49ers Release Smith

There is no longer any argument about which team endured the worst offseason. After San Francisco released former Pro Bowl linebacker Aldon Smith on Friday following his third DUI arrest, the 49ers are the clear-cut winners of that unwanted accolade.

Smith was arrested on Thursday after striking another vehicle while parking his car. He left the scene, returned on foot and promptly failed a field sobriety test. He was arrested on charges of hit and run, DUI and vandalism.

The most disappointing part of the story is that Smith, who received a 12-day sentence and three years probation last month stemming from three felony weapons charges and two misdemeanor DUI charges, refused to take responsibility for his actions.

“I want everybody to understand this wasn’t a DUI,” Smith told KTVU after posting bail. “The situation that happened could have been handled differently. I apologize to everybody I did let down and I apologize for how it all played out.”

The 49ers, who were rightfully scrutinized for waiting too long to part ways with disgraced DE Ray McDonald, had no choice but to cut Smith as soon as the news broke. Nonetheless, the team vows to continue supporting Smith.

“This organization has tried very hard to help Aldon fight his issues. Although he is no longer a member of this team, our support and concern for him will continue,” the 49ers said in a team statement.

Smith was a game-changer when on the field. He has racked up 44 sacks since joining the 49ers as a first-round pick out of Missouri in 2011, with 33.5 of those sacks coming in his first two seasons.

Smith is not expected to sign with a new team until he sorts out his personal demons and legal affairs, although Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has yet to publicly comment on Smith’s sudden availability.

Bills Considered Signing Vick

The quarterback situation in Buffalo has become so ghastly that the team’s leaders cannot hide their disgust with the position any longer. Earlier this week, GM Doug Whaley came out and talked openly about the team being in “quarterback purgatory,” meaning not good enough to win with the QBs they have but not bad enough to get the high draft pick needed to select a franchise signal caller.

Now, Rex Ryan has gotten in on the action as well, as he spoke with Pro Football Talk Live on Friday about how close the Bills came to signing free agent Mike Vick.

“I had a conversation with Mike,” Ryan said. “Mike’s an outstanding athlete, he’s a tremendous person. I really enjoyed my year with Mike, and he’s great for a team. However, our conditions are a little different than most teams in this league.

“And Mike will tell you, he’s not built really for a bad weather quarterback. He doesn’t have great big hands, and the weather affects him some. And he’d be the first one to tell you. … Quite honestly, I considered it. We considered it. And I know that’s not the spot for him.”

Ryan spent last season with Vick in New York, when the No. 1 overall pick from the 2001 NFL Draft showed little interest in competing for the starting position. When Vick was forced to play because of Geno Smith’s struggles, he seemed unprepared and disinterested.

Vick completed just 52.9 percent of his passes last season and finished with a passer rating of 68.3.

Ryan was there to see that first-hand, yet still felt the need to speak with Vick about joining his latest quarterback carousel. That alone should tell you exactly how Ryan feels about current QBs E.J. Manuel, Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor.

Foles Inks Two-Year Extension

The Rams were determined not to let Nick Foles enter the season as a lame duck quarterback. That wish came to fruition on Friday as the team agreed to a new two-year deal with the former Eagles QB. The deal is worth approximately $24.5 million, including $14 million in guarantees, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.

It is certainly a risk for St. Louis, as Foles struggled for much of last season. When Philadelphia’s offensive line began to struggle, Foles saw his footwork and accuracy take a dip. It’s no sure bet those things will get better with the Rams, who have O-line concerns of their own.

GM Les Snead decided not to wait for more data before making a decision, though, as he expects Foles to play well and drive up his asking price.

“He’s everything that you want in a quarterback — everything that you’ve always wanted,” said TE Jared Cook of Foles. “It just feels like he belongs here, and it feels like he’s been here for a while, which is a good piece. It’s what we need.”

Foles’ path to success will be much smoother if the Rams can execute a balanced offense. That is why the team is being so careful with No. 10 overall pick Todd Gurley, with head coach Jeff Fisher stating this week that he is unlikely to play the Georgia product at all during the preseason.

“We are going to take our time. I don’t have to see him in a preseason game to play him in a regular season game,” Fisher told Andrew Siciliano on NFL Network’s Inside Training Camp. “It’s unlikely that you’ll see him in a preseason game, because he’s got some work to do. There is a significant difference between eight months and 10 months and he’s about eight and a half months right now. So he’s a few weeks away.”

Even when Gurley is healthy, the team plans for him to split carries with incumbent Tre Mason. A third-round pick last year, Mason averaged 4.3 yards per carry as a rookie and came on strong over the second half of the season.

Mason’s presence gives the Rams the flexibility to bring Gurley along patiently.

“Our intention is to have a rotation,” Fisher said. “Even if Todd is 100 percent, I still want to have the rotation with Tre, because Tre is special. I think that one-two combination is going to be great.”

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