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SAN FRANCISCO - Overall No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith was promoted to the 49ers' starting quarterback position on Tuesday, ascending to the job after just four games as Tim Rattay's backup.
Smith will make his first start Sunday against Peyton Manning and the Colts at Candlestick Park. The former Utah star played in two of the 49ers' first four games, mopping up in losses to Philadelphia and Arizona.
"I feel that Alex gives us the best chance to win, and I believe he's ready," San Francisco coach Mike Nolan said. "Tim has handled everything very well, but at this time in the process, I believe it's time to get Alex in the game. ... At 1-3, we didn't draft Alex to just sit him on the bench. At 1-3, I believe we need to begin to utilize him."
Rattay completed 57.7 percent of his passes this season for 677 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions. The 49ers' offense has been mostly terrible, with stark deficiencies in time of possession, total yards (1,989-995) and points (132-76). And Rattay has been shaky in the fourth quarter, when San Francisco has been outscored 48-0.
The 49ers had just 168 total yards in Sunday's 31-14 loss to Arizona in Mexico City. Smith went 6-of-10 - his first NFL completions - for 34 yards after Rattay was pulled in the fourth quarter.
Smith was the 49ers' starter in their first two exhibition games, but he struggled to move the offense as he was learning the intricacies of the West Coast offense.
Smith didn't immediately return a call to his cell phone. The 49ers had the day off Tuesday.
CHIEFS: Willie Roaf (hamstring) says he'll be ready after Kansas City's bye week and plans to play against Washington on Oct. 16. DOLPHINS: The Miami Herald reported that Ricky Williams will be fined another four weeks of pay on top of the four weeks he has missed during his suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.Williams was fined originally in the 2004 offseason after his second positive test for marijuana. The running back appealed, but was denied after he tested positive a third time months later, resulting in the suspension.
He then retired in July 2004 before paying, but the original fine will now be collected. Based on his base salary this season of $540,000, divided by 17 (for the weeks in the season), Williams will make about $286,000.
The Storm activated former Florida lineman Clint Mitchell and defensive specialist Jeff Sanchez from its other league exempt list. Mitchell, who played for Amsterdam of NFL Europe the past two seasons, was released by the Kansas City Chiefs last month. Sanchez was let go by the Detroit Lions.
Also, the league's Board of Directors voted to add Kansas City as an expansion team for 2006. The team will be stocked with players formerly under contract to the New Orleans VooDoo (including ex-Storm lineman B.J. Cohen), which suspended play for 2006 because of the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
- FRANK PASTOR, Times staff writer