“The strongest of all warriors are these two – Time and Patience.” – Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

Alex Smith certainly has spent a good amount of time wearing a San Francisco 49ers’ uniform while fans haven’t always found the patience to tolerate Smith’s mediocrity. In Smith’s case, it was the lack of patience and abundance of time that became his enemies and fought against him. Perhaps to the chagrin of some 49ers’ fans the team was unable to strike a deal with future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. All the while, scorned quarterback Alex Smith was off meeting with the Miami Dolphins.

In the end, however, things fell into place as they were destined and Manning is now a member of the Denver Broncos and Smith is once again a 49er – this time with a three-year contract in place.

His return in 2012 should be a very special one indeed. After a 2011 season where Smith led the 49ers to an appearance in the NFC Championship Game and put up the best numbers of his seven-year NFL career he can only get better, in my opinion. Why is that, you ask? There are several reasons, but these seem to be the ones that best explain Smith’s projected development:

Playing in the same system for the second straight year. In 2012, Alex Smith will enjoy the comforts of running the exact same offense, with the exact same coaches and coordinators for consecutive years for the first time in his NFL career. The only difference in 2012 will be the upgraded pieces the 49ers have surrounded Smith with. With the ability to work out of the same offensive scheme as the previous year, the focus can be drawn away from learning the plays and geared more towards Smith’s development. Smith didn’t have a perfect 2011, but his offseason work and stability should prove to be the building block for an even better 2012.

Upgrading of key offensive positions. The 49ers have their top-ranked defense back in full force, so the only logical thing to do in the draft and free agency was to upgrade the offense. Among those upgrades include an improved wide receiving corps with acquisitions A.J. Jenkins, Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, and Chris Owusu. Not to mention that the 49ers picked up LaMichael James, Jewel Hampton, and Brandon Jacobs to bolster the running back position. With a much more versatile offense, Alex Smith will have more options than he did in 2011 – and he still has Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis, and Delanie Walker.

Working out with Tom House. It was reported on May 13 that back in March, for one week, Alex Smith worked out with former MLB pitcher Tom House. While his crossover to coaching a football player may seem lost in translation, Tom Brady, Matt Cassel, and Carson Palmer were all there with Smith, working with House. Perhaps the fact that Tom Brady was there says enough about his credibility, but what would House really know about throwing a football? When he was coaching baseball, House used to have his pitchers throw with footballs because it’s the same neural pathway as throwing a baseball and it could help improve their throwing motion. (Apparently it’s all about getting your body behind the ball for the most efficient throw – regardless of sport.)

According to Jim Harbaugh, Smith has already made dramatic improvement in his throwing motion – something that had been affected by his shoulder surgery in 2008 and has hindered his ability ever since. But now, Smith has the opportunity to build on his 2011 performance and once again have the best year of his career.

Which of the three reasons make you feel the most confident in Alex Smith in 2012: the same offensive scheme, the new talent around him, or the workout with Tom House? Is there something else that has you feeling confident in Alex Smith or do you not have confidence in him to lead the 49ers?

David is co-founder of wrapupp sports blog where fresh content is posted daily and present sports blogs and sports opinions – all with a West Coast bias. Growing up in the Bay Area, David is a huge supporter of all the local sports teams; the Giants, Athletics, Warriors, Sharks, 49ers, and Raiders. His one fault, admittedly, as many of his friends and family would say, is his love for the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up, Magic Johnson was his favorite basketball player and he fell in love with the team. He chalks it up to, “Not knowing any better”. Now his love for sports has turned just as academic as it is intuitive and he follows most all sports all over the nation.

You can follow David on Twitter: @officialwrapupp

Sources:

NFL.com. Baseball man helps Alex Smith rediscover groove. NFL 2012

More from David Mehrwein and the Yahoo! Contributor Network:

San Francisco 49ers’ Undrafted Free Agent Chris Owusu Ready to Prove Doubters Wrong: Fan Breakdown

Will San Francisco 49ers’ Randy Moss Help Guide Michael Crabtree in the Right Direction? Fan Question

Los Angeles Lakers’ Metta World Peace Ready to Face Oklahoma City Thunder: Fan Preview

Is Andrew Bynum a Cancer to the Los Angeles Lakers? Quote Roundup

Andrew Bynum Lacks Intensity as Los Angeles Lakers Fall to Denver Nuggets: Fan Reaction

WebMD states that a concussion is “a traumatic brain injury that is caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another injury that jars or shakes the brain inside the skull.”

The causes sound like they could easily be caused by the game of football if you ask me. And to be honest, that is the risk that players are taking and have always taken. Even with the new helmets and added protection against concussions, the only sure way not to sustain a concussion would be to never touch anybody while on the field or to not play the game of football.

While that solution is impossible for anyone who wishes to play in the NFL, those who have had concussions and continue to play are upping the ante. Step into frame Chris Owusu, wide receiver from Stanford, formerly coached by Jim Harbaugh, and now a member of the San Francisco 49ers – as an undrafted free agent.

Owusu is a highly talented wide receiver – possibly one of the most physically talented players in the draft – but he didn’t get drafted. Was his 40-yard dash time too slow? Nope. He ran a 4.36 40-yard dash – third best at the combine. What about his vertical jump, that had to have been low? 40.5 inches – fourth best at the combine. It must have been the broad jump then? Try again. 129-inch broad jump – good enough for second among wide receivers, just behind Stephen Hill.

So why wasn’t Chris Owusu picked by a team during seven rounds of a draft that saw 253 players selected over three days? One word: concussion.

Actually, it was more than one. Owusu suffered three concussions over a 13-month period while playing at Stanford. One of which was so severe he was taken off the field by an ambulance. No one drafted him because of his concussive history and he fell all the way to the 49ers in undrafted free agency. Of all the 49ers’ undrafted free agency signings, Owusu may be one of the few that makes it in the NFL. He is challenging what everyone else thought of his injuries by agreeing to join the 49ers and I admire that. I’m just not too certain he understands the implications of playing with such a history of concussions.

Sure the risk for re-injury is there and greater than ever, mostly because of his injury history, but also due in part to the fact that the NFL is played much faster and harder than the college game. While some see him as a liability, I don’t think he sees himself that way. I know that I see him as a potentially talented player who could end up being a key part of the 49ers’ offense. But does the risk of re-injury outweigh the potential reward? And remember, he hasn’t even officially made the team yet. What if he gets injured during the preseason or during an OTA or minicamp?

Only time will tell what kind of risk Owusu is taking and how it could affect him long term. Do you think Chris Owusu is a liability with his injuries or will he prove to be a talented NFL wide receiver?

David is co-founder of wrapupp sports blog where fresh content is posted daily and present sports blogs and sports opinions – all with a West Coast bias. Growing up in the Bay Area, David is a huge supporter of all the local sports teams; the Giants, Athletics, Warriors, Sharks, 49ers, and Raiders. His one fault, admittedly, as many of his friends and family would say, is his love for the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up, Magic Johnson was his favorite basketball player and he fell in love with the team. He chalks it up to, “Not knowing any better”. Now his love for sports has turned just as academic as it is intuitive and he follows most all sports all over the nation.

You can follow David on Twitter: @officialwrapupp

Sources:

NFL.com. Did T.O. Curse the Number 81 for the 49ers?. NFL 2012.

More from David Mehrwein and the Yahoo! Contributor Network:

Andrew Bynum Lacks Intensity as Los Angeles Lakers Fall to Denver Nuggets: Fan Reaction

Los Angeles Lakers’ Playoff History: Why the Lakers Will Beat the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 – Fan Breakdown

Top Undrafted Free Agents to Make it Big in the NFL: Fan Breakdown

San Francisco Giants’ Guillermo Mota Suspended 100 Games: Fan Reaction

San Francisco 49ers Sign Oft-Injured Undrafted Free Agents: Fan Reaction

Read More: 49ers preseason schedule, San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have their preseason schedule announced, and their game agains the Denver Broncos is set for the third contest of the preseason. Considering it’s the third preseason game, it’s likely the best glimpse you’ll get of Manning before the regular season starts, since that’s when most of the starting lineup sees the most action. It’s the best chance at seeing the 49ers at full-strength and back in action.

Full schedule with TV listings and times (PT) attached.

Friday, August 10th vs. Minnesota Vikings, 6 PM on CBS 5: A nice warmup game for San Francisco fans against a lowly opponent, and a decent way to ease into the season.

Saturday, August 18th vs. Houston Texans, 5 PM on CBS 5: Probably the toughest game of the preseason.

Sunday, August 26th vs. Denver Broncos, 1 PM on FOX

Thursday, August 30th vs. San Diego Chargers, 7:05 PM on CBS 5: This will be another one of those depth chart games, where no one of significance plays and every player fighting to get on the 53-man roster gets their chance to shine.

No Raiders game, as expected.

To discuss the thought of a preseason matchup against the Broncos with 49ers fans, head on over to Niners Nation. To talk about the game with Broncos fans, go to Mile High Report.

The 49ers’ relentless fortification of their roster yielded three more moves Thursday: the signings of quarterback Josh Johnson, return specialist Ted Ginn Jr. and wide receiver Mario Manningham.

While Manningham agreed to his two-year deal Saturday and finally made it official five days later, the acquisitions of Johnson and Ginn came as a bit of a surprise but not a total shock.

Johnson, an Oakland native and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup, signed a two-year deal. Ginn visited three teams before opting to return on a one-year pact.

Johnson told this newspaper Tuesday morning he wanted to join the 49ers, even if Alex Smith returned as the incumbent quarterback. Well, Smith agreed to a three-year

deal later Tuesday, and now he’ll be competing with Johnson and Colin Kaepernick, last year’s second-round draft pick.

“It’s a great organization, and they were a great team last year, so most definitely I would,” Johnson said in Tuesday’s phone interview from his Tampa, Fla., home.

“Josh is a promising young player that has experience in our offensive system,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. “He is a skilled athlete with a good arm talent. Josh has shown promise in limited action, both as a backup and starter at the NFL level.”

Johnson played at the University of San Diego under current 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and was 0-5 all-time as a starer with the Buccaneers, who picked him in the fifth round

of the 2008 draft. He met with members of the Washington Redskins on Wednesday and is scheduled to talk with Bay Area media Friday. He did not immediately return a call Thursday night seeking comment.

“No matter where you go, there’ll be competition,” Johnson said Tuesday. “You have to hope a team gives you the best opportunity to put your best foot forward. The 49ers, they came within a quarter (or overtime) of the Super Bowl.”

The 49ers’ Super Bowl bid ended with an NFC Championship

game loss to the New York Giants, a 20-17 defeat Ginn missed because of a nagging knee injury. His replacement, Kyle Williams, botched two punt returns for game-changing turnovers.

“Everybody said it’s Kyle fault, but it’s not right. It’s a team game,” Ginn said on a media conference call. “It was very hard (not to play). You work so hard to be there.”

Ginn reunited with his 49ers “family” on a one-year deal. He’s been the 49ers’ primary return specialist since they acquired him in a 2010 trade with the Miami Dolphins. Ginn, a five-year veteran, took free agency visits to the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens and Minnesota Vikings.

He started his 2011 season in record fashion, becoming the first 49er to return a punt and a

kickoff for touchdowns in the same game, clinching a 33-17 win over the visiting Seattle Seahawks.

“He is a versatile player and an excellent teammate that will continue to play an important role for us on both offense and special teams,” Baalke said in a statement.

During Ginn’s visit to the Lions, he told the Free-Press he was looking to emerge more as a receiver than a return specialist. That could be a tough task on the 49ers, who’ve added Randy Moss and Manningham to their receiver stable.

Ginn said he merely wants an opportunity to compete at receiver, having tallied 19 receptions for 220 yards and no touchdowns last season in 14 games and three starts.

As for Moss’ addition, Ginn said: “He’s an icon. To have

that player on your team and all the accolades he has, and to come to a great team we have, and to put all that together — it should be something to see.”

Manningham, an Ohio native like Ginn, agreed to a two-year contract Saturday that finally became official earlier Thursday. Manningham picked the 49ers over the St. Louis Rams, but not because of the possibility that his quarterback might be Peyton Manning.

“I thought (Manning) was going to the 49ers, but he didn’t and went to Denver,” said Manningham, who caught clutch passes from Eli Manning in the Giants’ Super Bowl run. “We’ve got Alex Smith, and he’s a great player. He played good last year.”

A third-round pick in the 2008 draft by the Giants, Manningham acknowledged

that he was disappointed to leave his original team, noting: “Who wouldn’t want to come back to the team that drafted them? But that’s in the past, and I won a Super Bowl with them. I give them credit for teaching me things. But this is my new team.”

Also part of that wide receiving corps is Williams, who received a pep talk from Ginn after last season’s tough finale.

“I talked to him that day and tried to tell him to keep his head up, stay positive and he’s got long time to regroup from this,” Ginn said.

The 49ers’ busy offseason also includes the re-signings of Smith, cornerback Carlos Rogers, linebackers Ahmad Brooks and Tavares Gooden, defensive backs C.J. Spillman and Tramaine Brock, and defensive tackle Will Tukuafu. Safety Dashon Goldson has drawn the 49ers’ franchise tender of $6.2 million this season but has yet to sign it.

For more on the 49ers, see Cam Inman’s Hot Read blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers kicked off the free-agency period with the signing of four-time All-Pro receiver Randy Moss. Moss, who did not play last season, had arguably the worst season of his career in 2010. Playing for the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans, Moss totaled 28 receptions for 393 yards and five touchdowns. With a year off to recover and refocus, he’ll look to get a fresh start with Jim Harbaugh and the Niners. Signed to only a one-year, $2.5 million deal, Moss gives the team a big-play target who presents low-risk and high reward.

Apparently adding Moss was not enough, as the Niners signed former New York Giants receiver Mario Manningham to a two-year deal on March 18. Manningham may have been the Giants’ No. 3 receiver, but he played a key role in helping them win their second championship in four years. Although he had a subpar regular season, his play improved during the playoffs. In both the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl, Manningham demonstrated that he is capable of making clutch plays- which is exactly what the Niners need in converting third downs (ranked 31st overall).

By adding Moss and Manningham to the roster, the offense can now stretch the field effectively. Their speed brings another dimension to the offense that it did not have last season. With Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker running short and intermediate routes, opposing defenses must cover all parts of the field.

Now that Peyton Manning has officially joined the Denver Broncos, the Niners will turn back to Alex Smith. With Smith returning, he will have more receiving options to choose from compared to last year. Last season, Smith threw for a career-high 3,144 passing yards while recording his best quarterback rating (90.7) in his first year under Harbaugh. He has shown steady improvement, and with Moss and Manningham at his disposal, Smith could be even better next season. Couple the signings with a full offseason to understand the offensive system, the sky’s the limit for him.

On defense, bringing back Carlos Rogers and Ahmad Brooks was crucial. Rogers had the best season of his career last year, as he was tied for a team-high six interceptions while making his first Pro-Bowl and All-Pro team. Brooks solidifies the pass rush long-term playing opposite of Aldon Smith. One of the potential concerns that the Niners face is the possible loss of Larry Grant, who received an original-round tender from the team. Last season, he showed that he was a starting-caliber linebacker when he filled in for Patrick Willis, who missed four games in December. With these signings in place, the Niners should once again be a top-10 defense in 2012.

Overall, San Francisco has done a solid job of addressing their needs. If the players live up to expectations and work together, there’s no reason why the Niners can’t make another deep run in the playoffs.

Sources:

bayarea.sbnation.com

foxsports.com

nfl.com

Carlos Rogers Profile- pro-football-reference.com

Randy Moss Profile- pro-football-reference.com

washingtonpost.com

Travis Chan is a longtime fan of the San Francisco 49ers, Giants and Golden State Warriors. He is also a contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. You can follow him on Twitter @Travischan1.

Alex Smith is just way too good at dealing with this crazy stuff and deflecting the drama. It’s understandable. He has had plenty of practice.

As Smith noted Wednesday after signing his new contract, he has “been through way worse than this” during his time with the 49ers.

Agreed. For references, please see Jim Hostler and Jimmy Raye, two of the substandard offensive coordinators Smith suffered through before Jim Harbaugh arrived as head coach. Smith also has endured injury, booing, theories about his hand size, scorn, backstabbing gossip and red zone dysfunction.

Still, there was a difference between those travails and Smith’s just-completed free-agent episode: It had far more soap opera elements.

A few missing details were filled in Wednesday.

For instance, Smith pretty much confirmed he never had any true intentions of going elsewhere. He said he might even have stayed if Peyton Manning had signed with the 49ers. According to Smith, Harbaugh had implied that he wanted both Smith and Manning on the roster. Smith said he would have “relished” the chance to compete against Manning.

Of course, he did not say how strong the relish would be — or why, if he was so eager for such a competition, he took that trip to Miami last weekend for a conversation with the Dolphins.

“I had never been to Miami Beach,” Smith joked, “and thought it was a good way to go see it.”

As I said, the guy has really developed the arts of

dealing and deflecting.

Smith was vague about when he was informed of the 49ers’ interest in Manning but said Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke made a house call to discuss the situation.

“I don’t know what day it was,” Smith said. “Obviously early last week sometime. I forget what day it was. It all kind of seems like a blur. … It was right there when they first started to look into the process of looking at (Manning). They came over and sat down with me and told me about

it.”

Smith is a bright and organized man. One would think that, given the conversation’s potential impact on Smith’s future, he would recall the exact day of that meeting. And if it took place after, not before, Harbaugh’s stealth trip to North Carolina for the Manning workout … well, that would mean the coach wasn’t as upfront as he could have been with Smith. But to Smith, it doesn’t matter.

“The conversation with Jim,” Smith said, “was about competition and the best man winning. The same way with me last year when I got brought in. Nothing was ever laid out there, nothing was given to you. You were going to have to earn everything. And I agree with it. Jim firmly believes in … that’s the nature of this game.”

Makes

you wonder if Harbaugh told Manning the same thing — that he’d have to compete for the starting job. Did that impact Manning’s Denver decision? And here’s another curious piece of information: Even though Smith and Manning share the same agent, Tom Condon, the two quarterbacks never spoke to each other through the free-agent process. They still haven’t talked.

From this point forward, however, all of that is trivia and folderol. It is time to ponder more significant questions, namely:

1. Will Smith be a better quarterback next season than last? Answer: No reason he can’t be. When the season begins, Smith should have a better fleet of receivers, assuming that Randy Moss’ attitude is right and his legs haven’t turned to overcooked

spaghetti during his year away from the game. Meanwhile, Mario Manningham will make at least five plays that turn underthrown or overthrown Smith passes into catches.

2. Will Smith be affected by Harbaugh’s desire to seek a better quarterback alternative this offseason? Answer: Can’t see why. Smith’s mental toughness might have been an issue his first few seasons in the league, but his grittiness should never be questioned after that playoff performance against a New Orleans Saints team that, we now know, was just as concerned with maiming quarterbacks as stopping them.

3. After Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman gave Smith relatively conservative passing game plans a year ago, will he be allowed to open it up more in

2012? Answer: Yes, and he will need to do so. In the NFL, the same tricks never work twice. Plus, the 49ers’ schedule is much tougher. Smith will use the offseason to become a more sophisticated quarterback and work on his weaknesses — principally, not always being able to quickly identify the best receiving option on a particular play and not delivering more consistently accurate short passes.

Of course, that’s the dull and humdrum football stuff. It isn’t as compelling as rumors about which private jet is flying to which secret practice field, or whether someone’s wife is influencing a decision, or if one quarterback is miffed about his team bringing in a famous backup.

That’s still going on in other NFL regions. Around here, we’ll just have to wait until next year. Too bad. Those bogus trips to the beach were fun while they lasted.

Contact Mark Purdy at mpurdy@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5092.

SAN FRANCISCO — Jim Harbaugh coaching Peyton Manning. In the Bay Area, they’re beginning to think about the possibility and believe it truly might happen.

A former NFL quarterback, Harbaugh worked wonders with Alex Smith in a matter of months for the NFC West champions, and now all signs point to the 49ers being a serious player in the Manning sweepstakes. Smith, who had a three-year offer on the table to return, traveled to Miami on Sunday to meet with the Dolphins.

“It’s crazy,” said 49ers running back Frank Gore, who has long been a big supporter of Smith. “I’m going to sit back and let them do their job. I’m sitting back and waiting for it to happen.”

Everybody is eagerly anticipating decision day, likely this week.

If San Francisco doesn’t sign Manning, the 49ers will have some serious relationship-building to do with Smith even after he developed a close relationship with Harbaugh. The Niners might even need to bump him up from the $24 million he has reportedly been offered.

And there could be similar fallout in Tennessee and Denver if those teams don’t land Manning, who turns 36 on Saturday. The four-time NFL MVP sat out the 2011 season and is trying to come back after he was released by Indianapolis following a string of neck surgeries.

For Smith, his visit to South Florida also could be a move by the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick to protect himself with a possible backup plan. He and Manning are both represented by agent Tom Condon of CAA Sports.

“This is the NFL. I guess nothing surprises me anymore,” Smith told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel upon arriving at the airport Sunday. “I never thought a year ago [Peyton] Manning would be a free agent either. I’m never surprised by anything.”

Harbaugh watched Manning work out last Tuesday at Duke, and now the former Colts star has held sessions for all three of the franchises believed to be the finalists to sign the biggest free agent of 2012. Only the 49ers are yet to publicly acknowledge their interest.

Manning worked out for Tennessee on Saturday in Knoxville, one day after he showed his skills to Hall of Famer John Elway and the Broncos at Duke.

While Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman saw Manning last week and San Francisco emerged as a surprise contender to sign the 2007 Super Bowl-winning quarterback, it seems 49ers CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke certainly would want to make their pitch to Manning in person, too.

Pulling off this one would be the second major splash by the 49ers’ brass in as many offseasons.

In January 2011, York and Baalke wooed Harbaugh away from nearby Stanford on a $25 million, five-year deal. And what a job Harbaugh did: San Francisco went 13-3 and ended an eight-year stretch without a playoff berth or winning record, losing 20-17 in overtime of the NFC title game to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

If Smith leaves and Manning doesn’t sign or were to get hurt, the 49ers would be left with unproven second-year pro Colin Kaepernick, but this is a team that isn’t afraid to take chances when the reward could be huge. Just look at a two-day span for San Francisco last week. The 49ers signed Randy Moss on Monday and a day later cornerback Perrish Cox, who was acquitted earlier this month on sexual assault charges in Colorado.

Harbaugh has a knack for coaching anybody into a winner with his “Who’s got it better than us? Nobody!” chants and other unorthodox motivational tactics — some of which he learned from his coaching father, Jack, and big brother and Baltimore Ravens coach John.

The NFL coach of the year last season, Harbaugh has to believe he’ll have no problem coaching a veteran quarterback like Manning. The former Colt is among the greatest ever to play with 54,828 yards passing, 4,682 completions and 399 touchdown passes.

“He’s a Hall of Famer, first ballot, that’s all I got to say,” Gore said of Manning. “He’s one of the best ever to play the game. I’m going to sit back and let them do what they think is best.”

If winning is more of a priority for Manning than a big payday, the 49ers have put things in place over the past week. They signed Moss to a one-year deal, then brought back Pro Bowl cornerback Carlos Rogers on a $31.3 million, four-year contract to give San Francisco 11 returning starters on Vic Fangio’s talented defense. The 49ers then agreed to terms on a two-year contract with former Giants wideout Mario Manningham late Saturday.

“I know coach Harbaugh and Trent Baalke feel good about what they’re doing,” Gore said. “They know what they’re doing.”

Perhaps all of that is enough to attract Manning, despite the thought he would prefer to stay in the AFC and not have to regularly face off with his younger brother, Eli.

This year marks Manning’s 15th in the NFL — the same number of seasons Harbaugh spent in the league with the Bears, Colts, Ravens, Chargers and Panthers. A first-round draft pick taken 26th overall by Chicago in 1987, Harbaugh completed 2,305 of 3,918 passes for 26,288 career yards and 129 touchdowns in the NFL. He also ran for 18 TDs.

Elway, of course, also has quite the pedigree.

Perhaps Elway’s pursuit of Manning might mean he doesn’t have faith in Tim Tebow as the Broncos’ QB for the future. Denver squeaked into the playoffs as AFC West champions on the final day of the regular season last year.

Titans owner Bud Adams declared earlier this month he wanted Manning and considers him the missing piece to a championship team. That might not sit too well with Matt Hasselbeck, who signed to a three-year contract last July with Tennessee.

The pursuit of Manning has kept the Titans from addressing their defensive line early in free agency, one of their top needs. Mario Williams signed with Buffalo, John Abraham re-signed with Atlanta and Jason Jones left Tennessee for Seattle.

Other teams also might be behind in building their rosters because of the chase for No. 18.

The Dolphins and Arizona fell out of the running, and the Cardinals are moving ahead with quarterback Kevin Kolb.

Gore, who spends his offseason in Miami each year, isn’t going to begin to guess what might happen next in the Manning story — and what it might mean for him next season.

“I don’t know, man,” he said. “I don’t know.”

SAN FRANCISCO — Jim Harbaugh coaching Peyton Manning: In the Bay Area, fans of the San Francisco 49ers are beginning to think about the possibility and believe it might happen.

A former pro quarterback, Harbaugh worked wonders with Alex Smith in a matter of months for the NFC West champions, and signs point to the 49ers being a serious player in the Manning sweepstakes. Smith, who had a three-year offer to return to San Francisco, traveled to Miami on Sunday and met with Dolphins officials for 5 ½ hours.

If San Francisco doesn’t sign four-time league most valuable player Manning, the team could have some serious relationship-building to do with Smith even though he is close to Harbaugh.

There could be similar fallout in Tennessee and Denver if those suitors don’t land Manning, who turns 36 Saturday. Manning sat out the 2011 season because of neck problems and is trying to come back after he was released by Indianapolis.

Smith, 27, and Manning — who is weighing options — are both represented by agent Tom Condon.

“This is the NFL. I guess nothing surprises me anymore,” Smith told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel upon arriving at the airport. “I never thought a year ago (Peyton) Manning would be a free agent, either. I’m never surprised by anything.”

Unlike Tennessee and Denver, the 49ers have yet to publicly acknowledge interest in Manning.

MIAMI (AP) — San Francisco 49ers free agent quarterback Alex Smith is meeting with the Miami Dolphins, which could affect the Peyton Manning sweepstakes.

The 49ers are among three finalists for Manning, along with the Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans.

A person familiar with the negotiations confirmed to The Associated Press that Smith was meeting with the Dolphins. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team has not publicly discussed Sunday’s meeting.

The 49ers had been working to re-sign Smith, the No. 1 overall 2005 draft pick who enjoyed his best season in 2011 under first-year 49ers coach Harbaugh, a former NFL quarterback. Smith and Manning have the same agent, Tom Condon.

The Dolphins‘ unexpected courtship of Smith came after they were spurned by Manning and then hosted former Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Matt Flynn for a weekend Saturday.

It was unclear whether the Dolphins expanded their quarterback search in a bid to pressure Flynn to sign soon. He visited the Seattle Seahawks earlier in the week.

Flynn left South Florida on Sunday morning, but a deal with the Dolphins remained a possibility, said his father, Alvin.

A second person told the AP the Dolphins were to host quarterback David Garrard on Monday.

Garrard, a starter for Jacksonville from 2005 to 2010, didn’t play last year. He was released five days before last year’s opener by the Jaguars, then underwent back surgery in October.

But it was Smith’s turn on Sunday

He landed at the Fort Lauderdale airport Sunday morning and arrived at the Dolphins complex at 11 a.m. EDT in a car driven by trainer Kevin O’Neill. New coach Joe Philbin, new offensive coordinator Mike Sherman and general manager Jeff Ireland arrived earlier.

Smith struggled early in his career but threw for 3,150 yards and 17 touchdowns with only five interceptions last season as San Francisco went 13-3 and made the NFC title game after an eight-year playoff drought. He orchestrated six comeback wins, four on the road.

Smith has been weighing a three-year offer from the 49ers. If he instead joins the Dolphins, he would be reunited with running back Reggie Bush. They were teammates at Helix Charter High School in La Mesa, Calif.

All were also on hand for Flynn’s 5 1/2-hour meeting Saturday.

Flynn was a backup the past four years for Green Bay, where his offensive coordinator was Joe Philbin, the Dolphins’ new head coach. Flynn has only two career NFL starts, but in last year’s regular-season finale he set franchise records with 480 yards passing and six touchdowns to help the Packers beat Detroit 45-41.

The Dolphins have started 16 quarterbacks since Dan Marino retired and are looking to make another change. While incumbent Matt Moore played well last year, there are doubts he’s a franchise quarterback. Chad Henne, who started 31 games for Miami over the past three seasons, signed Wednesday with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a backup.

The 49ers emerged as a contender for Manning when the news surfaced that he worked out Tuesday for Harbaugh at Duke. The four-time NFL MVP also worked out for the Broncos on Friday at Duke, and for the Titans on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn.

Manning has been rehabbing in North Carolina following a string of neck surgeries, which led Indianapolis to release him.

San Francisco running back Frank Gore, who works out each offseason in Miami, said Sunday he hadn’t spoken to Smith. Gore has long supported Smith through the quarterback’s up-and-down seven NFL seasons.

Now, Gore and the 49ers are sitting tight to see what happens next.

“It’s crazy,” Gore said. “I’m waiting for whatever happens. I know coach Harbaugh and (general manager) Trent Baalke feel good about what they’re doing.”

Manning’s whirlwind free agency tour officially kicked off soon after he bid farewell to the Colts in an emotional press conference.

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AP Sports Writers Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Tenn., Joedy McCreary in Durham, N.C., Pat Graham in Denver and Janie McCauley in San Francisco contributed to this report.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The San Francisco 49ers landed another wide receiver in a headline-making week for the NFC West champions, agreeing to terms Saturday with free agent Mario Manningham on a two-year contract.

Randy Moss joined the roster last Monday.

Now, the big question is who will be throwing them the ball: Peyton Manning or Alex Smith?

Manningham met Thursday with the 49ers, who still appear to have interest in Manning after coach Jim Harbaugh worked him out Tuesday at Duke University. Manning worked out for the Tennessee Titans on Saturday and it appears he will now choose between them, San Francisco and the Denver Broncos.

Have the 49ers done enough already to entice him, and show they’re aiming for another shot at the Super Bowl this season?

Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed Saturday night that Manningham, the former New York Giants wideout, had reached a deal with the 49ers, who lost in overtime of the NFC championship game to Manningham and the eventual Super Bowl champions at Candlestick Park on Jan. 22.

Manningham caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning with 8:34 remaining in regulation of the NFC title game to help New York reach the Super Bowl.

He had five more receptions for 73 yards in the Giants’ 21-17 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, including an over-the-shoulder 38-yard catch between two defenders on which he managed to stay inbounds to start the game-winning, 88-yard touchdown drive.

The 25-year-old Manningham had 39 catches for 523 yards and four touchdowns total last year in his fourth NFL season.

Manningham will join an upgraded receiving corps that also includes Moss, who signed a one-year contract Monday, and Michael Crabtree, the team’s 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Texas Tech who had 72 receptions for 874 yards and four touchdowns in 2011.

”It’s going down. Mario Manningham signs with 49ers. This is a sick WR squad. It’s going to be crazy on the Offensive side of the ball,” tweeted defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois.

The 49ers, who ended an eight-year playoff drought in Harbaugh’s first season of 2011, also will return their entire starting defensive 11 after bringing back cornerback Carlos Rogers on a $31.3 million, four-year deal this week. So, that too could be attractive to Peyton Manning, even though there’s speculation he would prefer to stay in the AFC and not have to regularly face off with his younger brother.

Smith had been expected to re-sign with the 49ers and acknowledged he was weighing a three-year contract offer – but that all might have changed in a matter of a few days once Manning entered the 49ers’ picture. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on its Web site Saturday, citing a league source, that Smith was considering changing agents from Tom Condon, who also represents Manning.

An e-mail to 49ers CEO Jed York, Smith and agents at CAA Sports went unreturned Saturday.

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco 49ers landed another wide receiver in a headline-making week for the NFC West champions, agreeing to terms Saturday with free agent Mario Manningham on a two-year contract.

Randy Moss joined the roster last Monday.

Now, the big question is who will be throwing them the ball: Peyton Manning or Alex Smith?

Manningham met Thursday with the 49ers, who still appear to have interest in Manning after coach Jim Harbaugh worked him out Tuesday at Duke University. Manning worked out for the Tennessee Titans on Saturday and it appears he will now choose between them, San Francisco and the Denver Broncos.

Have the 49ers done enough already to entice him, and show they’re aiming for another shot at the Super Bowl this season?

Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed Saturday night that Manningham, the former New York Giants wideout, had reached a deal with the 49ers, who lost in overtime of the NFC championship game to Manningham and the eventual Super Bowl champions at Candlestick Park on Jan. 22.

Manningham caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning with 8:34 remaining in regulation of the NFC title game to help New York reach the Super Bowl.

He had five more receptions for 73 yards in the Giants’ 21-17 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, including an over-the-shoulder 38-yard catch between two defenders on which he managed to stay inbounds to start the game-winning, 88-yard touchdown drive.

The 25-year-old Manningham had 39 catches for 523 yards and four touchdowns total last year in his fourth NFL season.

Manningham will join an upgraded receiving corps that also includes Moss, who signed a one-year contract Monday, and Michael Crabtree, the team’s 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Texas Tech who had 72 receptions for 874 yards and four touchdowns in 2011.

“It’s going down. Mario Manningham signs with 49ers. This is a sick WR squad. It’s going to be crazy on the Offensive side of the ball,” tweeted defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois.

The 49ers, who ended an eight-year playoff drought in Harbaugh’s first season of 2011, also will return their entire starting defensive 11 after bringing back cornerback Carlos Rogers on a $31.3 million, four-year deal this week. So, that too could be attractive to Peyton Manning, even though there’s speculation he would prefer to stay in the AFC and not have to regularly face off with his younger brother.

Smith had been expected to re-sign with the 49ers and acknowledged he was weighing a three-year contract offer — but that all might have changed in a matter of a few days once Manning entered the 49ers’ picture. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on its Web site Saturday, citing a league source, that Smith was considering changing agents from Tom Condon, who also represents Manning.

An email to 49ers CEO Jed York, Smith and agents at CAA Sports went unreturned Saturday.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and current sportscaster Steve Young likes the approach his old team took in wooing Peyton Manning.

He thinks the strategy, along with the team’s status of coming within a hair of the Super Bowl last year, should put the 49ers in prime position to pick up Manning, he said on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”

Young also said 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh — the man Manning replaced at quarterback when he first started with the Indianapolis Colts — took a personal approach during Manning’s workout for the team this week, throwing with Manning.

“Trent Baalke laid low, he did the research; Jim Harbaugh threw with Peyton Manning,” Young said on “SportsCenter,” crediting the 49ers general manager for stealthily pursuing Manning while other teams’ names were thrown out publicly. “They didn’t get the front pages. They know that they are the best answer for Peyton Manning.

”They know they have the best defense in the league to offer. They know they have the offensive weapons. They know they have Jim Harbaugh.“

The Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals have been eliminated from contention for Manning’s services. The Tennessee Titans have been aggressive with owner Bud Adams talking about Manning’s post-playing days and saying he wants the quarterback to be a Titan ”for life.“

Denver has prepared a five-year, $90 million offer, according to the Denver Post, which would be extremely impressive as it would be similar to Manning’s pre-neck-injury contract with the Colts.

But Young raised several fair points as San Francisco’s dominant defense led the team to the NFC West division title and nearly the Super Bowl. The 49ers fell in overtime by a field goal to the New York Giants, who went on to win the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.

San Francisco seemed in control of the game, if not for a pair of muffed punts late by returner Kyle Williams.

Earlier in the week, the 49ers added a potential offensive threat at wide receiver by signing Randy Moss out of retirement.

”They know all the pieces are in place for Peyton Manning,“ Young said. ”It is the best opportunity for Peyton Manning. They knew it, and they waited for the wannabes to exhaust themselves, and then they came in right and the end, and that’s why I think they’ll probably land him at this point.“

Young thinks the allure of a team that barely missed the Super Bowl could be too strong a pull for Manning to resist.

”I know Peyton Manning is looking for a team to join now and win a division now and go to the Super Bowl now,“ Young said. ”That’s the San Francisco 49ers.“