Aldon Smith, has resurfaced in the media once more. Instead of a troubled headline, the former Oakland Raiders linebacker has been reportedly sober for a substantial amount of time and seeks reinstatement to play football again.
As a new league year is approaching, the former All Pro’s indefinite ban from the NFL will be reviewed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Aldon’s Comeback?
Do you think Aldon Smith has a chance of being reinstated back into the NFL?
RT if you want #99 to stay in Oakland! pic.twitter.com/zh4N1d2wyl
— The Oakland Jester (@Raider_Jester) May 8, 2017
His stint with the Raiders was cut short after he received a one-year suspension on November 15th, 2015. Smith’s off-field matters sent his life into a black hole of constant legal trouble after just nine games in Oakland. The Silver and Black eventually released him in March of 2018 after yet another juridical incident. This past Thursday though, Jay Glazer provided a positive update.
“Aldon has now been sober for a while and he’s been helping a lot of our vets with their sobriety. That’s the biggest thing you’ve got to do is be of service to other people and he got that. We’ve given a lot of guys second chances. He deserves it as much as anybody I’ve been around.” – Jay Glazer
How does Glazer know about Smith’s well being you may ask? The former runner up defensive rookie of the year has been training at the Fox Sport Insider’s personal gym in West Hollywood, California. When the sportswriter was questioned about his belief in the former defensive star’s readiness for a comeback, he made the following statement.
Yeah, I really do. Look, we’ve worked with a lot of guys and tried to give them their chance. A lot of them I worry about, a couple of guys I haven’t and he’s one of them. He’s like ‘hey, it’s not my life anymore, it’s not who I am… .’ The fact that he knows to that I’ve got to help out other people, that’s what I’m most proud about. I’m proud of Aldon Smith.” – Jay Glazer
If Goodell reevaluates and reinstates him, the Las Vegas Raiders should add another asset to use against a bigger problem on the field.
Related: 3 inside linebackers the Raiders should target in free agency
Why would the Raiders want Aldon Smith back?
The Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City Chiefs will partake in the Super Bowl on Sunday, which hurts to say for me and even more-so Las Vegas head Coach Jon Gruden, who now has to deal with the grim reality of facing a MVP candidate twice a year for the remaining eight years of his contract. The Raiders need to exhaust all venues to apply pressure on the focal point of the Chiefs offense. Las Vegas had a measly 19.9% pressure percentage against all opposing quarterback dropbacks that accounted for the sixth worst total in the NFL in 2019.
Even if Smith were to only be on the field for pass rush situations, he could not make the Raiders pass rush any worse than what it was. Additionally, the team has found recent success in adding ‘troubled’ off-field players such as tight end Darren Waller, who overcame past personal addiction and had the best season of his career in 2019.
https://twitter.com/RaiderPosts/status/1211494872215101442
Midway through the season, the Raiders, who have displayed a history of offering second chances, signed Dion Jordan, who had an instant impact after he received a 10 game suspension for violating the NFL Drug Policy.
Dion Jordan. Instant impact in Raiders debut. pic.twitter.com/gaW0TJzM9O
— Raider Nation Boston (@RaiderNationBOS) November 17, 2019
The man with the last word on Smith’s comeback, is a cause for concern though.
The Big Question
It’s hard to say one way or another whether Smith will be reinstated with Goodell overseeing the process. During his tenure as NFL commissioner, disciplinary incidents have had inconsistent results (Ray Rice situation) and outcomes. When the NFL Player’s Association attempts to remove the commissioner’s disciplinary powers, it’s a testament to Goodell’s lack of competence as a whole.
Even if Aldon’s football comeback is denied, it is more than welcomed to read that he is in a better place than where he was in recent years. If his reinstatement is processed and accepted for the 2020 regular season, the Raiders should perform their due diligence on adding an additional pass rusher.
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Bring him In see what he’s got left
Even if he doesn’t play, dudes got his life back on track. That’s a win in the books.
Please call them the Raiders. Las Vegas still stings.
When Smith was on the team, he help make Mack a top player. teams could not double team Mack and Smith. I glad he has defeated his demon. So bring him on a make or lose it contract and see what we have.
Sounds like he turned his life around….not easy to do…wondering how old he is now ?
Good luck Aldon, we needed you man, hope everything works out
Hope he gets a 2nd Chance! Happy you’re sober brother !
Everyone deserves a second chance and he used his up. Don’t waste your time on him.
Let him play!
Aldon deserves a second chance. Sounds like he has gotten his life back on track and is controlling it rather it controlling him. Keep up the great work and Good Luck
Aldon Smith, he made some mistakes because he is human and we all comes short of the glory and Our almighty forgave us, and we all got Second Chances. Aldon Smith, fell down deep in the pit but he has climb out of where his MIND was, gotten his LIFE back on Track and we as people to help him. He worked on himself now he is asking for help to start his LIFE Again. Please Less Give him a Chance and see if he still got it. Thank you reading my thoughts.
SINCERELY Carl Morgan.
We need him to come back to us
That piece of s*** Goodell will f*** with the Raiders getting him back!! If it was any other team he would get back in.
He’s had his troubled pass I believe in second chances But the Raider don’t need distractions they need to move forward to the Raider future in Vegas 1st we need A #1 wide receiver to help spread the field Al Davis knew Speed kills AkA Warren Wells Cliff Branch Willie Gault Jerry Rice to name of a few To wear the the Black & Silver
Once a Raider, always a Raider. Come on home brother and unleash hell on our opponents.