NFL Suspends Oakland Raiders' Aldon Smith For One Year

The NFL dropped the hammer after Smith's fifth arrest in three years.
Thearon W. Henderson via Getty Images

Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith has been suspended by the NFL for one year, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Aug. 28 incident Schefter's referring to is a hit-and-run DUI, which occurred after Smith reportedly got into an argument with a neighbor. Smith, was arrested by Santa Clara, California police and charged with a hit-and-run, DUI and vandalism.

Hours after getting out on bail, the San Francisco 49ers released Smith, a former All-Pro player and 2012 team MVP. The Raiders signed him to a one-year, $8 million contract less than two weeks later.

Smith's August arrest was his fifth in three years and his third DUI-related arrest. After his second DUI arrest in September 2013, Smith voluntarily entered an alcohol rehab facility and left treatment the following month. He's vouched for his sobriety since then, but has still repeatedly found himself at odds with the law and the league.

Smith was suspended for nine games by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in August 2014 in response to an April 2014 incident at Los Angeles International Airport, where he reportedly made bomb threats and was arrested, but never charged for falsely reporting a bomb.

At 26 years old, Smith faces a career crossroads as an impending free agent, but his talent may lead him onto another NFL roster in time.

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