Alex Smith it is, but no Willis

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Well, so much for my David Carr theory.

Alex Smith will get one last start for the 49ers before he (presumably) hits the door after six seasons, interim coach John Tomsula said Wednesday.

Why?

"Experience," Tomsula said.

(If you want to read about Alex's final dust-up with Singletary, you'll have to keep reading. How's that for a teaser?)

Inside linebacker Patrick Willis, however, is a no go for the first time in his four-year career. He had a second surgery in three weeks on his broken right hand and is ruled out of the season finale.

Tomsula said Willis would not be able to play even if Sunday's game against Arizona was for a playoff bid. The injury is deemed that serious after playing with a club for two weeks.

So, who will fill Willis' Pro Bowl shoes?

Rookie NaVorro Bowman, even though he has spent the entire season learning Takeo Spikes' "Ted" position. The "Mike" position will be new to the former college outside linebacker, but at least there is less coverage duty for the coverage-challenged player.

** For depth's sake, the 49ers signed inside linebacker Alex Joseph from the Carolina practice squad. Tomsula indicated the rookie will play Sunday in a backup role.

** Going back to Alex Smith, he passed on a chance to bury fired head coach Mike Singletary, saying not to mistake their sideline arguments as anything more than two passionate guys hammering it out.

It's worth noting Singletary and Alex Smith did get into one last sideline argument Sunday, and the TV cameras missed it. Smith confirmed to me that he did let Singletary know his opinion of how he handled the quarterbacks that day, but would not elaborate exactly what he was yelling.

Say what you want about Singletary, but it was always interesting on the sideline with that guy.

** Tomsula has proven in one day to be the anti-Singletary when it comes to press conferences.

Asked about the offense, Tomsula said, "I keep my spoon in my soup. I don't taste your soup. " Asked of his future here, he said, "I'm a Jim nobody from nowhere."

And what if the new coach doesn't keep him? "My family's not going to starve. And if my wife has stayed with me for the last 19 years, she's not going anywhere. So I'm good."

** Running back Frank Gore isn't picking the next head coach, but said he wouldn't mind an offensive coach for the first time in his NFL career.

"It would help," Gore said. "Knowing that he would know how to do a good job on the offensive side, know how to keep us up and everything, I would say that it would help."

** And as always, for instant (and not-so-instant) updates every day as the GM search carries on, check me out on twitter at http://twitter.com/bydavidwhite

Posted By: David White (Email, Twitter) | December 29 2010 at 12:21 PM