Reuters/San Francisco
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith has been suspended without pay for the first nine games of the 2014 regular season for violating the National Football League’s policies on substances of abuse and personal conduct.
“Smith will be eligible to return to the 49ers’ active roster on Monday, November 10 following the team’s November 9 game against the New Orleans Saints,” an NFL spokesman said in a statement on Friday.
Smith, 24, a Pro Bowl selection in 2012, missed five games during the 2013 season after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and then voluntarily checking himself into a rehabilitation facility.
“Our organisation has known this decision would come and we have prepared for it as a team,” 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement on Friday.
“Aldon has taken responsibility for his actions and has continued to show growth personally and professionally. We will continue to support him, but it is time to put this matter behind us and focus on the season ahead.”
The seventh overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, Smith in 2012 became the fastest player in the NFL to record 30 sacks, achieving the feat in just 27 games.
“He’s had a heck-of-a training camp,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “He’s really taken his game to the highest level.”
San Francisco will also begin the season without All-Pro inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who is recovering from a knee injury he sustained during the National Football Conference Championship game, which was won 23-17 by the Seattle Seahawks.
Sam confident of making a team as last cuts loom
Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by the National Football League, is confident he will play for a team this season, although maybe not the St. Louis Rams.
Sam, a defensive end, led St. Louis with six tackles Thursday in a 14-13 loss at Miami in the Rams’ final pre-season game ahead of Saturday’s deadline to trim the roster from 75 players to a final 53-man lineup.
“I’m very confident I will be playing on an NFL roster this fall,” Sam said.
It might not be with the Rams, however, who boast a strong selection of veteran defensive lineman and two strong rookies in Sam and Ethan Westbrooks, the newcomers likely fighting for one spot.
The NFL’s website reported Friday night that the Rams cut 17 players and Sam was not among them, but that still meant the team had five more players to release by Saturday afternoon.
While St. Louis has an abundance of talent in Sam’s position, other teams lacking players with such pass-rushing skills likely will be looking for someone with his abilities after making their own cuts. “I believe he can play in this league,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said.
Sam made 11 tackles and three quarterback sacks in four pre-season appearances with the Rams. His five hits on quarterbacks matched Westbrooks for the most of any Ram in the pre-season.
Sam would follow in the history-making footsteps of football’s Robbie Rogers and the NBA’s Jason Collins.
