Kansas City puts smile on Alex Smith's face Ex-49ers QB happier as starter for Chiefs but does have regrets

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Kansas City, Mo. --

When asked if he believes in karma, Alex Smith smiled. That's something he does a lot these days.

"No," Smith said. "But I do believe in hard work and doing things the right way. Over time, if it's karma or whatever you want to call it, I think doing things the right way, working hard and focusing on the details makes good things happen."

Good things are happening to Smith. After an emotionally wrenching season, when he was jettisoned by the only NFL team he'd ever known, he is now the quarterback of the 5-0 Chiefs. The Chiefs appreciate and have complete faith in him. That's something he never really had in eight tumultuous years with the 49ers.

Friday, in a post-practice interview at the Chiefs' training complex, Smith was relaxed. After being instrumental in the turnaround of the hapless 49ers, Smith has another reclamation project.

"I know what it's like to get that wheel turning slowly and then getting some momentum," he said. "I feel like this is almost an identical situation to 2011. We really underachieved the year before and then, with a coaching change, things started to happen."

The Chiefs, 2-14 last season and tied for the league's worst record, are this year's surprise team. There are similarities to the 49ers, who were pathetic under head coach Mike Singletary in 2010 and flourished with virtually the same set of players the next year under Jim Harbaugh.

But there are differences. Though the Chiefs had six Pro Bowl players last season, the roster has been overhauled with 30 newcomers, Smith leading the way. He came in with Andy Reid, a well-respected coach but one who has endured his own share of humbling experiences.

"I realize how special it is when the chemistry is right in an organization and how many things go into that," Smith said. "It's easy to say but hard to get done. As I've gotten older, I've gotten better at identifying that, and I appreciate how hard it is to get."

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith calls a play against the Tennessee Titans in the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith calls a play against the Tennessee Titans in the first quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) Photo: Mark Zaleski, Associated Press Photo: Mark Zaleski, Associated Press Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Kansas City puts smile on Alex Smith's face 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

Bitterness held at bay

His personal knowledge of how fleeting success can be helps keep any animosity or bitterness about his 49ers experience at bay.

"I have none. Honestly," Smith said. "There's no question I thought I should have played last year. But I'm so happy that I'm here.

"They (Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke) gave me an opportunity that changed the trajectory of my career. And I'm thankful for that."

Clear-eyed about his past, Smith sees the benefit of the many tribulations he endured. Those seven different offensive systems and seven different coordinators? It helped him quickly absorb Reid's offensive system and communicate it to his teammates.

"His knowledge base is so large," said backup Chase Daniel. "He's seen literally every type of offense you can run. He's excited to really get down to the grit of our offense."

Reid won't compare Smith to the quarterbacks he coached in Philadelphia, but he is thrilled to have him.

"I love what he's doing," Reid said. "He makes people around him better, and that's very important in his job. He's in charge of the offense."

Smith, who toiled under two defensive-minded head coaches, sees similarities in Reid and Harbaugh, from the place they stand on the field - directly behind him - to their presence in the quarterbacks' meeting room. They both read defenses with him and give him instant feedback.

Growth evident

At 29, Smith is one of the Chiefs' elder statesmen. With age comes perspective on what his 21-year old self went through in 2005, coming from a spread offense at Utah to the NFL.

"I think back to my rookie year, and I had no shot," Smith said. "It was just a disaster. It was so foreign to me. I was so young and I hadn't been under center for so long. I didn't even play with a tight end in college, and all of a sudden I've got two tight ends and a fullback and I'm staring at 10 guys in the box.

"It was so difficult for me to understand and absorb, and then I was playing just four weeks in. I look back on it and think, 'Oh my God, it was so bad.' "

He was too young to stand up for himself. One of the lowest points was when he tried to play through a separated shoulder in 2007. It was a grossly unfair situation: Smith was pushed by then-head coach Mike Nolan and was blamed when things went wrong.

"Looking back on that now, I would never have gone back in," he said. "I felt like I had to. Part of the deal is you try to play through injuries, but there's a fine line where you're not helping the team. I was trying to be the tough guy back then. Now, I would handle it very differently.

"I know if you're hurting the team, what's the point? It was the same thing when I got dinged in the St. Louis game (last season). Even though I threw a touchdown, I knew I would be a disaster staying in. My vision wasn't right."

Perspective on reform

And that was, in effect, the end of his 49ers career. Smith hasn't seen "League of Denial," the documentary, based on the book by former Chronicle staffer Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru, but he thinks the NFL needs to solve the injury protocol on the 53-man roster, which creates pressure on players and coaches and doesn't allow for a prolonged healing process.

Healed and healthy, watching the Super Bowl run from the sidelines was the final struggle after eight years of 49ers drama.

"It was very bittersweet," Smith said. "It's a team sport and we were in the Super Bowl. But part of you says, 'It could've been me. Should've been me.' "

Smith gracefully endured the waves of media questions during the Super Bowl. But it was "not fun at all," handling the same question over and over from reporters all looking for him to crack.

His last moments in a 49ers uniform were spent standing on the Superdome sideline watching the final futile plays.

"I certainly think if we had to do it all over again we'd call some different plays," Smith said. "We were getting pressure the entire time and we didn't call pressure beaters."

Unhappy ending

Smith said the offensive line and running backs are still frustrated they weren't given the chance to win the game. And he's still perplexed by the play-calling.

"On the last play I was on the sideline screaming for a timeout because we had called a play that had no pressure answer," Smith said. "Colin (Kaepernick) did the best he could with the signal and the throw. I'm sure if the coaches had it to do over again they'd call something with a better pressure answer."

Throughout the playoffs, Smith focused on the day after the season ended, when his new life would start.

"I had no idea what it was going to look like," he said. "But when this opportunity presented itself it was a no-brainer. Yes, that's where I want to be."

Baalke kept him updated on opportunities. Harbaugh talked about keeping Smith as a backup - a move that would have prevented the current unsettled back-up situation but would have been painfully awkward.

"I didn't want that at all, and I was very up-front about that," Smith said.

Smith and his wife, Elizabeth, and their two young sons - Hudson, 2, and Hayes, 6 months - are settled now. Both California kids, they kept their Bay Area home but have enjoyed discovering a new area. Smith has been embraced by his new city.

"I'm happy with where I'm at in my career," Smith said. "I'm happy with where I'm at in my life."

Then he smiled. Again.