49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman gets 5-year extension

[charlie and algernon]

The 49ers' inside linebacker pair of Bowman and Willis will be lining up together on San Francisco's talented defense well into the future if all goes as planned.

On Tuesday, Bowman reached agreement on a five-year contract extension through the 2018 season - a deal worth $45.25 million, with $25.5 million in guaranteed money.

''Any time you get a chance to get a deal done and it sounds great and everybody's comfortable with it, why not?'' Bowman said. ''It shows the trust the organization has in me.''

With Bowman's new deal, it keeps one of the best and most-feared linebacking tandems in the NFL together for the long haul - as Willis is signed through 2016.

The 24-year-old Bowman, a third-round draft pick in 2010 out of Penn State, has 100 tackles, two sacks and an interception this season as a second-year starter for the NFC West-leading Niners (8-2-1). As a rookie, his 20 special-teams tackles ranked third in the NFL.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/49ers-linebacker-bowman-gets-5-212607036--nfl.html

All of their starting linebackers are now signed through at least 2015. Barring injuries, of course, this is bad news for the rest of the NFC.

[Auggie]

1. Alex Smith is toast ...

If CK keeps playing the way he has, why keep Smith on the payroll next year? Use salary cap money to lock-in other starters, unless Smith accepts a cut to be back-up, which I think is unlikely. Besides, how much humiliation can he endure?

[charlie and algernon]

2. I think he certianly stays through the end of the season

Then see what teams are willing to offer for him. He's probably worth at least a couple good draft picks.