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Jim Harbaugh respects Alex Smith but probably won't hug him Sunday

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith and San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh are cool, just not rear-end-slapping cool.

Harbaugh and Smith are therefore unlikely to embrace when the Chiefs visit the 49ers on Sunday in San Francisco. 

"We definitely have that kind of relationship," Harbaugh told ESPN of his former pivot. "Alex and I have had this conversation before about the going up and slapping each other on the rear end and hugging before the game. Both our point of views was, 'Nah, we wouldn't do that.' That conversation came up and we were both, 'We're not into that.' "

Although there seemed to be some animosity between the two in 2012, when Smith was benched by San Francisco and subsequently traded to make way for emerging star quarterback Colin Kaepernick, Harbaugh has nothing but good things to say about the former first overall pick.

"I've always seen him as a great quarterback, a great football player," Harbaugh said. "He plays all games like he really wants to win the game. It's a joy to coach a guy like that. He always gave you his best. He's a top-notch guy, a man I truly respect."

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