SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Alex Smith ranks in the middle of the pack this season when it comes to passing yards and his 16 touchdowns are only mediocre.
But Smith’s win total is as good as all but one of his competitors’, and that’s why he’s getting one of San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh’s votes for the Pro Bowl. Harbaugh said Tuesday he’s going to vote for Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, New Orleans’ Drew Brees and Smith at quarterback.
“That’s the low-hanging fruit — you go right to the yards line or the touchdown passes line,” Harbaugh said of statistics like 300-yard games and touchdowns. “I think that people who understand football understand there’s a lot more that goes into the job of a quarterback.”
Harbaugh also went a step further.
After waxing about Smith’s attributes, he was asked if he thought Smith, whose contract is due to expire in March, is the 49ers’ long-term answer at quarterback. “I do,” he said.
Smith, meanwhile, has said he’s built enough trust with Harbaugh and the 49ers’ front office to be confident that he can put off contract talks until after the season and still be treated fairly. The 49ers have 16 players, including six starters, who are due to be unrestricted free agents after this season, and Smith is prime among them.
The fan portion of the voting ended after Monday’s game. Coaches and players will vote this week. The tallies from each group — fans, coaches and players — count one-third toward a player’s total.
Despite Harbaugh’s advocacy and San Francisco’s 11-3 record, Smith is a long shot to make his first Pro Bowl. Rodgers and Brees are shoe-ins while other quarterbacks — New York’s Eli Manning, Dallas’ Tony Romo and Carolina’s Cam Newton — have had more prolific seasons.
Harbaugh’s point is that Smith has been the right quarterback for the 49ers, whose success has been built on taking the ball away on defense and being stingy about giving it up on offense.
Smith has thrown only five interceptions this season. Among quarterbacks who have started every game this season, only Rodgers — six interceptions — comes close to that mark. Smith also has lost only two fumbles despite being sacked 39 times.
Other coaches appreciate the value in that style of play.
“He’s done a marvelous job of taking care of the football and he’s playing championship football,” said Seattle coach Pete Carroll, who will face Smith and the 49ers on Saturday. “So I really think he’s doing great.”
Does that mean Carroll will be jotting down Smith’s name this week?
“That comes up (today),” Carroll said. “And I’m not going to reveal my vote at this point.”
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