SAN FRANCISCO -- Quarterback Alex Smith "maxed out" the incentive package on his one-year contract with an additional 2.5 million, a league source told CSNBayArea.com.Smith returned to the 49ers this season on a one-year deal worth 4 million. Included in the contract were incentives that rewarded him for play time and team performance. With the additional 2.5 million, which will count toward the 49ers' 2012 salary cap, Smith earned a total of 6.5 million.Coach Jim Harbaugh has stated publicly he wants Smith to re-sign with the 49ers. And there is little doubt Smith wants to remain with Harbaugh and the organization that selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.RATTO: A day of redemption for Alex Smith
"Such a great group of guys, coaches and players," Smith said Saturday. "I think we love coming to work every day. I know I do. And we'll get one more week at least. I'm loving it right now."And after his scintillating fourth-quarter performance Saturday in leading the 49ers to an improbable 36-32 victory over the New Orleans Saints, Smith's return will be an easy sell to the fan base."I felt Alex played extremely bold. Might be time to give Alex a little credit, huh?" Harbaugh said. "Spectacular performance by him. We just put things in his hands and our offense's hands."Smith completed 24 of 42 pass attempts for 299 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He ran 28 yards for a touchdown that gave the 49ers a short-lived 29-24 lead with 2:11 remaining.After the Saints scored less than a minute later, Smith led the 49ers on a seven-play, 85-yard game-winning drive that was capped with a perfectly thrown 14-yard post pattern to tight end Vernon Davis, who held on as Saints safety Roman Harper hit him from behind.League sources have told CSNBayArea.com that they expected Smith to sign a two- or three-year contract in the annual range of 8 million to 11 million. Now, those figures could be moving up.
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