Aldon Smith - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Notes: Wilkerson, Aldon, Turbin

September 12th, 2015 at 5:52pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Jets and standout defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson are far apart on contract talks as Sunday’s opener draws ever closer, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports. It’s unlikely the two will continue negotiating when the season begins, according to La Canfora, which means the 25-year-old could be on the eve of beginning his final season with the Jets. La Canfora writes that the Jets haven’t been willing to give Wilkerson similar guaranteed money to what Cameron Jordan ($23.96MM) and Cameron Heyward ($15MM) received from New Orleans and Pittsburgh, respectively. Further, given the massive extension AFC East rival Buffalo signed Marcell Dareus to earlier this week, the Jets’ offers to Wilkerson look even less appealing to the defender. The team’s latest offer to Wilkerson is far lower than what Dareus received from the Bills, per La Canfora, even though Wilkerson – like Dareus – has established himself as one of the NFL’s best D-linemen.

While Wilkerson is displeased with the Jets’ negotiating tactics, his agent, Chad Wiesteling, says it won’t affect his on-field performance.

“Mo loves being a Jet, and nothing less than a Super Bowl for New York will satisfy him this season. He will play his heart out for this team regardless of his contract situation.”

Aldon Smith’s Week 1 Role Coming Into Focus

September 12th, 2015 at 5:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders are sticking to their word of intending to play Aldon Smith two days after signing him to a one-year deal.

The mercurial pass-rusher will play in Raiders sub-packages, doing so mostly on third downs, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports.

Oakland is anxious to use Smith, who was released by the 49ers after his latest arrest, alongside emerging star Khalil Mack, La Canfora notes. The CBS-based scribe reports Smith’s snap count will depend on his physical readiness, with his array of speed-centric moves not requiring much scheming, hence the Raiders’ insistence on putting the former All-Pro into action immediately.

This could mean Smith at one edge spot and Mack at another in passing-down packages, with Justin Tuck sliding to the inside, as he did with the Giants. But this Mack-Smith pass-rushing union could also be shortlived and will almost certainly be interrupted this season.

Smith’s suspected suspension, which La Canfora categorizes as one that could be lengthy, is not expected to affect his playing status in Week 1. But a suspension appears likely to deter his path at some point this fall.

NFC West Notes: Chancellor, Rams, 49ers

September 11th, 2015 at 4:43pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

A look at the latest regarding the NFC West:

There’s nothing new to report regarding star safety Kam Chancellor‘s holdout, according to Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll (Twitter link via The Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta). “We all want Kam here,” said Carroll. Chancellor is poised to miss Seattle’s opener against St. Louis on Sunday.
Prior to signing with Oakland on Friday, outside linebacker Aldon Smith drew interest from a handful of teams. The Rams weren’t among his serious suitors, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link). While the Rams discussed Smith internally, Thomas added that they never contacted the 25-year-old (via Twitter).
Speaking of Smith, his ex-teammates and coaches in San Francisco don’t harbor any ill will toward him after his tenure with the 49ers ended because of off-field issues. “I’m really happy for him. He’s a guy that I had great experience with,” said defensive coordinator Eric Mangini, according to Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News. Added linebacker Eli Harold, who is tasked with trying to replace Smith, “Everyone deserves a second chance. I’m happy for him.”
The 49ers’ Ahmad Brooks, another linebacker beset by off-field problems, will be a full go for the team’s opener against Minnesota on Monday. “I don’t expect any restrictions on Ahmad at all,” Mangini said, per Eric Branch of SFGate.com. Mangini also showered praise on Brooks, saying, “Ahmad has been a guy — throughout the spring and throughout camp — I’ve really been impressed with his work ethic, his toughness, his consistency, his approach in the classroom.”

Raiders’ Aldon Smith Likely To Play Week 1

September 11th, 2015 at 3:46pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Raiders plan to play newly signed outside linebacker Aldon Smith in Sunday’s season opener against Cincinnati, according to Ed Werder of ESPN (Twitter link). The 25-year-old practiced with the Raiders and impressed their coaching staff, per Werder.

Prior to Werder’s report, there was question as to whether Smith would play this week – not only because he’s new to the Raiders’ roster, but because of a looming suspension regarding his most recent off-field troubles. Earlier Friday, the Santa Clara County DA filed three misdemeanor charges against Smith – DUI with prior conviction, hit and run with property damage, and vandalism – stemming from an August incident. An arraignment date for the ex-49er is set for Oct. 6, and the NFL is conducting its own investigation into the incident. Thus, a suspension figures to be coming for Smith, who has already faced multiple penalties for past legal run-ins.

However, barring something unforeseen happening before Sunday, it appears the Raiders’ defense will be bolstered (at least temporarily) by one of the league’s premier pass rushers. Smith has been a dominant force throughout his career, tallying 44 sacks in 50 regular-season games, and should aid an Oakland team that took down opposing quarterbacks just 22 times last season – the second fewest in the league.

Misdemeanor Charges Filed Against Aldon Smith

September 11th, 2015 at 1:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Aldon Smith has a new NFL team, signing a one-year contract to join the Raiders today, and while he’s eligible to play on Sunday for now, the latest developments in his legal situation signal that NFL discipline will be coming sooner or later.

According to Matt Keller of ABC7 News (Twitter links), the Santa Clara County DA has filed three misdemeanor charges against Smith, stemming from an August incident — DUI with prior conviction, hit and run with property damage, and vandalism. Keller adds that an arraignment date of October 6 has been set for Smith.

The NFL is conducting its own investigation into Smith’s latest off-field incident, and a suspension figures to be coming sooner or later for the ex-Niner, who has already faced multiple penalties for his legal run-ins. If the league takes its time with the investigation, Smith may be able to play in the interim — if the investigation wraps up quickly, he may be forced off the field in the near future. There’s also a possibility that the 25-year-old could land on the commissioner’s exempt list while the NFL finishes its investigation, though there’s no indication yet that that will happen.

According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via Twitter), Smith’s one-year pact with the Raiders can be worth up to $8MM for the year, with roster incentives. It sounds like the deal might be similar to the one Greg Hardy signed with the Cowboys, before Dallas knew how long he’d be suspended. When a player’s salary relies heavily on per-game roster bonuses, a team can protect itself against a suspension or injury.

For his part, Smith thought it was wise to stay near his therapists, counselors, and the support network he has built in the Bay Area, according to Cole (via Twitter).

Latest On Aldon Smith

September 9th, 2015 at 9:34pm CST by Zachary Links

At least four NFL teams have interest in signing ex-49ers linebacker Aldon Smith, but everything is in a holding pattern at the moment, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). The NFL has yet to make a decision on a possible punishment for Smith and, as a result, teams are wary of signing him. If Smith were to sign with a club and then receive a year-long suspension, that would be a PR embarrassment for both the team and the league.

Smith, 25, was arrested by Santa Clara police on hit and run, DUI, and vandalism charges, though when he was released from jail in August, the outside linebacker disputed the fact that he had been driving under the influence. The incident was the latest in a series of off-field run-ins for Smith, who has had DUI arrests in the past, and missed nearly half the 49ers’ games over the last two seasons after entering a rehabilitation facility in 2013 and serving a nine-game suspension in 2014.

When he’s healthy and on the field, Smith can be one of the league’s most effective pass rushers, as he exhibited during his first two years in the NFL. As a part-time player in his rookie season, Smith recorded 14 sacks, and he piled up another 19.5 as a starter in 2012, en route to a spot on the All-Pro first team. However, his off-field issues have limited his production since then.

With 44 career sacks, Smith stands as the 49ers’ fifth all-time sack leader, despite only playing four seasons and appearing in only 50 games. His 19.5 sacks in 2012 is tied for 12th all-time in a single season in NFL history, and only three behind Michael Strahan’s record 22.5 in 2001.

Three Teams Interested In Signing Aldon Smith

August 11th, 2015 at 8:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Officials from three different teams say that they have interest in signing ex-49ers linebacker Aldon Smith, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). However, those officials still have concerns about the athlete and acknowledged that there are some serious hurdles to cross before putting pen-to-paper with Smith.

Those teams that spoke with Cole want to see the toxicology report from Smith’s arrest to ascertain whether he was drinking or possibly under the influence of other substances. Ultimately, those details could dictate how much legal trouble he’ll be in and that in turn will influence the level of punishment he receives from the NFL.

Smith, 25, was arrested by Santa Clara police on hit and run, DUI, and vandalism charges, though when he was released from jail last week, the outside linebacker disputed the fact that he had been driving under the influence. The incident is the latest in a series of off-field run-ins for Smith, who has had DUI arrests in the past, and missed nearly half the 49ers’ games over the last two seasons after entering a rehabilitation facility in 2013 and serving a nine-game suspension in 2014.

When he’s healthy and on the field, Smith can be one of the league’s most effective pass rushers, as he exhibited during his first two years in the NFL. As a part-time player in his rookie season, Smith recorded 14 sacks, and he piled up another 19.5 as a starter in 2012, en route to a spot on the All-Pro first team. However, his off-field issues have limited his production since then.

NFC Notes: A. Smith, Rams, Falcons, Panthers

August 9th, 2015 at 3:03pm CST by Rory Parks

Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee has had a look at how Aldon Smith‘s release will impact the 49ers as a whole and a few individual players moving forward. For instance, Barrows writes that the team had been working with $10MM of cap space which, if unused, would roll over to 2016 and would be put toward a player. That player, of course, was Smith. Now, the team will need to decide what to do with its surplus cash. The team could bring in free agent guard Evan Mathis, and players like Vernon Davis, Ian Williams, and Quinton Dial might also be in line to get some of that money.

Barrows also details the emotional and strategic fallout of Smith’s release, and he writes that Corey Lemonier, who looked destined to be cut just a couple of days ago, may be able to hold on to his roster spot.

Now let’s take a look at a few more links from around the league:

Paul Domowitch of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that Rams head coach Jeff Fisher took the St. Louis head coaching job because of Sam Bradford, but he traded Bradford because he could not afford to gamble that Bradford would not suffer a third ACL tear.
Within an article touching on Julio Jones, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports that Falcons president Rich McKay will meet with commissioner Roger Goodell and executive vice president Troy Vincent to discuss McKay’s reinstatement to the NFL’s competition committee. McKay, Atlanta’s GM from 2003-08, was suspended from the committee as a result of the Falcons pumping in crowd noise during home games the past two seasons.
In his latest mailbag at ESPN.com, David Newton writes that despite Michael Oher‘s slow start in camp, the Panthers are in a much better place at left tackle than they were a year ago. Head coach Ron Rivera has spoken in defense of Oher, and Carolina is content with Nate Chandler and Amini Silatolu as Oher’s backups.
While the Panthers‘ front seven has been widely lauded, the clubs’ secondary has remained largely anonymous, even being labeled the “Legion of Whom” by broadcaster Jon Gruden. But as Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer notes, Carolina’s defensive backfield could start to generate some headlines this year, as young corners Bene Benwikere, Tre Boston, and Josh Norman will be joined by veterans Charles Tillman, Kurt Coleman, and Roman Harper.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.

Baalke Counseled Aldon Smith After Release

August 9th, 2015 at 8:38am CST by Rory Parks

It may have come as small consolation for Aldon Smith, but according to Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News, 49ers GM Trent Baalke reportedly spent hours with the troubled linebacker after he was released from the club to offer counsel, comfort, and assistance. As Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes, the decision to release Smith was made not long after his arrest, and prior to any meeting between the player and front office. However, even though the 49ers may have parted ways with Smith the player, they remain invested in Smith the person.

While head coach Jim Tomsula was addressing the media at a press conference to discuss Smith’s release, Baalke was having a conversation with Smith elsewhere (it is unclear whether that conversation took place at the team’s facility or at Smith’s nearby apartment). According to Baalke, there was nothing Smith could have said that would have changed the team’s decision, but Baalke wanted to offer his support moving forward. As Baalke said:

“What we fail to realize a lot of times in this business is the human side of it. There are a lot of emotions, not only with the player, but with everyone in the organization. He was very well-liked. Obviously, we placed a lot of time and energy into helping him and we’ll continue to do that. He’s not going to walk this thing alone. This isn’t about football. Everybody wants to make this about football. It has nothing to do with football right now. It has everything to do with a human being and a quality, quality person. Everyone who’s met him understands that. But he’s made some mistakes.”

Smith, of course, was cut after his arrest several days ago, his fifth brush with the law since the 49ers made him the 7th overall pick in the 2011 draft. Although this latest off-field incident proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, Baalke said that the team plans to give Smith as much help as he is willing to accept, and as much as the team can give under the terms of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.

Baalke added that it is too soon to say whether the 49ers would be interested in bringing Smith back into the fold in the future. At this point, Smith is free to sign with any team, and although it may take a little time for another club to pull the trigger, his age (25) and track record as a pass rusher with elite ability will surely land him another chance to continue his still-promising career.

NFC Rumors: Smith, Kaepernick, Wilson, Floyd

August 8th, 2015 at 6:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

PFR’s Ben Levine assessed some of the Aldon Smith fallout this morning, and now the conversation shifts to which team will take a chance on him.

Whichever franchise takes this PR plunge, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes said team should insist the deal for the former All-Pro pass-rusher is for at least two years, with at least part or all of the fifth-year veteran’s 2015 set to be erased via suspension. That way, Florio notes, the team that acquires Smith’s rights would be able to play him in 2016 and ’17.

While general managers will be careful, with Smith being a repeat offender who shows no signs of slowing down, there will be considerable interest in a refocused Smith’s services, Florio writes.

Among the teams referenced as potential landing spots are the Seahawks, Cowboys, Cardinals, and Giants in the NFC, with the Patriots, Steelers and Colts serving as theoretical destinations in the AFC. Some of these teams would place Smith at defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, but with

With Junior Galette signing so quickly after video of him striking a woman surfaced, a Smith signing soon isn’t out of the question.

Here are some more items from around the league as we continue in the last Saturday before game action commences.

A TMZ report alleging Smith and Colin Kaepernick and another naming the car that Smith is being charged with vandalizing as Kaepernick’s are being debunked by the fourth-year quarterback, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. With TMZ reporting a fight between the two took place Tuesday, Inman reports no fights have taken place in the 49ers‘ five practices. “I don’t drive a Mercedes. Let’s put it that way,” Kaepernick told media in his denial of the report.
Russell Wilson‘s new Seahawks contract does not include a no-baseball clause like Jameis Winston‘s does with the Buccaneers, Florio reports. Johnny Manziel has a similar clause.
Bruce Arians doesn’t know when Michael Floyd will be able to return due to having never witnessed a sequence like the one that ended with the wideout dislocating three of his fingers this week in 40 years in football, according to Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic. “There really is no timetable because it really is such a different type of injury,” Arians told McManaman. Arians said the Cardinals will now break camp with six receivers, since Floyd is not viewed as a short-term IR candidate, after saying there was a chance they would have anyway.