On Saturday, Alex Cruz is going to do what many felt was unthinkable this season: begin a playoff game for that 49ers. So when Bay Area welcomes New Orleans towards the west coast, and Cruz takes his first snap, he'll be also $a million more potent.

Like, based on a study from Adam Schefter of ESPN, Cruz playing inside a playoff game triggers an added bonus in the contract -- a 1-year deal signed just before this year -- that pays him an additional million.

To be able to activate this bonus, Cruz also needed to play in additional than 70 % from the 49ers button snaps, but he cruised past that simply this year.

Smith's 2011 season under new coach Jim Harbaugh is a thought: he completed 61.3 % of his passes, put for 3,144 yards (both career levels) and brought the National football league having a league-low 1.1 % interception rate. His 7.1 yards per attempt is really a career high, out of the box his 90.7 quarterback rating.

His insufficient mistakes and efficiency within the Niners new offense is exactly what place them outrageous like a contender this year there's little question the extra million dollars the 49ers will spend out for really dealing with the 2010 nfl playoffs makes it worth while.