Alex Smith quietly stayed behind the scenes after losing his job and watched from the sideline as San Francisco returned to the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years. Yet the No. 1 overall draft pick from 2005 did make one thing known: The veteran quarterback still considers himself a starter.
And he hoped to get that chance again. Now, he appears to have it.The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to acquire Smith from the 49ers in the first major acquisition since Andy Reid took over as the team’s new coach in early January, a person with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press on Wednesday.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot become official until March 12, when the NFL’s new business year begins. Another person familiar with the swap said the 49ers will get a second-round pick in April’s draft, No. 34 overall, and a conditional pick in the 2014 draft.After spending his first eight up-and-down years with the 49ers, Smith will get a new start. The Chiefs will get the proven play-caller they hope can help turn things around under a new coach much the way Smith did under Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco.Moving Smith was hardly unexpected. He realized it once Colin Kaepernick emerged as a capable starter over the season’s final two months.With Smith now headed for Kansas City, Matt Cassel is likely headed out of town. And Reid will enter his first draft as Chiefs coach in April no longer needing to search for a quarterback.The Chiefs’ problems at quarterback are the single biggest reason they went 2-14 last season and secured the No. 1 pick in the draft for the first time in franchise history.The 28-year-old Smith struggled for most of his career in San Francisco. But when Harbaugh became coach in January 2011, Smith blossomed under the former QB’s guidance. He was among the league leaders in passer rating (104.1) with a 70.2 completion percentage when he got hurt last season.Briefly • Giants: Left tackle Will Beatty agreed to a five-year contract woth up to $38.75 million, according to the Newark Star-Ledger, instead of testing the free-agent market. Beatty is entering his fifth season with the Giants. He played in 50 games with the Giants, including all 16 games last season after missing much of training camp with a sore back. • Bills: Defensive end Chris Kelsay announced his retirement after 10 seasons and 147 games with Buffalo. Kelsay, a second-round pick in 2003, played nine games in 2012 before a neck injury ended his season. • NFL: Former Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly, suspended indefinitely in 2010 after multiple arrests for illegal possession of codeine, was reinstated by the NFL. • Bears: An Illinois prosecutor says he won’t pursue charges that Chicago Bears offensive lineman J’Marcus Webb had marijuana in his vehicle when he was stopped for speeding Sunday night. • Comeback: Former Dolphins second-round pick and West Virginia quarterback Pat White is planning a return to the NFL and will take part in West Virginia’s pro day on March 14 in Morgantown, said White’s father.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
