Happy Friday Niners fans, even though it is far from happy, as the San Francisco 49ers have parted ways with linebacker Aldon Smith, following his fifth arrest since 2012. Many of us woke up to the news that Smith was arrested on suspicion of a Hit-and-Run, DUI, and vandalism. This makes me sad on so many levels.
Smith has missed multiple games over the last two seasons due to alcohol and drug-related incidents, but when he returned to the 49ers in 2014 after a nine-game suspension, I really thought he had turned a corner. Smith seemed committed to staying on the straight and narrow for his young son, for himself and for his team. Was I a fool? Maybe. But I’m also human and really want this unbelievably talented kid to live out his potential both on and off the field. Smith was betting on himself too, going so far as to restructure his contact this offseason to prove to San Francisco that he was worth keeping around.
“…I need to speak. I want everybody to understand this wasn’t a DUI. The situation that happened could have been handled differently. And I apologize to everybody I did let down and I apologize for how it all played out. As far as everything is concerned, it will work out how it’s supposed to work out.”
Whether or not the DUI charge turns out to be true, Smith clearly made some bad decisions last night, and it continues a history of doing so. In the last three years, he has been arrested for the following: 3 DUIs, 3 counts of illegal weapons posessions, 1 possession of marijuana, vandalism, a hit-and-run, and a bomb threat (though charges were never filed for this last one).
Per Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News, Smith met with General Manager Trent Baalke, who has been one of Smith’s biggest advocates, and Head Coach Jim Tomsula this morning. They let him know then of his release. In their official statement, the 49ers said,
“This organization has tried very hard to help Aldon fight his issues. Although he is no longer a member of this team, our support and concern for him will continue.”
And they have. No one can dispute that.
In his press conference today, also per Inman, Tomsula said,
“It’s a sad day. This is a day that doesn’t have anything to do about football. Although he won’t be playing football for the San Francisco 49ers, he will be supported and helped. He will not have to walk this path alone.”
I really hope that Aldon Smith figures this out and gets his life together before he hurts himself or someone else. Sometimes, there are things that are more important than football. Best of luck, Aldon.