Arrowhead

Alex Smith didn't win championships in San Francisco, but his career path is following the great Joe Montana in another respect: he is being traded to Kansas City. Montana played for the Chiefs after the emergence of Steve Young, and Smith will have to do the same thing after the emergence of Colin Kaepernick. He will join the regime of new coach Andy Reid, who can tout bringing two #1 picks to the Chiefs in the same season. That top pick will likely be an offensive tackle whose job will be to make certain Alex doesn't sustain another concussion. Kansas City is trading the pick at the top of the second round and another later pick in exchange for Smith. The deal will be official as of March 12th, when the 2013 season opens for business.

The move will take Alex from the NFC West to the AFC West, where he will compete against the likes of Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, and whoever the Raiders run out onto the field. Could we see Eric Weddle intercepting Alex Smith this season? Could free agent Sean Smith join Alex in Kansas City, as has been rumored on twitter? The AFC West got a lot more interesting this off-season with the hiring of Mike McCoy in San Diego and the trade of Alex Smith to Kansas City! 

Star's Heart

Star Lotulelei was excused from the NFL Combine for further testing on his heart. Initial tests showed his heart is pumping below average, so he returned to the Salt Lake area to meet with a specialist. Lotulelei has been projected as a top 5 or top 10 pick in this year's NFL Draft; missing the combine won't affect his draft status, but health concerns might. Better to have it detected and treated while slipping in the draft than to become another Len Bias, however. We are hopeful that his career follows the path of Utah State's Bobby Wagner, who missed last year's Combine due to being hospitalized with pneumonia. He was drafted by a contender, started the whole season, and nearly won Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Joe Kruger was the only Ute to participate in the Combine this year. While he did not stand out in any of the drills, he rated a grade of 73.0 and is expected to be drafted in the first 100 picks.

Super Kruger

Paul Kruger has had some big games in the Super Dome: first the Sugar Bowl victory in 2009 that launched his pro career, and now a Super Bowl victory that will assure him a big contract in free agency. Kruger had 3 tackles (one for a loss) and 2 sacks on the NFL's biggest stage. Both of his sacks came in the red zone and helped limit the 49ers to field goals. He won't get a deal as large as QB Joe Flacco's, but he earned a big pay increase after leading Baltimore in sacks. He had 9 in the regular season and half that amount in the playoffs.

Kruger's two sacks of Kaepernick were not enough to bring Alex Smith into the game, unfortunately. In 2005, Alex and the Utes rolled over Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl as Flacco watched from the sideline. In 2013 the positions were reversed, with Alex relegated to San Francisco's sideline. He will likely be traded this off-season after what had been the best year of his career.

Ma'ake Kemoeatu was out of the league for a year but came back at the right time and with the right team. He had one tackle in the Super Bowl, becoming the second Kemoeatu brother to get a ring. Maybe next year Chris will return to the NFL as well.

David Reed caught a touchdown pass in the Sugar Bowl but wasn't as involved in the Super Bowl. He played on special teams, as he has since he was activated in November. He won't get his kick returning duties back after the performance Jacoby Jones has had in that role and may be looking for another team that could use his services.

Congratulations to Paul Kruger, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, and David Reed on being Super Bowl champs!