ex-49er/Raider Aldon Smith enters rehab after alleged domestic violence incident

[Auggie]

Monday, March 5

Suspended Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith has checked into rehab after an alleged domestic violence incident Saturday night in San Francisco, his fiancée told TMZ.com.

San Francisco police have sought Smith in connection with the incident, but Smith's fiancée -- who told TMZ she was the victim -- said her parents took him to rehab at his request.

San Francisco police, who identified Smith as a suspect Sunday in a statement, told ESPN on Monday that they still want to speak to him about the incident. Police said the accuser suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22654194/aldon-smith-oakland-raiders-enters-rehab-facility-alleged-domestic-violence-incident-fiancee-says

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

Smith, a first-round draft pick by the 49ers in 2011, has not played in the NFL since 2015. The 49ers released him in August 2015 after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI, hit and run, and vandalism. It was Smith’s fourth arrest — and third DUI arrest — in four years.

https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Raiders-Aldon-Smith-sought-by-SF-police-in-12727190.php

He showed flashes of greatness ... but now his career is toast.

You wonder, this behavior ... is it CTE? Other mental impairment? Genetic? Something else? Such a tragedy.

[JayhawkSD]

1. Okay, it's the old "my addiction made me do it" defense.

Drag his butt out of the rehab facility and throw it into a dark, cold, wet prison cell and throw the key away.

[Brother Buzz]

2. Aldon Smith turns self in to police, released on $30K bond

Aldon Smith turns self in to police, released on $30K bond

Mar 6, 2018
ESPN

Former Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith turned himself in to San Francisco police on Tuesday and was booked at 3:25 p.m. ET on domestic violence-related charges.

He was later released from custody after posting $30,000 bond on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, false imprisonment and vandalism (less than $400 in damages).


Nearly seven years after being drafted No. 7 overall and more run-ins with the law later, the pass-rusher's NFL career appears over. Here's a snapshot.

A spokesman for the San Francisco County District Attorney's Office said Smith will be arraigned Monday.

San Francisco police obtained an arrest warrant for Smith on Monday, stemming from allegations that he assaulted a woman on Saturday night. Smith left before police arrived to respond to the 911 call.

Smith's fiancée told TMZ.com on Monday that the former NFL All-Pro had checked into a rehab facility. She told TMZ that she was the victim and that her parents took Smith to rehab at his request.

<more>

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22669094/aldon-smith-turns-self-jailed-30k-bond

[Auggie]

3. Jack Del Rio: NFL rules kept us from giving Aldon Smith the structure he needs

Former Raiders coach Jack Del Rio, who coached Smith for nine games before Smith was suspended in 2015, says that the league’s rules kept the Raiders from giving Smith the kind of structure that Smith would have benefited from having.

“Never liked ‘league rules’ that eliminate the ability of teams to offer Aldon and others in his situation the structure they so desperately need,” Del Rio wrote on Twitter, in response to PFT’s tweet about Smith being released.

Del Rio did not elaborate on what kinds of help he felt the Raiders could have given Smith, but the NFL bars suspended players not just from the field in games but also from practices and team meetings. Perhaps Smith could have benefited from being around the Raiders just to have something productive to do with his time, even if he remained suspended and ineligible to play in games.

https://sports.yahoo.com/jack-del-rio-nfl-rules-211456951.html

Excellent point by Del Rio. There's nothing like peer pressure to help tame, modify or change behavior. Team structure might have helped.

I recall Bill Walsh's 49ers employed a sociologist named Dr. Harry Edwards. He was with the team seemingly forever -- helped them cope with each other and their successes. Are any NFL teams currently employing such a consultant? Seems like such a service is needed now more than ever.