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Sports

49ers begin game planning for former quarterback Alex Smith, Chiefs with appreciation for him

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith throws during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (The Associated Press)

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    Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith celebrates after a 2-yard touchdown run by Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) (The Associated Press)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Alex Smith arrived in San Francisco with the pressure of being the No. 1 overall draft pick. He got called a draft bust, then turned the tide to win back those same fans who had booed him out of Candlestick Park.

Smith got hurt, bounced back, started and was benched, then regained his job and lost it once more. All the while as he adjusted to a new offensive coordinator and system nearly every year.

Smith will be the first to say his up-and-down tenure with the 49ers hardly went how he hoped when he left Utah as the NFL's top choice in 2005. When he takes the field at Levi's Stadium in the other uniform Sunday with Kansas City, there will be mixed emotions for everybody involved.

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL