49ers Sign Jamie Martin, Alex Smith Could Be Done In San Francisco

The 49ers today signed free agent quarterback Jamie Martin, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. The team needed another quarterback after Alex Smith suffered a shoulder injury heading into week one.

The addition of the 38-year old Martin likely means Smith, the No. 1 pick of the 2005 draft, is headed to injured reserve, ending his season, and perhaps his career as a member of the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco general manager Scot McCloughan has already made it clear the only way Smith will be a member of the team in 2009, is if he were a clear-cut, no-doubt-about-it starter heading into the season. And to me, the only way that could happen would be if he somehow reclaimed his starting job before the end of this season, and led the team to many, many victories. Since his season is likely over, there's absolutely no chance that can happen now.

Hindsight is always 20/20, of course, but that No. 1 overall pick is looking pretty bad right about now.
The 49ers supposedly had such an interest in Martin because he's played for offensive coordinator Mike Martz in the past as a member of the St. Louis Rams. With Martin and current starter J.T. O'Sullivan -- who played for Martz in Detroit -- It appears the crazy-like-a-fox offensive coordinator is attempting to assemble a dream team of his former quarterbacks in the bay area, which means a trade for Jon Kitna could happen at any moment.*

It's still a little hard to grasp the fact J.T. O'Sullivan and Jamie Martin are finding work in the NFL, while a guy like Daunte Culpepper decided to retire because he couldn't find a team to give him a shot.

* I completely made that up.

Update: Smith has officially been played on IR.