Smith’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, told Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com earlier this week that the 49ers didn’t say, ‘”If you don’t do this, you’re cut.'” The 49ers apparently didn’t need to verbalize their intentions.
Per a league source, the 49ers would have released Smith in lieu of allowing his fifth-year base salary to become fully guaranteed. According to the source, Smith wasn’t going to get on the open market a contract similar to the revised deal he signed.
It’s not even a true $9.754 million base deal. Of that amount, $2 million is tied to incentives, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com. To get the full $9.754 million, Smith must participate in at least half the defensive snaps this year or notch at least eight sacks.