Jim Harbaugh insists that the 49ers intended to use Alex Smith as their quarterback even while they examined the possibility of signing then-free agent Peyton Manning. Harbaugh addresses what he says is the "erroneous perception that we were flirting with Peyton Manning." The coach called the reports silly and phony, then spoke at length about his and the team's ongoing support for Smith. "I've said it all along, Alex Smith has been our quarterback," Harbaugh said. "There's no scenario other than Alex choosing to sign with another team that we would have considered him not as our quarterback. It's time to set the record straight. "Alex Smith is our quarterback, was our quarterback and (we) had every intention of always bringing him back." San Francisco was among a handful of teams looking at Manning earlier this offseason.