by By Cam Inman Staff columnist , Contra Costa Times

Let's start with the Raiders and Monday's signing of the journeyman Frye, who should prevail as their third-string quarterback behind JaMarcus Russell and Jeff Garcia. Frye is an upgrade over Bruce Gradkowski, who's looked bad this spring, and Andrew Walter, who hasn't bothered to partake in offseason workouts.

Frye isn't really a journeyman just yet, but his career certainly has fallen off the tracks since he was starting for a seemingly upstart Cleveland Browns franchise in 2006. After completing 64 percent of his passes that season (10 touchdown passes, 17 interceptions) for what turned into an ugly 4-12 season, he started the 2007 season as their quarterback, got traded to the Seattle Seahawks and barely played as their third-string quarterback the past two years

If memory serves, Frye is a somewhat cocky guy who may not have the best form, but he's mobile and he has a sixth sense that helps him make plays. Being around Garcia -- similar traits -- could help get his career back on track. Frye has 16 career touchdown passes to 25 interceptions.

How does Frye get on the field? Well, Russell will start no matter what. Yes, no matter what. Until he gets hurt. Then Garcia comes in, and if he does, don't look for him to

As for the 49ers' News O' The Day, general manager Scot McCloughan told Sirius NFL Radio regarding Vick: "We're not going to go that route. We will not do it." He said he and coach Mike Singletary discussed Vick recently before backing away from the former Atlanta Falcons star-turned-convict.

McCloughan also told reporters Monday that Smith is looking as good this spring as he has any other time since he (or was it Mike Nolan) drafted him in 2005.

From the first day Smith practiced this offseason, his passes indeed have looked surprisingly stellar, both in terms of velocity and accuracy. More important, his throwing shoulder hasn't been a problem. So far. Three months to go until the season starts -- likely with Shaun Hill still as the starter unless Smith really wins over the coaching staff and especially his teammates.

Smith told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat's Matt Maiocco: "Just for me, thinking back to where I was last year, going through surgery and rehab, and not being where I knew I should be, was frustrating. It was frustrating to see in the film room that it's your shoulder that's not allowing you to do something.

"And now to get back to where I feel like I can do everything on the field right now, I can really focus on getting into the offense and being a better quarterback and not have it sit in the back of my head that my shoulder is not feeling very good."

One more note before we end this quarterback huddle: Thank goodness neither the Raiders nor 49ers are tempted with Brett Favre. Oh, the 49ers most certainly should have made a run at him last season, when they had an offensive coordintor (Mike Martz) who liked to wing it. The Raiders are too invested in Russell to toy with Favre, at least not until next year. Just kidding. Maybe not.

LINKS:

Bay Area News Group 49ers writer Dan Brown's blog, with the Vick insight: blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/

Santa Rosa Press Democrat 49ers writer Matt Maiocco's blog, with Smith insight: blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers/2009/06/singletary -continues-to-lay-down-the-law.html

Look for Cam Inman's Web-only "Candid Cam" takes whenever there's a breaking sports story, or whenever Cam's got something to say _ in short, just about every day. You can reach Cam at twitter.com/CamInman.

Copyright 2009 Contra Costa Newspapers All Rights Reserved
	Terms & Conditions     Privacy Copyright © 2009 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.