Lockout Lifted

Earlier this afternoon, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Richard Nelson's ruling lifted the lockout that was imposed by NFL owners. Although the owners will certainly ask for a stay, you can bet Trent Baalke is already using his speed-dial to contact Alex Smith and get him under contract for 2011.

You have to figure Smith will be back in a Niner uniform for the upcoming season. The Niners desperately want him back, and I doubt other suitors have been knocking on his door since the 2010 season mercifully ended.

In other words, the plan at quarterback heading into the 2011 season will shape up just as it did prior to the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 campaigns (nobody expected Smith to start immediately following the 2005 draft). Get ready for another season of the Alex Smith Show.

Enjoy it, ticketholders. He's all yours.