Your Post-Lockout Checklist



Meet the new QB, same as the old QB.

Let's check in on the Niners two days after the lockout has ended, shall we?

• Lose your third-best defensive player and your starting center? Check.
• Throw $5 million at Alex Smith to return as starting quarterback while passing up on the opportunity to sign Matt Hasselbeck? Check.
• A holdout by your starting running back with two gimpy knees and a bad hip? Check.

Yep, things are going along just swell in Ninerland. While it seems that every other team is snapping up free agents during this weeklong frenzy, all the 49ers have managed to do is overpay for Alex Smith to return as the incumbent starting quarterback. Again.

By the way, you don't think that Frank Gore, who's been the only consistent offensive standout over the past 5-6 years, is looking at the numbers that Alex Smith just signed for and is thinking "you gotta be kidding me," do you? Nah, I'm sure his demand for more money is purely coincidental with the 49ers dropping $5 million more into Alex Smith's lap.