"He was really close with my family," Alex Smith said. "So it's been difficult for everybody."

Smith then played Saturday night against the Green Bay Packers. He completed 5 of 12 passes for 62 yards.

"I'm pleased with Alex, especially with all the distractions he's faced as of late," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said.

--Niners offensive coordinator Mike Martz called the plays Saturday night against the Packers from the sideline after a couple weeks earlier saying he felt more comfortable in the booth. Martz was upstairs for the 49ers' exhibition opener against the Oakland Raiders.

"There are so many things I have to talk to the players about, it just works out better if I'm down on the sideline," said Martz, who is installing his offense with the 49ers this summer.

--Newly signed linebacker Takeo Spikes is not content to just play second fiddle to Patrick Willis, who led the league in tackles as a rookie.

"If there is a play out there to make, I am going to go out there and make it," Spikes said. "I tell them (his teammates) to meet me at the ball. I tell all the guys, 'Meet me at the ball, all the time.'"

--Jeff Ulbrich has the most to lose with the signing of Spikes. Ulbrich had been penciled in as the starter, but now that Spikes is on the team, that role might be changing.

"(Spikes) is a great football player and a great addition to this team," Ulbrich said. "He'll push me and I'll push him. If my role changes from defense to special teams, I'll embrace that."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "If it comes and goes, it comes and goes" -- 49ers coach Mike Nolan on his original target date of the third exhibition game to name a starting quarterback for the regular-season opener.