Newest Eagle Smith is 'pretty close' to return from knee injury

The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to terms with former New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith on a one-year deal Wednesday.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported the deal is worth $2 million guaranteed with "a number of very-hard-to-earn incentives," according to a league source.

The 26-year-old Smith had 220 catches for 2,386 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons with the Giants. In his 2009 Pro Bowl season, he caught a franchise-record 107 passes for 1,220 yards and seven touchdowns.

Smith sustained a season-ending left knee injury in the Giants' win over the Vikings at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 13 and had microfracture surgery eight days later.

He said Wednesday night he believes he'll be able to play soon.

"I think I'm pretty close," Smith said. "I think I can realistically be out there (the first month). It could be week one. You never know."

Giants coach Tom Coughlin told reporters Wednesday after meeting with Smith that he believed Smith faced a "long haul" before he could play again.

"I would disagree with that," Smith said. "I feel good. I've been running, cutting, doing different things. I haven't had any setbacks."

Smith said he was examined by doctors from both the Giants and Eagles and said both gave him a positive report.

Asked why Coughlin might have indicated that Smith faced a longer rehab than Smith's doctors expressed to him, Smith said, "Maybe Coughlin had a plan up his sleeve when he said that. We'll see what happens when I get out on the field."

Smith said he believes the real reason the Giants didn't want him was financial.

"This was obviously not an easy decision for me or something I ever expected but unfortunately the business aspect proved that the Eagles wanted me to be part of their organization MUCH more than the Giants did," Smith added in a post on his Facebook page.

Smith said he couldn't speculate exactly when he'll be able to return to practice.

"I'm not sure," he said. "If it was up to me, I would say I could go practice tomorrow, but I want to be extra careful and don't want to rush it and have any setbacks. Hopefully, I'll be able to get out there really soon."

Smith enters a crowded wide receiving field with the Eagles, who also have two-time Pro Bowl pick DeSean Jackson; Jeremy Maclin, who caught 70 passes last year but hasn't practiced yet this training camp because of an undisclosed illness; Jason Avant, who caught 50 passes last year; and second-year pro Riley Cooper.

"We feel very good about our current group of receivers and Steve adds another dimension to that position," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "He's played very well against us in the past few years and we're happy to have him on board."

Although he was almost exclusively an inside slot receiver in his four years with the Giants, Smith said he's equally comfortable in any role.

"I feel great inside, outside," he said. "The Giants used me mainly inside, but I feel like I can do both."

Smith is the sixth Pro Bowl player to join the Eagles in last two weeks, following cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha, defensive end Jason Babin, quarterback Vince Young and running back Ronnie Brown.

"(General Manager) Howie Roseman and I are always keeping our eyes open for good football players and players that we think can help our football team win," Reid said. "And Steve Smith certainly fits that category. He's a Pro Bowl-quality receiver that we will work into our offense as soon as he is ready to go."

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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Rivera says Panthers WR Smith didn't break finger in practice

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith injured his finger during Tuesday's padded practice, but coach Ron Rivera confirmed it's not broken and isn't anything that will keep the player out of any regular-season games.

Smith, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, sustained a cut near the base of his left middle finger that required stitches, but X-rays revealed no broken bones. Smith injured the finger while attempting to catch a pass in Tuesday morning's practice.

"There was no dislocation," Rivera said. "The ball went right in between (his fingers)."

Smith left the morning practice early to have his finger checked out by the medical staff. He didn't participate in the night practice and is expected to miss about a week or so. Smith was spotted in the team's dining room a few hours after the injury with the middle finger on his left hand heavily wrapped.

Smith is the Panthers' all-time leader in touchdowns and figures to play a pivotal role in their offense this season.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Panthers rookie Newton expresses support for Smith staying

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As the Carolina Panthers try to retain their core group of players -- they agreed to terms with defensive end Charles Johnson on Tuesday -- there remains uncertainty as to whether or not wide receiver Steve Smith will be dealt.

Wyche: Newton off to good start Cam Newton has yet to take a snap at an official NFL practice, let alone a game. But the No. 1 overall pick already is showing signs
he gets it, Steve Wyche writes. More ...

» Panthers prep Newton | QB opens up

Smith reportedly has asked to be traded, and first-year coach Ron Rivera has said he'll address the receiver's situation once the NFL lockout ends, which it has. But rookie quarterback Cam Newton said he wants Smith, one of the best receivers in the NFL, as his main target.

"Steve, he's extremely credible around the NFL," Newton said in an exclusive interview with NFL.com and NFL Network. "Everybody knows about Steve Smith's situation. I'm going on to say I really want, not just me, but so many people around the organization want Steve back. I don't know how else to put it. I'm about to speak foreign languages to get Steve back.

"After talking to him, working out with him, he's just at crossroads right now. I'll respect him, whatever decision he makes. Hopefully that decision is to stay in Carolina."

The San Diego Chargers reportedly have expressed interest in Smith, who is coming off a down year in which he finished with just 46 receptions for 554 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games.

Follow Steve Wyche on Twitter @wyche89

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Alex Smith concludes 49ers workouts, happy with progress

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Camp Alex II is officially over.

Nobody knows for certain when the San Francisco 49ers will begin training camp. Or if Alex Smith can be as successful a quarterback this fall as he has been this summer.

The 49ers' former and apparently future quarterback ended his final scheduled informal team workout Friday. After organizing two separate four-day minicamps at San Jose State that included most of the team's offensive players, Smith said he has installed about as much of new coach Jim Harbaugh's West Coast system as he can this summer.

All he can do now is wait for the NFL lockout to end so he can show how much the workouts really accomplished.

"I know what I installed and everything I basically threw at the wall. I don't know how much of it stuck to the wall," said Smith, a free agent expected to re-sign with the team. "And I think that's going to be the test when these guys come back, whenever this thing ends, how much of it stuck."

At the very least, Smith believes the workouts have put the 49ers in a better position.

San Francisco has among the most to lose the deeper the labor disagreement goes, with so much under Harbaugh that is unknown and unsettled. Smith spent just a few hours with Harbaugh and his staff when the lockout was briefly lifted, leaving the team's headquarters with boxes of game highlights and a playbook.

The countdown concludes with a two-hour special revealing the top 10 on NFL Network on Sunday, July 3 at 8 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for a reaction show right after.

Smith studied the information and relayed that to his teammates during classroom sessions he taught on a drawing board. He even quizzed them when it was over and awarded undisclosed prizes, revealing only that receiver Kevin Jurovich left happiest.

The two dozen or so players at most of the workouts -- down to 10 offensive players on the last day because of the upcoming holiday weekend -- also went into Spartan Stadium for about 90 minutes to run plays each day.

"I got put in a position where I just kind of felt like I needed to do it," Smith said. "All of a sudden, I didn't know how long the lockout was going to go, as it got longer and longer, more and more I felt like we were behind the eight ball and needed to do something."

That leadership quality has been sorely missing from San Francisco's quarterback.

The 49ers haven't had a winning season or reached the playoffs since 2002, and inconsistency at the position might be the biggest reason why. With the exception of receiver Michael Crabtree, who has openly questioned whether Smith is the presumed starter, players at the workouts have said all the right things about Smith.

There's still little from his past play to suggest he will be the franchise's long-term solution, and the presence of second-round pick Colin Kaepernick figures to ignite the fan pessimism that revolves around Smith the first time the 2005 No. 1 overall pick throws an interception.

Smith will be the first to acknowledge the workouts he organized will be meaningless if he can't finally deliver consistently when it counts. The only action from this summer Harbaugh will see will be on video from the workouts Smith taped. The rest will be up to the quarterback to prove in front of the new coach.

Smith is flirting with the idea of holding another minicamp or even a larger session to mimic training camp if the lockout persists into late July. With so many free agents on the defensive side, Smith isn't sure he could find 11 players to fill out a roster -- and he wouldn't hold contact drills anyway, for fear of injuries.

Smith and others will continue to lift weights and exercise at San Jose State in smaller groups in the coming weeks, waiting to find out when training camp begins -- and whether Smith can be as accomplished a quarterback against an NFL defense.

"I would feel pretty good at this point if training camp started," Smith said. "Training camp is where the bulk of the work comes in anyway. You love the offseason program, but I think it serves as the same type of thing. It's an introduction to this stuff. The real football starts in training camp."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Good sign? Goodell, Smith travel together to rookie seminar

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith opened a four-day labor discussion in Minnesota, then hopped on a plane to Florida to speak to rookie players.

Spokesmen for the league and the players' association confirmed Tuesday night to The Associated Press that Goodell and Smith were on the same plane from Minnesota to address players at the NFLPA-run rookie symposium. Smith asked Goodell to speak to the players Wednesday morning at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Sarasota, Fla., and the commissioner agreed.

Goodell and Smith plan to leave Florida later Wednesday to fly back to Minneapolis and continue the labor talks, which have taken on a decidedly different look.

Goodell and Smith are accompanied only by their staffs, rather than members of each constituency, and owners and players aren't expected to directly participate, although they will remain apprised of any developments. The parties' legal teams are expected to trade proposals on the framework of a settlement, in an effort to move the process toward conclusion, and they will intensify their focus on the key issues, most notably the revenue split.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (left) and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and their staffs will meet face-to-face in Minnesota this week. (David Drapkin/Associated Press)

The four-day, face-to-face session will be the longest yet. The previous longest session was the first one, held May 31 through June 2 near a private airport in suburban Chicago. Subsequent meetings on New York's Long Island, Maryland's Eastern Shore and Massachusetts' South Shore each lasted two days.

The changing time frame surrounding this set of talks and the shifting cast of characters -- the first "secret" meetings only included Goodell, Smith, owners, players and U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan -- are seen as part of the process of negotiating a new agreement to end a lockout that's in its fourth month.

Boylan ran three two-day sets of court-ordered mediation between the owners and players in April and May, and he has been present for all of the more recent meetings. His chambers are located in Minneapolis.

A decision from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where the league appealed a district court's issuance of a lockout-lifting injunction, could come soon, too. The time frame on such decisions from an appeals court generally is 30 to 45 days, and the hearing was held June 3. However, the league and players have expressed a desire to work toward an agreement before the three-judge panel's ruling is announced.

The St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears, who are scheduled to play in the preseason-opening Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 7, are set to open training camp just three weeks from Friday, and time is beginning to run short on the parties' negotiating teams as they look to preserve the preseason in its traditional form. Some have suggested July 15 as the deadline for that to happen.

The parties have spent the past four weeks largely discussing the revenue split, an issue that dwarfs all others. It's not just the revenue now, but also how to account for the players' take in the league's future growth, particularly when the next round of television deals are negotiated for 2014 and beyond. The idea of an "all revenue" model, which would eliminate cost credits to the owners and limit revenue projections, has bridged some differences, but the issue still hasn't been settled.

The parties broached the rookie pay system for the first time during clandestine sessions Thursday, and it also proved to be a difficult area to navigate. Last year's No. 1 overall draft pick, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, received about $50 million guaranteed in his rookie deal, and the owners have long looked to drastically mark down price tags like this.

The numbers aren't the only issue. Finding a way to replace the market effect those contracts have on veterans and getting those high picks to free agency quicker are among the players' concerns. Currently, six-year contracts are allowed for the high first-round picks making big money.

Last week, one team executive told NFL Network that owners and players were within "striking distance" of a deal, but that nothing was close or imminent. But another involved executive said: "There are enough legitimate issues to where it could all fall down still. They're dealing with that stuff."

After last week's meeting at a beachside resort in Hull, Mass., Goodell and Smith emerged together and provided a symbolic moment in the joint effort toward a resolution.

The countdown concludes with a two-hour special revealing the top 10 on NFL Network on Sunday, July 3 at 8 p.m. ET. Stay tuned for a reaction show right after.

"Someone asked me if I was optimistic -- I think we're both optimistic when we have the right people in the room," Smith said. "We know we're talking about the right issues, and we're working hard to get it done. It's extremely complicated. It requires a lot of hard work by a lot of people. But we're committed to getting something done. And we're gonna keep working at it."

Said Goodell: "We are under court order, as far as what we can discuss. Obviously we're all working hard, the players and owners were here over the last few days, and De and I were here for the entire meetings also. And it's complicated and it's complex, but we're working hard. We understand the fans' frustration, but I think both of us feel strongly that we're going to continue to work hard on it."

Goodell and Smith have been joined by Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, New York Giants owner John Mara, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, New York Jets fullback Tony Richardson, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth and Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday, as well as Boylan, as constants in the room.

NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, who has been in some talks, attended the trade association's rookie seminar Tuesday and said roughly 170 players were participating in the event. Mawae also addressed more than 40 Tampa Bay Buccaneers players who are holding a three day minicamp at the vast IMG Academy campus, where the NFLPA event is being held.

The Associated Press and NFL.com senior writer Steve Wyche contributed to this report.

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Alumni leader feels NFLPA's Smith hasn't communicated well

George Martin was in a celebratory mood this weekend as he attended a 25th anniversary celebration of the New York Giants' 1986 Super Bowl championship team. But the former standout defensive end and current director of the NFL Alumni Association had tough words for NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith.

Martin has been vocal in his displeasure with the lack of communication between the players union and the former players that Martin represents.

"When you don't have a conversation with the recognized leader of the NFL alumni, how can you say you have the best interests of retired players at heart when you won't even sit down and talk to their leadership," Martin told The Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.) in Sunday's edition. "That to me flies in the face of that rationale."

Martin's frustrations stem from a now more than one-and-a-half year fruitless effort to schedule a one-on-one meeting with Smith. Earlier this year, Martin resorted to outside help to facilitate a sitdown, getting three congressmen -- including former NFL quarterback Heath Shuler -- to send a letter to Smith calling for a meeting with the alumni association.

Martin speculated in March that the NFLPA viewed the alumni association as "a pawn of the league," according to the New York Daily News.

“I’ve never been given the opportunity to sit down with him and talk about some of the similarities or some of our objectives,” Martin said. “I really resent the fact that that opportunity hasn’t been presented to me despite his pledge to do so. You have to be a man of your word. You have to have the integrity. I think that calls into question where Mr. DeMaurice Smith resides.”

The NFLAA continues to have a strong relationship with the league, something Martin isn't afraid to admit. Martin told The Star-Ledger the NFLAA has met with Commissioner Roger Goodell at least 20 times.

“When that’s the only open door to you, when that’s the only receptive door to you, you have a tendency to take full advantage of it,” Martin said. “We’ve done that and we are doing that. It seems instead of DeMaurice Smith following suit and saying let’s do likewise, he has criticized those meetings -- which I think is deplorable.”

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Newton: Veteran Smith has attended some Panthers workouts

CHARLOTTE -- Veteran Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith has attended some player-organized workouts, according to rookie quarterback Cam Newton. Newton did not say how many sessions Smith has attended, but did say he has thrown passes to him.

"Steve has been out here and we've had an opportunity to throw it around," Newton said. "You hear a lot of stories like 'He's going to do this, he don't miss any passes.' I learned that first hand."

Smith, who reportedly has asked to be traded, was not in attendance during the media availability portion of Thursday's workout. More than 40 players participated in the final session of the two-week minicamp.

First-year Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Marty Hurney said they spoke to Smith, 31, about his future with the team before the lockout and the situation would be addressed once the lockout is lifted.

Smith's star has dimmed in recent years as he's dealt with injuries and ineffective play at the quarterback position. A four-time Pro Bowler, Smith is the Panthers' all-time leading receiver. Last season, he caught 46 passes for 554 yards and two touchdowns.

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49ers' Crabtree offers lukewarm support of veteran QB Smith

As San Francisco 49ers players wrapped up Day 1 of their offensive minicamp under the guidance of Alex Smith, wide receiver Michael Crabtree offered less-than-firm support of the veteran quarterback, according to The Sacramento Bee.

Before Monday's workout, Crabtree was one of the few 49ers wideouts yet to work with Smith this offseason. Smith has thrown to Josh Morgan, Ted Ginn, Kevin Jurovich, Kyle Williams and rookie Ronald Johnson in previous workouts, per reports.

When Crabtree was asked by the newspaper if "throwing with the quarterback was beneficial toward improving chemistry," the wideout responded, "Who's the quarterback?"

When Smith's name was dropped, Crabtree said, "He's the quarterback? I'm just asking."

Pressed on his feelings for Smith, Crabtree continued: "Whoever the quarterback is, I'm gonna do my job. I'm going to do the best I can to get whatever he needs. You know what I'm saying? That's just how it's going to be. I'm not one-sided. I'm for whoever's the quarterback. It's just how I've been. Everybody knows that."

But does Crabtree think Smith will be the guy?

"I wish I could tell you that." Crabtree said. "I know that you're all scratching at it. I wish I could tell you who is going to be the quarterback. I don't know. I don't know. Whoever the quarterback is, I'm 100 percent down with it and I'm ready to go. That's it."

The team drafted Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft in April and Smith will be an unrestricted free agent once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. Still, new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh's public and private comments about the quarterback have left the six-year veteran comfortable that he'll be in San Francisco next season.

"I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for the relationship there, to be honest with you," Smith told the Bay Area News Group last week. "For the feeling I got from Harbaugh, the offensive coaching staff, from every time I've been in there, from before the lockout, from when the lockout ended that day and a half. ... But I have such a good feeling. I feel they've been up front about everything they've told me."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bears' Smith schedules Monday learning session with Dungy

Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy stood on opposite sidelines four years ago, vying to become the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl championship.

Dungy and his Indianapolis Colts walked away with the prize that rainy February night in Miami, beating Smith's Chicago Bears 29-17, but there aren't hard feelings on either end. In fact, Dungy will stroll into Chicago's Halas Hall on Monday as Smith's invited guest.

"We're just going to talk football for a day," Smith, who served as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' linebackers coach under Dungy from 1996 to 2000, recently told the Chicago Tribune. "There aren't a whole lot of us still in our system who believe in it the way we do. We're pumped up about him coming."

The NFL lockout, which is in its third month, is keeping players from meeting with their coaches, so Smith is spending the time with his staff for what he calls "football enrichment." That includes daily clinics in which the offensive coaches teach the defensive coaches what they do, and vice versa. The coaches also have scouted their own team and its rivals, particularly the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

And then there will be the visit from Dungy, a former foe who'll dispense some friendly advice after two seasons away from coaching.

"We would like to have the players out here, but it's not like we don't have anything to do," said Smith, who had scheduled a minicamp this weekend but saw it canceled by the lockout. "I can't say I'm getting bored. It's the opposite. There is learning every day. It has been awesome."

Smith believes the Bears are close to claiming the Lombardi Trophy, but he knows they must leap a green-and-gold hurdle in the Packers, who won the NFC Championship Game in Chicago nearly five months ago.

"Everything has to be about beating our rival, as it is every year," Smith said. "And there is a little bit of added emphasis on it this year. They are at the top of the hill.

"We match up pretty good with them," Smith added. "Your gauge has to be the Super Bowl champion. We beat them here. They beat us there (and at Soldier Field in the playoffs). All three games could have gone either way. There should be some more classic matchups between the two of us. We can't wait."

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Panthers WR Smith showers praise on Newton, Rivera

FORT MILL, S.C. -- Panthers receiver Steve Smith describes new Carolina coach Ron Rivera as "a great guy." Smith calls the decision to draft quarterback Cam Newton No. 1 overall "outstanding."

The four-time Pro Bowl pick still isn't ready to say he wants to stay with the Panthers, however.

Smith showed up to take batting practice with several of his teammates before a minor league baseball game Monday night, but he remained tightlipped when asked about his uncertain future in Carolina following a 2-14 season.

"When football gets going I'll be able to evaluate football at that time. But football is not going on," Smith said, referring to the lockout. "So all the what-ifs and speculation and how I feel is what everyone has -- an opinion. I choose to keep my opinion to myself and will continue to take that road."

Smith, who turned 32 last month, was limited to 46 catches for 554 yards and two touchdowns last season amid terrible quarterback play by the NFL's worst offense.

Smith's hesitancy to commit to Carolina has raised speculation he'd like to move to a contending team late in his career. Rivera last week indicated that trading Smith was "not a foregone conclusion," but the first-year coach acknowledged he was uncertain where Smith stood as he comes off his worst statistical season during a year in which he remained healthy.

"He did kind of leave me at a point where I was wondering exactly where did he want to go with this?" Rivera said of their talk before the lockout began. "I will wait until we sit down and talk when the time comes."

Eyebrows were raised when Smith didn't show up for player-organized workouts last week that have drawn more than 50 Panthers players daily at a Charlotte high school. But Smith, accompanied by his wife and three children at the Lehigh Valley-Charlotte Triple-A game, said his absence was for family reasons.

"There's a lot of things on my plate with my wife and her health that my family needs me at home," Smith said, without elaborating. "That's the most important thing."

While Smith comes off the most frustrating season of his career, he said "the fundamental things the Carolina Panthers are doing right now are huge."

In hopes of securing a franchise quarterback for the first time, the Panthers selected Newton, the Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn, with the first choice in the draft.

"The drafting of Cam is outstanding," Smith said. "Met with him a few times and very much impressed by Cam."

Smith said after Rivera replaced John Fox, several people immediately told him it was a good choice.

"When I met Ron I would say they maybe sold him short. He's great, a great guy," Smith said. "My first meeting with him was pretty good, it was outstanding. I walked away very impressed."

Smith, Carolina's alternate player representative for the former union, attended last week's court hearing in St. Louis and called last week's secret meetings between the owners and players "very much a positive."

Smith has been staying in shape by working with a personal trainer, but the labor dispute has put his future -- and the team's -- in limbo.

"You just have to be patient and I'm an impatient guy, so it has been hard," Smith said. "But as they say, when they give you sour lemons you just make lemonade out of it. So that's what we're doing.

"As the (NFL's) lawyer said in the St. Louis case, 'The players are enjoying their off time.' All I can say about that is I have no choice. I'm locked out. I'm forced to do it so I'm going to enjoy it. Why complain? Why gripe about it?"

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Smith confident in place with 49ers despite free-agent status

Alex Smith is leading throwing sessions in the San Francisco 49ers' players-only workouts -- a completely normal development if not for the business of the quarterback technically being a free agent.

It's just another unusual aspect of a very strange NFL offseason.

Smith will be an unrestricted free agent once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached, but new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh's public and private comments about the quarterback have left the six-year veteran comfortable that he'll be in San Francisco next season.

"I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for the relationship there, to be honest with you," Smith told the Bay Area News Group on Wednesday. "For the feeling I got from Harbaugh, the offensive coaching staff, from every time I've been in there, from before the lockout, from when the lockout ended that day and a half. ... But I have such a good feeling. I feel they've been up front about everything they've told me."

Harbaugh has been so vocal in his support of Smith that the NFL reportedly told the 49ers to stop talking about the quarterback or any free agents during the lockout.

"I laughed when the article came out that they told Harbaugh to stop talking about me," Smith said.

Smith said it felt good to read about Harbaugh's positive thoughts on him.

"You know, this is the first for me, to have an offensive head coach, especially someone who played the position and really knows what it's like to sit back in the pocket and all the different things that can impact your play," Smith said.

Smith told The Sacramento Bee that plans are in the works for a minicamp-style practice involving the 49ers' offensive players. Smith said the session would begin "shortly" and that the 49ers could have a number of them throughout the summer, depending on the status of the work stoppage.

"Becoming familiar with the terminology, the formations, the motions, the concepts -- things like that," Smith said when asked to describe the goal of the workouts. "So that whenever this (lockout) ends, you're not having to re-learn that."

Harbaugh might have great faith in Smith, but that doesn't mean the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick has a long future as San Francisco's signal-caller. The team drafted Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft in April.

Is it strange to have Smith's future replacement stand next to him during these workouts?

"No question," he said. "Oh, it's new. I guess I've slowly dealt with it, though. I don't think I've had a year without competition really in the last four years, though."

Smith spoke about the circle of life for an NFL quarterback, thinking back to when he was the hotshot from draft day.

"It did remind me a lot of when I came in, and Tim Rattay, to be honest with you," Smith said, referencing the quarterback whom he replaced in the 49ers' starting lineup. "... And I did think back about how good Tim was. How easy it would be to be bitter and to be an ass. Those guys did it the right way with me, and I'm going to do the same thing."

Kaepernick might be the future, but it appears that Smith remains the present in San Francisco. But he's not assuming he's the No. 1 guy just yet.

"I don't really view it like that," Smith said. "You're going to get into camp, and anywhere you go, the best guy's going to play. I mean, that's the way it's going to be. That's the way I view it. I know he (Harbaugh) said that, but for me, this is going to be wide open, and I'm going in with that mentality."

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Falcons close to multiyear extension with coach Smith

The Atlanta Falcons are very close to a multiyear contract extension with coach Mike Smith, a league source said Wednesday.

The sides have been quietly negotiating for a few weeks and have agreed on many principles of a new deal, according to the source.

The team expects to announce the extension shortly since the deal is close to being finalized.

Smith joined the Falcons in 2008 and quickly turned around the franchise, going 33-15 with two playoff berths in three seasons. The Falcons were an NFC-best 13-3 this season but lost to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs.

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Report: Falcons coach Smith will be rewarded with new deal

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Singletary confirms 49ers to start Troy Smith at QB vs. Rams

The San Francisco 49ers are going back to Troy Smith as their starting quarterback while leaving open the possibility they might switch to Alex Smith at any time.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported the move Wednesday, citing a source with knowledge of the situation.

Coach Mike Singletary confirmed Thursday that Troy Smith will start Sunday's pivotal NFC West game against the St. Louis Rams in place of Alex Smith, who started San Francisco's last two games.

The coach also said he wouldn't hesitate to change quarterbacks during the game if the situation calls for it.

"You know what, it's kind of the same thing I've talked about all year," Singletary told reporters. "I feel that Troy has certain strengths, as well as Alex, and I think the way it works out, it is -- you know, we could possibly use them both. ... The game will dictate it.

"Even though Troy is going to be the starter, we're making sure that the game plan is such that we can possibly use both their strengths in this game."

The 49ers have changed quarterbacks after each of their last two defeats in an attempt to salvage a losing season. At 5-9, San Francisco still has an opportunity to capture the NFC West title and end a seven-year playoff drought by winning its final two games, against St. Louis and Arizona.

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Troy Smith, who didn't join the 49ers until Sept. 6, has remained focused throughout the week on his second chance as San Francisco's starter. He went 3-2 in his five games as a starter earlier this season after taking over for Alex Smith in late October. Troy Smith had a career-high 356 yards passing to lead the 49ers to a 23-20 overtime victory Nov. 14 against St. Louis.

"This is huge for me," Troy Smith said. "For any player to be able to play in a game of this magnitude, be a part of something special, it's going to be pretty big for all of us. The knick-knacks and the other little things that are going on around us, we're definitely channeling that out and worrying about winning this game."

The 49ers went back to Alex Smith two weeks ago after Troy Smith completed just 10 of 25 passes during a 34-16 loss at Green Bay. Alex Smith had statistically the best game of his career the following week during a 40-21 victory over Seattle, but he and the San Francisco offense could muster only 192 total yards during last week's 34-7 loss at San Diego.

Alex Smith began this season 1-6 as San Francisco's starter before separating his left shoulder during a Week 7 loss at Carolina. Selected by the 49ers with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft, Alex Smith is 18-31 as the team's starter.

Singletary was asked if he was concerned that the news broke before he revealed it.

"That's kind of the way it is, whether it's around the league," he said. "When you have Twitter, when you have all of the other things ... I don't want to have this organization be like the firm, you know, 'I don't want you to say anything.' ... I knew it was a matter of time before it would get out.

"There are things that I absolutely do not want to get out, that won't. But you just have to limit who you're telling. So I knew it was a matter of time before it would get out."

The 49ers have become accustomed this season to change within their offensive unit.

"We've been through everything you can go through as an offense really," wide receiver Michael Crabtree said. "It's difficult, but you just have to take what they give you and keep going. I'm just trying to stay positive about the whole situation and be ready to play this game Sunday."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Lions place RB Smith on IR, promote ex-Army star Campbell

The Detroit Lions placed veteran running back Kevin Smith on season-ending injured reserve for the second consecutive year and signed linebacker Caleb Campbell off the practice squad in time for Sunday's showdown with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Detroit Free Press reported Saturday that the Lions shelved Smith, who injured his thumb during last week's 14-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills, to open up roster room for the season's final stretch.

The Lions officially announced the roster moves Sunday.

Smith had surgery on the thumb Thursday and hoped to shed a hard cast for a splint by next week, according to The Free Press.

Smith, who led the Lions in rushing in 2008 and 2009, missed the first three weeks of this season while on the mend from knee surgery.

Running back Maurice Morris will assume the No. 2 running back role behind starter Jahvid Best.

As Smith's season was ending, Campbell's was just beginning.

"Just got activated! Headed to Dallas. Ill take that!" Campbell tweeted Saturday.

Campbell was selected by the Lions out of Army in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

At the time, Army policy would have allowed the West Point graduate to serve as a recruiter if he made the team. A subsequent Department of Defense policy superseded that 2005 Army policy, and Campbell was ordered to give up professional football for "full-time traditional military duties."

Campbell was released from his active duty obligations in May 2010 and joined the Lions' practice squad before the start of this season.

Lions linebackers have fought injuries in recent weeks. Isaiah Ekejiuba (knee) is questionable to play against the Cowboys, and Bobby Carpenter (toe) and DeAndre Levy (groin) are probable.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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As 49ers arrive in London, QB Smith nurses injured shoulder

LONDON -- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith spent Monday morning at a London hospital having his injured left shoulder examined, and he is still waiting to hear if he will be able to play Sunday against the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium.

The 49ers (1-6) flew to London from Charlotte, where they blew a late lead and lost to the Carolina Panthers 23-20. Smith was injured on a third-quarter sack and still had his non-throwing arm in a sling Monday afternoon.

"It's all right. Could be better," Smith said after arriving at the team's hotel outside London from the hospital.

Smith completed 9 of 19 passes for 129 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers. He was hurt when a mix-up on protection allowed Charles Johnson to come in and tackle him on the blind side, driving his shoulder into the turf.

Smith was still in pain and hadn't slept much since the team flew to London overnight. As far as playing against the Broncos, the quarterback said he had no idea.

"I'm still waiting to hear from the doctors," he said.

San Francisco coach Mike Singletary also was in the dark about Smith's status.

"I'm not a doctor, so we'll have to wait and see," he said.

The 49ers and Broncos are playing in the fourth regular-season game in the British capital. The three previous games were sellouts, and this one is expected to be as well.

For Singletary, though, the trip is about making his struggling team better.

"For us, it's a nice chance to get away and regroup, rethink," Singletary said. "It really works to be a bonus for us. It really gives us a chance to kind of get away from the hustle and bustle of the NFL, to come over and kind of think through some things, look at maybe some changes we need to make."

Although Singletary wouldn't be specific on what changes were needed, the 49ers led by seven points until the Panthers tied the score with 1:59 to go. Less than a minute later, backup quarterback David Carr threw an interception that set up Carolina's winning field goal.

"We're going to figure it out this week. It's important for us to continue to try and put the pieces in place that gives us a chance to get over the edge," Singletary said. "We still have a chance to have a good season and accomplish some of the goals that we wanted to accomplish at the beginning of the season."

Linebacker Patrick Willis said the team still has a chance to win the NFC West, since the first-place Seattle Seahawks are just 4-2.

The first step toward that goal is to put Sunday's loss behind.

"Right now we still got to put closure to the game we played yesterday," Willis said. "Hopefully us coming over ahead of time will get us acclimated ... get our bodies ready to play a good football game."

The Broncos aren't due to arrive until Friday, giving them less time to get accustomed to the city and the surroundings.

"We know this a business trip, but at the same time, we have a younger football team, and I wanted our guys to come and get a taste of the culture, a little bit of that, and at the same time get a feel for the environment and the weather and the whole nine yards," Singletary said. "And just be settled by the time the game starts."

And be ready to play another team that has been struggling -- the Broncos fell to 2-5 after losing 59-14 to the visiting Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

"We can't let that loss (to the Panthers) get to us," 49ers tight end Vernon Davis said. "We have to keep moving forward, keep our heads up and do what we have to do."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Bears' Smith on Cutler's fumble: 'I should've thrown the red flag'

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith told reporters Monday that he regrets not challenging a second-half play that was ruled a fumble by his team in Sunday's 17-14 loss to the Washington Redskins.

With the Bears leading 14-10 in the third quarter, Smith failed to call for a replay when Cutler fumbled the ball while trying to dive over from the 1-yard line on a quarterback sneak. Sideline views after the game indicated that Cutler put the ball over the goal line when he reached out before fumbling it, but Smith said assistants in the coaching box had no real conclusive camera angle immediately after the play.

Smith also said he believed his defense would force Washington to punt from near its goal line.

Still, Smith admitted a mistake.

"I should have thrown the red flag on the 1-yard fumble down by the end zone," Smith said. "Yes, I should have, looking at it, of course, in hindsight. ... I understand the reasons why, but that was a critical play in the game. I need to be able to make that call."

Smith had exhausted a timeout one play prior with a failed challenge on wide receiver Earl Bennett's reception that was ruled on the field to be down at the 1-yard line and not in the end zone. The Bears have lost 12 of their last 15 replay challenges.

The fumble was one of five turnovers for the Bears. It was a brutal outing for Cutler, who passed for 281 yards but was pressured all game and threw four interceptions to the same player -- Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

Hall tied an NFL single-game record with the four picks, and he ran one back 92 yards for a touchdown.

For the third consecutive year, the Bears have bogged down following a good start, and now they're looking for answers and a chance to get healthy.

"I think the bye week is coming at a great time for us, period," Smith said. "We've lost three out of four games, but at the same time, we've been able to see the type of football team we can be, which is a very good football team."

Chicago started 2008 at 5-3 before fading to 9-7 and missing the playoffs and last year started 3-1 before losing six of its next seven. The Bears began this season 4-1, but they have lost two consecutive home games to NFC teams largely because of a turnover- and sack-prone offense.

"This isn't a very hard sport to figure out," center Olin Kreutz said. "It's just hard to do, and we're having a hard time doing it right now."

The offensive line drew most of the fire earlier in the season, but after the loss to Washington, quarterback Jay Cutler and Smith had plenty of issues that needed to be addressed.

Cutler took the blame for the four interceptions he threw Sunday.

"Jay, of course, would like to have some of those throws back," Smith said Monday. "There are so many things that all of us would like to do differently."

Until the Washington game, the real problem for Cutler had been getting sacked. He had thrown just three interceptions before Sunday's loss.

The Bears allowed four sacks Sunday, an improvement over six against the Seattle Seahawks and nine against the New York Giants. Yet Chicago leads the NFL with 31 allowed, 20 more than its own defense has managed against opponents. The Bears also have converted just 17.9 percent of their third-down plays (15-for-84), last in the league.

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Amid the struggles, Smith saw some positives in a five-series stint that included 270 yards gained and 16 first downs.

"We weren't able to get points on the board, and it's always about points," Smith said.

The team should be healthier when it plays the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 7. Linebacker Lance Briggs is expected to be over an ankle injury that caused him to miss one game and most of Sunday's loss. Also, safety Major Wright should be back from a pulled hamstring.

Guard Edwin Williams suffered a back injury and had to be replaced Sunday. For the next game, the line could take on another look because guard Roberto Garza likely will be back from arthroscopic knee surgery, which leaves the Bears pondering whether to move guard Chris Williams back to left tackle or put him at another position or even the bench.

"We're still in a good position," nose tackle Anthony Adams said. "We're 4-3, we still haven't played Minnesota, we have to play Green Bay one more time and Detroit one more time. So we can still make a run at this thing. It's not over for us at all."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NFLPA head Smith addresses player safety, other issues

In the wake of the NFL's crackdown on illegal hits, NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith issued the following statement Saturday:

"The issue of player safety is bigger than just hits on Sunday. Players understand the difference between aggressive, split-second actions and dangerous play. In addition to this sudden new emphasis on player safety, players call on the NFL to fulfill its obligation to healthcare in a lockout, end nasty litigation against nearly 300 players' workers compensation cases and stop saying 'no' to the disability benefits of NFL legends.

"While there are a range of punishments available as part of the on-field discipline system, the NFLPA will ensure the NFL strictly adhere to the existing rules and disciplinary process. We will also enforce the return-to-play guidelines and safety protocols and practices that occur out of the public eye. Our mission is to remain aggressive on player safety both on and off the field."

The league swiftly addressed illegal hits following three tackles in last week's games with large fines. The NFL warned players that starting this weekend, even first-time offenders will be subject to suspensions for delivering flagrant hits to the head and neck area of defenseless opponents.

Players say they understand the need for safety, but some suggested this escalation in punishment might ultimately have a detrimental effect on a game that is, after all, predicated on collisions.

Cornelius Bennett, a five-time Pro Bowl linebacker who played from 1987 to 2000 with the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts, addressed the issue of player safety with the following statement Saturday.

"This is a former as well as a current player issue. Of course this issue is bigger than just Sunday hits and fines. The overall health, safety and retirement issue is one that every former player should be supporting and challenging the NFL on today. You can slap yourself on the back about fines while you continue to ignore disability claims and sue players over workers compensation."

For more NFL labor news, visit http://NFLLabor.com

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Steelers fear DE Smith lost for season with triceps injury

MIAMI -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are bracing for defensive end Aaron Smith being out for the remainder of the season, a league source said after Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

The team fears Smith has a torn triceps, and he will undergo further tests Monday. However, the Steelers are operating under the assumption that Smith will be out for the season, according to the source.

Smith played in the Steelers' first five games in 2009 before sustaining a torn rotator cuff against the Detroit Lions. The Steelers placed him on injured reserve following that game, ending his season.

Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) and tackle Flozell Adams (ankle), who also were injured in the 23-22 victory over the Dolphins, aren't out long-term. Woodley said he'll "definitely" be back next week. Adams also could return by then.

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Smith injures non-throwing shoulder in 49ers' loss to Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith knew the feeling immediately after Charles Johnson's 275 pounds landed on his left shoulder.

Fearing he has the same injury that cut short his 2007 season -- only this time to his non-throwing shoulder -- Smith said after Sunday's 23-20 loss to Carolina that he planned to fly to London with the team and get an MRI there. His playing status for next week's game against Denver is uncertain.

"It's definitely the AC, I think. It's very similar," Smith said, referring to the acromioclavicular joint that's sometimes called a separated shoulder. "But I don't know to what extent. There's not really much to say right now."

Smith, who was injured on a third-quarter sack, said X-rays were negative, but he was wearing a black sling after the game. His injury is complicated by San Francisco's travel schedule. The team was to fly directly from Charlotte to London after Sunday's game.

"As of right now, we'll have to wait and get an MRI," coach Mike Singletary said. "We'll see how that works out and go from there."

Entering the game with a league-high nine interceptions, Smith completed 9 of 19 passes for 129 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers before a mix-up on protection allowed Johnson to come in and get Smith on the blind side, driving his shoulder into the turf.

Then came the familiar pain from 2007.

"You come down with all his body weight on that one point," Smith said. "I knew as soon as I landed on it. Same feeling, same pain."

Smith could only watch as David Carr replaced him with the game tied at 10 and threw a crucial interception with just over a minute left that set up John Kasay's game-winning 37-yard field goal with 39 seconds left.

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Carr completed just 5 of 13 passes for 67 yards, and with the 49ers (1-6) in desperation mode, Smith is hopeful he might be able to return quickly if the injury isn't too serious.

"The left hand doesn't do much," Smith said. "It doesn't really affect throwing. If you can take snaps and hand the ball off, I think you can still be pretty functional."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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