As you might have heard, one of the popular rumors around the NFL on Friday evening was the rumor that former San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Justin Smith wanted to return to the NFL a year into his retirement. That rumor, from Pro Football Talk, also suggested that Smith would not want to play for the 49ers if he did return.
There are a couple things worth noting when it comes to that point. The first, and most obvious, is that the 49ers would retain Smith's rights and thus he would have no choice unless the team allowed him to vacate that deal or worked out a trade.