, his window of opportunity with the 49ers was closing rapidly.</p><p>And when Smith was ruled out for the season with a fractured bone in his throwing shoulder, it appeared to spell the end of his career with the team.</p><p>And while it is still entirely possible Smith has attempted his final pass for the 49ers, general manager Scot McCloughan said Thursday he has not ruled out the possibility Smith could return to the club in 2009.</p><p>Smith is scheduled to earn $9.625 million in base salary in 2009. Smith would have to agree to a pay cut of approximately $9 million for the 49ers to consider retaining him.</p><p>And if Smith is open to the suggestion?</p><p>“The discussions are wide open,” McCloughan said, “no doubt about it.”</p><p>McCloughan is softening the stance he took in September, before Smith’s season-ending injury. Two months ago, McCloughan said Smith would not return to the 49ers if he did not head into the offseason as the proven starter.</p><p>But McCloughan said Smith must agree to tear up his contract, which has already paid him approximately $31 million for four seasons.</p><p>“He can’t come back for the money he’s at,” McCloughan said. “It’s just common sense.”</p><p>Smith, who has compiled a meager 63.5 career passer rating, was healthy for just three games last season. He tried unsuccessfully to play in three other games after sustaining a separated right shoulder.</p><p>“It’s too bad that he hasn’t been able to do it on the field, so we can say, ‘Yes, he can,’ or ‘No, he can’t,’” McCloughan said.</p><p>Smith, the top pick in the 2005 draft, has not been able to grow within a system. Mike Martz was Smith’s fourth offensive coordinator in four NFL seasons.</p><p>“The different systems he’s been in have held him back, and held the offense back, from being as productive as they can be over a four-year span,” McCloughan said. “I still believe Alex is going to be a good quarterback in this league.”</p><p>But can it be with the 49ers?</p><p>“It could be here, certainly,” McCloughan answered.</p><p>McCloughan said those contract talks with Smith and his agent have yet to take place.</p><p>“It’s something we’re going to need to address as we get through this,” McCloughan said. “Right now, I’m more worried about what’s happening on the field today. We do have a lot of football left, but as we get closer to the end of the season, I’ll start looking to the future. There will be some discussions to take place.”</p><p>Smith still attends meetings and works out at the 49ers’ practice facility daily. He also attends 49ers home games. But he has declined interview requests since being placed on injured reserve on Sept. 10.</p><p>Last week, Smith underwent a routine surgical procedure in Birmingham, Ala., to remove a bone fragment and wire sutures from his original surgery in December to repair a separated shoulder. The 49ers did not acknowledge he had the procedure until five days later.</p><p>If Smith had remained healthy, he would have been the first in line to replace O’Sullivan, whom coach Mike Singletary benched just before the half of the 49ers’ Oct. 26 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.</p><p>“The way coach Martz speaks about him to this day, it’s too bad he’s not healthy,” McCloughan said. “He’d be playing him now. He sees a lot of positives. With the youth of Alex (24 years old), it means there’s still a lot to develop and work on. And with Alex, he’s eager to work on it. He wants to soak it in and get better. I know Alex likes the system and likes working with coach Martz.”</p><p>EXTRA POINTS</p><p>Receiver Arnaz Battle is week-to-week with a sprained right foot. Jason Hill will take Battle’s spot as the No. 3 receiver. Also, Josh Morgan has supplanted Bryant Johnson as the starter at split end.</p><p>Adam Snyder and Jonas Jennings are both working at right tackle. Barry Sims, who started every game while Jennings was out with a shoulder injury, will miss Monday’s game with an ankle sprain. Snyder started the first seven games at left guard, but coach Mike Singletary said he wants Snyder to work solely at right tackle.</p><p>For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at http://www.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@press</p><p>democrat.com.</p>