NFL Suspends Raiders OLB Aldon Smith An Entire Year

Update:

The NFL, Raiders and Aldon Smith all released a statements regarding the one-year suspension he received from an incident that occurred this summer.

NFL statement:

Aldon Smith of the Oakland Raiders has been notified that he is now suspended without pay for a minimum of one year for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Under the terms of the policy, Smith will be eligible to apply for reinstatement no sooner than 60 days before the one-year anniversary of the suspension.

Raiders statement:

Aldon has been a positive addition to the Raiders.   He remains prominently in our long term plans and we will continue to support this member of our family as he gets the help that he needs.

Aldon Smith statement:

First, I want to thank the Raiders, my teammates, the fans, our coaches and our owner for supporting me throughout all of this.

I am taking this time to work on myself and become the man I need to be, my team and organization needs me to be, and I know I can be.

I had lost my love for the game and it led me to some poor choices, but I am thankful to the Raider organization for believing in me this season and will continue to better myself and grow from my experiences. I look forward to rejoining the team next year.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the NFL is suspending Raiders OLB Aldon Smith for an entire year for role in an incident that took place back August.

• Mike Garafolo reports that Smith’s suspension starts right now and is for a calendar year.
• Garafolo adds that Smith’s suspension is for a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy following his DUI arrest this summer.

Earlier in the day, Don Banks of SI.com reported that the NFL could still suspend players such as Smith and Jets DE Sheldon Richardson this season.

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie said previously he saw Smith as a good fit with the team, and he’s part of their “long-term plans” after this season.

Ian Rapoport reports that the Raiders plan to stick with Smith, even after he serves the one-year suspension. Rapoport adds that the Raiders were expecting this punishment to be handed down by the NFL.

Smith, 26, was cut loose by the 49ers shortly after the DUI incident, even though they picked up his fifth-year option.

He signed to a one-year deal with the Raiders that was worth up to $8 million through incentives. His contract carried a base value of $1 million to go along with $5 million in active roster bonuses and another $2 million in sack-based incentives.

In total, Smith’s suspension will cost him $514,000 in base salary and $1.75 million in missed roster bonuses, according to Mike Garafolo.

In 2015, Smith has gathered 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. 13 overall outside linebacker out of 51 qualifying players.