FanShot

Birdseed...Rumor Mill

10

Per Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, the potential fallout from GM Scot McCloughan departure in San Francisco is that QB Alex Smith's job security might be further threatened. McCloughan was a vocal supporter of Smith. At one point, the 49ers were seen as front-runners to land Donovan McNabb in a trade. Instead, the team signed David Carr and traded Shaun Hill. Still, ESPN Insider believes a trade for McNabb is not out of the question. "If Kawakami's insights are true -- that team president Jed York was instrumental in going after Kurt Warner, and 'pushed' for the team to call on Jay Cutler and Brady Quinn in the past -- and if McCloughan is no longer in the way, what's stopping York from again pushing to acquire a player that is, by all accounts (and for the right price), available? If this team is suddenly the favorite to win the NFC West, wouldn't it make sense to acquire a proven veteran QB that -- failures at the highest level aside -- has been to the playoffs on a near-yearly basis? Doesn't seem like much of a stretch, we'll see whether this heats up."