Raiders' Aldon Smith suspended one year for substance abuse violation
Smith was arrested after a DUI this summer and reportedly violated the substance abuse policy yet again.
By
Jared Dubin
•
1 min read
The Oakland Raiders will have to make the rest of their surprising playoff push without one of their best defensive players. Edge rusher Aldon Smith will be suspended for one year due to a violation of the league's substance abuse policy, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora confirms, adding that the one-year suspension begins on Tuesday.
Smith signed with the Raiders in September after being released by the 49ers following his third DUI and fifth arrest in three years. Smith's August arrest, which resulted in his being charged with hit and run, DUI and vandalism, followed arrests for two other DUIs, as well as felony assault weapons charges (later reduced to misdemeanors) and a (later dropped) charge of false report of a bomb threat.
Appearing in every game this season for Oakland, Smith has been on the field for 78.3 percent of snaps, per Pro Football Focus, and has recorded 28 tackles, three passes defensed, four sacks, five hits and 27 hurries (a total of 36 pressures, eighth most among 3-4 outside linebackers). In his absence, the Raiders will likely turn to Ray-Ray Armstrong (in the news himself recently), Mario Edwards Jr., Denico Autry and Benson Mayowa, among others, for more pass rush help.
UPDATE 9:51 p.m. Eastern: Both the Raiders and Smith have released statements in the wake of his suspension. They are printed below.
Raiders statement: Aldon has been a positive addition to the Raiders. He remains prominently in our long term plans and we will continue to support this member of our family as he gets the help that he needs.
Aldon Smith statement: First, I want to thank the Raiders, my teammates, the fans, our coaches and our owner for supporting me throughout all this.
I am taking this time to work on myself and become the man I need to be, my team and organization needs me to be, and I know I can be.
I had lost my love for the game and it led me to some poor choices, but I am thankful to the Raider organization for believing in me this season and will continue to better myself and grow from my experiences. I look forward to rejoining the team next year.
