Alex Smith Agrees to $57M Deal With 49ers

Now that Alex Smith has come to terms, look for many other NFL first-round picks to follow suit. Quickly.
The top overall draft choice agreed to terms Monday on a six-year, $57 million deal with the
San Francisco 49ers. The quarterback from Utah will receive a guaranteed $24 million, according to a lawyer familiar with terms of the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity.
That hefty contract will affect the numbers for other first-rounders. The bar has been set.
Next up could be running back Ronnie Brown, chosen just after Smith by the
Miami Dolphins. - NFL Football -
"Our people are doing an outstanding job of trying to get the business end of this done," new Dolphins coach Nick Saban said. "But I think this is a circumstance that we don't have total control on, based on timing."
With training camps opening this week, timing is crucial for the valued rookies. Holdouts generally mean little production from the newcomers in their first NFL seasons.
San Francisco avoided that scenario. Smith, represented by Tom Condon — who also worked out Eli Manning's deal with the Giants as the 2004 first pick — got $4 million more guaranteed money than Manning. Smith's deal is expected to average $8.25 million compared to about $7.5 million for Manning. - NFL Football -
Next up for Smith: challenging Tim Rattay for the starting quarterback job with the 49ers, who finished 2-14 in 2004 and have gone consecutive seasons without making the playoffs for just the second time since 1980.
Smith, who left Utah after his junior season, led the Utes to their first BCS bowl win, a victory over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl. They finished 12-0 and were ranked fourth in The Associated Press poll. - NFL Football -
Two other first-rounders signed Monday: defensive tackle Mike Patterson with Philadelphia, and offensive lineman Logan Mankins with New England. They were the last two players selected in the opening round in April.
While the Dolphins wait for Brown to reach a contract agreement, they welcomed back wandering running back Ricky Williams. - NFL Football -
Greeted with hugs from teammates and cheers from fans at the Dolphins' first training camp practice under new coach Nick Saban, Williams apologized for how he left the team a year ago.
"There were things about life that I wanted to explore outside of football, and I had never had the chance," Williams said. "I realize by making that decision, I affected the team in a negative way and upset a lot of fans. - NFL Football -
"I'm very regretful that people were hurt in the process of me doing that. I do realize that to a lot of people it comes off as being very selfish. So I do offer an apology to all the people who were negatively impacted."
Williams must sit out the first four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. So bringing in Brown is even more critical. - NFL Football -
"He's got to wait until the business part of it gets straightened out," Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor said. "I think everyone understands why he's not here. It's part of the game."
Elsewhere in the NFL on Monday:
• The Cardinals will move their training camp from Flagstaff, Ariz., because of a virus outbreak on the Northern Arizona University campus. No decision had been made on where the camp will be located; players are scheduled to report Sunday. - NFL Football -
"The overwhelming concern obviously was the health and well-being of our team," said Rod Graves, vice president of football operations. "Despite what have been extraordinary efforts on the part of everyone at NAU to accommodate our team, in the end, even the slightest risk of exposure was something we cannot chance."
• Michigan cornerback Marlin Jackson, the Colts' first-round selection, could be close to a deal.
Jackson's agent, Doug Hendrickson, said: "It sounds, from the tone, like they want to get something done and we want to get something done, so we've just got to come together and get a fair deal. I think something will get done." - NFL Football -
Indianapolis expects Jackson to start.
• Less optimistic were the Bears concerning top pick Cedric Benson. The fourth pick in the draft out of Texas, the running back's agent, Eugene Parker, has not spoken with the team since the start of training camp.
"We're certainly on top of this," GM Jerry Angelo said. "We're very motivated to get him into camp. We made a very, very strong offer — something we felt should have gotten it done. Obviously, they didn't think that. We have to respect their side, obviously. We'll just wait and see what the next step is." - NFL Football -
• Previous starter Peerless Price found himself behind second-year wideout Michael Jenkins on the Falcons' depth chart.
When quarterback Michael Vick took the first snap of team drills, Jenkins and Dez White were the starting receivers. Price and Brian Finneran were on the second unit. Top pick Roddy White has not yet signed. - NFL Football -

BARRY WILNER,
AP Football Writer