SAN FRANCISCO, CA (The Spread) – After 14 seasons and five Pro Bowl appearances, 49ers defensive end Justin Smith has officially decided to retire.
Profootballtalk.com and NBC’s Alex Flanagan reported that Smith would join former teammates Patrick Willis and Chris Borland in retirement, and now he officially has. Smith earned five Pro Bowl berths and a first-team All-Pro selection across 14 seasons with the Bengals and Niners, respectively.
With major offseason changes including the losses of Smith, Willis, Borland, receiver Michael Crabtree and head coach Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers are now long shots to win the Super Bowl in 2015. According to oddsmakers from online sports book Bovada.lv, San Fran is currently listed with 40/1 odds to win next year’s NFL title.
For comparison sake, the Niners’ NFC West Division rival the Seahawks are 6/1 favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy next year.
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