The Alex Smith leadership conference

None of it matters for the long term unless Smith plays well. I do think most of the 49ers like Smith and root for him to succeed. Smith is likeable, after all. He is diligent. Teammates also know the 49ers were not the most inventive team offensively last season. They know Smith faced significant challenges playing for a head coach with little feel for quarterbacks. They know the team had problems getting plays called quickly enough. They know Smith was working at a disadvantage. They also need to see better results on the field when it matters -- during games -- for the leadership angle to become more than just another positive offseason storyline. Harbaugh has something to gain by backing Smith. He knows Smith has the football smarts to teach key aspects of the offense to teammates. He knows Smith will put in the work. He knows Smith is motivated to change his legacy with the 49ers. He also knows he can back Smith in the short term without betting any long-term capital. Harbaugh is in the first year of a five-year contract. The lockout is making it easier to sell 2011 as a season of transition. Everyone knows Colin Kaepernick is the quarterback Harbaugh wants to develop, making the present a transition period by definition. In that context, and without any options through veteran free agency, Harbaugh might as well make every effort to turn Smith into a success story. You are fully responsible for the content you post. Content that includes profanity, personal attacks or antisocial behavior (such as "spamming" or "trolling"), or other inappropriate content or material will be removed. We reserve the right to block any user who violates our terms of use , including removing all content posted by that user.

Forbes Report: Jim Harbaugh Third Highest Paid Coach In NFC West ...

Forbes put together a  rundown of what coaches in each sport made , and according to their numbers, Jim Harbaugh's $5 million per year salary ranks him  third in the NFC West . Pete Carroll is locked in at $7 million per season, Ken Whisenhunt at $5.75 million per season and Steve Spagnuolo is at $3 million per season. Carroll's salary ranks third among all NFL head coaches behind Bill Belichick and Mike Shanahan. Whisenhunt ranks fifth and Harbaugh is tied for seventh with Mike Tomlin. It's worth noting that Whisenhunt's current salary is courtesy of a contract extension following two division titles and a Super Bowl appearance.

I suppose it's not all that surprising that Carroll ended up with a $2 million more per year than Harbaugh. I'd imagine the differences in salary are primarily due to Carroll's long level of sustained success at USC as compared to Harbaugh at Stanford. I had considered the argument that Paul Allen brings deeper pockets, but I don't think that is quite as big an issue in this case. After all, the 49ers found themselves in a bit of a bidding war during the insanity that was the Harbaughcolypse.

For those wondering, Mike Nolan had a five year contract that paid him $1.7 million per year. Inflation has brought coaching salaries up, but it's clear that the 49ers were willing to pony up serious money to make the Harbaugh deal happen. Now we just get to wait and see how it pays out for the 49ers. One thing I'll need to figure out is how a lockout impacts coaching contracts. If the 2011 season is wiped out, do the 49ers basically lose that year of Harbaugh's coaching services?

He’s shown that he can get his man for the price he wants. When Crabtree was holding out, Jed and company stood firm and waited ‘till Crabtree came around. With Harbaugh, while teams like the Dolphins were throwing money around by the truck full, Jed stood firm with his offer and his confidence that Harbaugh had hit it off with Baalke and company. Not saying he’s a Top 10 owner yet, but he’s world’s better than his father, and in retrospect I like how he handled the Harbaugh hiring.

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I think Alex can be a Jim Harbaugh-type, pretty successful late-bloomer QB turned great coach.

RT : National Football Authority: New HC Jim Harbaugh is a man of his word...

RT : National Football Authority: New HC Jim Harbaugh is a man of his word...

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