AP Source: Raiders Linebacker Aldon Smith Suspended By NFL For A Year
ALAMEDA, Calif. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith was suspended Tuesday by the NFL for one calendar year because of violations of the league's substance-abuse policy, a person with direct knowledge of the decision said.
The penalty is effective immediately, said the person, who was speaking on condition of anonymity because the decision hadn't been formally announced.
Smith, 26, was released by the San Francisco 49ers in August after a list of run-ins with the law before landing across the bay with the Raiders. Smith went through the locker room and told teammates goodbye Tuesday. The Raiders had no official word on Smith's status, and agent Doug Hendrickson didn't immediately respond to phone or text messages.
It's unclear for which infraction Smith is being suspended. The Niners released him Aug. 7 following his fifth run-in with the law a night earlier on an off day from training camp. The franchise parted ways with one of football's most menacing pass-rushers after Santa Clara police accused him of drunken driving, hit and run and vandalism.
Smith was in a contract year. The former Pro Bowler started seven games and played in nine for the Raiders, finishing his second straight suspension-shortened season with 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
He missed the first nine games of the 2014 season while serving an NFL suspension for violations of the league's substance-abuse and personal-conduct policies.
Police said in the August incident that Smith collided with a parked vehicle while parking his car, then caused further damage to the parked vehicle with his car door. The scene was only a couple of miles from 49ers team headquarters, at or on the street of Smith's former luxury apartment complex.
Authorities said Smith left without reporting the collision or providing any identifying information. He later returned and was contacted by officers. Smith displayed "objective symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage" and officers conducted a field sobriety test, police said.
Smith was drafted seventh overall in the first round by San Francisco in 2011 out of Missouri. He emerged as one of the NFL's top defenders in 2012 with a franchise-record 19 1/2 sacks during the team's run to the Super Bowl. Smith finished with 8 1/2 sacks and 34 tackles in 11 games in 2013.
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