Colleague Mike Florio said on Mondays Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports Talk (4 p.m. CT) that sources point to the San Francisco 49ers releasing quarterback Alex Smith.
Trading the former starter is a possibility but Smiths contract comes with a 7 million guarantee due in April, not a heavy ticket for a starter, especially one that was leading the NFL in several passing categories at the time he was benched in favor of Colin Kaepernick beginning with the MNF game vs. the Bears.
The Bears do not have a backup for Jay Cutler, although re-signing either Jason Campbell, Josh McCown or both are possible. But Smith is expected to go where he has at least a reasonable shot at being a starter, which would not be Chicago at this point.
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He is better than half these quarterbacks playing, former coach Tony Dungy said.