[Bette]

Quarterback Alex Smith is going to have his right shoulder surgically repaired, but repairing his relationship with 49ers Coach Mike Nolan could be more difficult.
In his strongest act of rebellion to date, Smith on Monday said that Nolan has tried to "undermine" his reputation in the locker room. In an exclusive interview with the Mercury News, Smith said Nolan made it clear to teammates that the quarterback was using injuries as an excuse for poor performance, a charge that has left Smith's locker-room reputation in shambles.
Smith, who had long been hinting that an operation was required, said he was frustrated by Nolan's repeated public comments - "the spin," as Smith called it - that questioned the quarterback's toughness.
A month ago, after a 24-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the quarterback volunteered that his separated right shoulder was "killing him." Nolan had repeatedly said Smith's health was fine, setting off a brief dust-up between the coach and quarterback.
Smith said Monday that he had no problem with the public controversy, but said Nolan pushed it too far by making it an issue in the locker room.
Last week, Nolan was approached by a reporter and asked whether the tougher battle Smith faced was restoring his teammates' trust and confidence.
"You didn't ask me that question," Nolan said. "And I'm not going to answer it. I can't answer it."
No player was willing to go on the record when asked about the quarterback's leadership status, but no player rushed to his defense, either. "I'm not touching that one," one veteran said.
Another player recently refused to discuss the extent of his injury with a reporter because, he said, "I don't want it to be like Alex's interview where I'm blaming my production on it." Another acknowledged that certain members of the team have derisively referred to Smith as "The Lion," as in the one without courage in "The Wizard of Oz."
One assistant coach said Smith "made a mistake" when he went public about his ailing shoulder and now clearly is paying a price for his honesty. Another player said that Smith had to expect that there would be "consequences" for failing to keep his injury-related struggles in house.



http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_768977...ce=most_viewed

[Bette]

Did Nolan go too far or should Smith have kept his mouth shut in public??

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by Bette

Did Nolan go too far or should Smith have kept his mouth shut in public??

I think they shouldve kept it in private..

[azrael492]

He has a separated shoulder. How could he keep that quiet??

[Seahawker 562]

well it is smiths fault for his failing team i think

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Seahawker 562

well it is smiths fault for his failing team i think

He's playing with a separated shoulder!

I dont think Nolan had any right to downgrade Smith ahead of his teammates.

[Racer Duck]

let me see if I get this right:

the team is doing lousy .. they've essentially got no offense and their top 2 quarterbacks are injured so they've just signed another mediocre QB so they don't have to start their 3rd stringer.

so the coach puts all the blame on their #1 QB. says he's faking it.

wonder if they even had it checked to make sure? .. my guess is no; the coach just made a "medical" judgment, made up his mind his QB was a loser and is refusing to change it based on solid medical evidence.

seems to me the problem isn't at QB .. they have some great talent on that team but they aren't playing very well.

if I were the owner, I'd be looking directly at the coaching staff, they're the ones who dictate how games are played and which player does what.

anytime a player is not playing up to their potential, it's the coaches who should be trying to find out why and fix it. If they thought Smith was faking, it should have been a direct confrontation behind closed doors. public finger pointing is never good, even if it's limited to the locker room.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Bette

He's playing with a separated shoulder!

I dont think Nolan had any right to downgrade Smith ahead of his teammates.

I am with you...if the guy is playing through a separated shoulder how the hell do you fault him and show him up to his crew????...That is nuts...Miami or Chicago here comes your QB of the future.

[Lefty Noob]

Well, I guess some guys expect a certain degree of toughness out of their players. But this is crazy. It'd idiotic to not look out for your quarterback's well-being. One of these guys is done in San Francisco, and somehow I don't think it'll be Alex Smith.

[Seahawker 562]

he'd probly have the same stats, shoulder or not. thats how bad he is

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Seahawker 562

he'd probly have the same stats, shoulder or not. thats how bad he is

Smith's struggles this season began Sept. 30 against Seattle when he suffered a separation of his throwing shoulder on an opening-drive sack. A month later, during his first game back, he clutched at his ailing shoulder so often that the game-day broadcasters repeatedly said the 49ers "had to get him out of there."
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_768977...nclick_check=1

This comes from the same story. Smith got hurt originally back on Sept. 30. He has been playing with a separated shoulder since then.
Soooo-you base your statement above about the same stats shoulder or not on what????????????????????????????

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Well, I guess some guys expect a certain degree of toughness out of their players. But this is crazy. It'd idiotic to not look out for your quarterback's well-being. One of these guys is done in San Francisco, and somehow I don't think it'll be Alex Smith.

Yerah, I would keep Smith over Nolan.

[Seahawker 562]

Originally Posted by Bette

Smith's struggles this season began Sept. 30 against Seattle when he suffered a separation of his throwing shoulder on an opening-drive sack. A month later, during his first game back, he clutched at his ailing shoulder so often that the game-day broadcasters repeatedly said the 49ers "had to get him out of there."
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_768977...nclick_check=1

This comes from the same story. Smith got hurt originally back on Sept. 30. He has been playing with a separated shoulder since then.
Soooo-you base your statement above about the same stats shoulder or not on what????????????????????????????

opinion only

[Lefty Noob]

I still think Smith can be a quality QB. He was under Norv Turner and he can be again.

[Seahawker 562]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

I still think Smith can be a quality QB. He was under Norv Turner and he can be again.

i dont think he should be a starter though