Farewell Alex, We Hardly Knew Ye

As the 49ers' season swirls in the bowl (and this metaphor grows even more fecal when one considers San Francisco's first-round draft pick is bound for the mighty New England Patriots) the inevitable has come to pass: The team will have to get its blowout losses done without Alex Smith.

The third-year quarterback battled an injury in his throwing shoulder much of this year — but, to be honest, he never really looked solid even when he was healthy. Smith's disappearing act is all part of a team-wide meltdown that gives preseason playoff predictions the whiff of Enron stock options.

Remember when all we had to get worked up about was Coach Mike Nolan's suit?

On the bright side, however, punter Andy Lee is having a hell of a year.

Oh man. Do we need a drink.

— Joe Eskenazi

Photo | AP/Paul Sakuma