Latest On Aldon Smith

Here’s the latest on suspended Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith:

• Smith’s suspension mandates that he cannot be around the Raiders’ facility during his suspension, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com tweets. Of course, he also can’t sign anywhere until after it ends on November 17, 2016, at the earliest.
• Smith’s one-year suspension was the result of negotiations between the league and Smith’s representation, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. Smith agreed to accept a one-year ban in exchange for a promise that he won’t receive further discipline on his violation of the substance-abuse policy. As a previous offender, Smith could have been punished separately under the Personal Conduct Policy, which could have lengthened his suspension. Florio writes that Smith’s decision to accept a one-year suspension shows that the league had plenty of evidence showing that Smith had consumed alcohol in violation of his agreed upon treatment plan.
• The Smith suspension shows real progress in the league’s handling of off-field issues, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report opines. Meanwhile, the Raiders felt that the suspension was inevitable. “The NFL really had no choice,” said a Raiders source, who, like other team officials, was appraised by the NFL of the suspension.
• Without Smith, the 49ers defense hasn’t produced a threatening pass rush, Can Inman of the Mercury News notes. In four different games this season, SF has failed to produce a sack. Aaron Lynch leads the way with six sacks for the 49ers, but other than that, the Niners’ front seven hasn’t looked all that fearsome. The 49ers rank 29th in pass defense and their 16 sacks are tied for the eighth fewest in the league.