Photo Credit: Kyle Terada/ USA TODAY Sports
Since the season started, Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith has mostly flown under the radar. However, a one-year suspension under the NFL’s substance abuse policy has been handed down stemming from his August 6th hit-and-run arrest. Smith was arrested in California for a DUI hit and run accident. After crashing into another car, Smith allegedly walked away from the car and only returned after being contacted by police. The San Francisco 49ers released Smith the day after his arrest.
Six weeks later, Smith plead guilty to ten misdemeanors counts including hit-and-run, vandalism, and drunken driving. This was definitely not the first time Smith has been in trouble with the law. This was the linebacker’s fifth arrest since 2012. One of those arrests includes telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb on him when he was trying to board a plane. He was previously suspended nine games during the 2014 season for violating the league’s personal conduct and substance abuse policies.
When Smith can stay out of trouble, he is one of the best pass rushers in the league. He has 47.5 sacks in his career which is only 59 regular season games. He has 3.5 sacks on the season and eight hits on the quarterback, tied with young star Khalil Mack for most on the team.
