49ers

49ers File Lawsuit Against Aldon Smith To Recoup Bonus Money

January 31, 2017

The San Francisco 49ers filed a lawsuit against OLB Aldon Smith to recoup some of the bonus money they paid out to him years ago.

“Smith was suspended for nine games for violating the NFL Policy and Program on Substances of Abuse and the Personal Conduct Policy,” reads the lawsuit, via the San Jose Mercury News. “As a result, pursuant to the terms of his contract and the CBA, Smith was required to forfeit to the Forty Niners $1,186,027.

“To date, Smith has re-paid the Forty Niners $844,396.82, but still owes the Club $341,630.18.”

This was previously mentioned as something the 49ers could pursue, so it shouldn’t come as a big surprise, especially when you consider how things ended for him in San Francisco.

Smith is currently suspended indefinitely and the NFL plans to revisit his case on March 15 of 2017.

The NFL had been dragging their feet in regards to Smith’s case for some reason. However, commissioner Roger Goodell ultimately decided Smith should miss the entire 2016 season before they consider allowing him back into the league.

Smith applied for a return to the NFL back on October 3, which appeared to open a 60-day window for Goodell to render a decision. The NFL later announced that there was no timetable for them to rule on Smith’s reinstatement.

The NFL is still expected to look into whether the Periscope video that appears to show him a hand-rolled cigarette violated the protocols required for a suspended player to be reinstated.

Smith entered a rehab facility soon after the video surfaced and spent 120 days there.

Smith, 27, is a former first-round pick of the 49ers back in 2010. He was cut loose by the 49ers shortly after a DUI incident last year, even though San Francisco picked up his fifth-year option.

Smith later signed a one-year deal with the Raiders that was worth up to $8 million, which was largely incentive-based. Oakland elected to re-sign Smith to a two-year, $11.5 million contract this past April, despite the fact that he was going to miss a large portion of the 2017 season.

In 2015, Smith has recorded 28 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three pass defenses over the course of nine games. Pro Football Focus currently rates Smith as the No. 33 edge defender out of 110 qualifying players.