The legal fallout from Aldon Smith’s LAX arrest may be weeks away, but the career ramifications could be brutal and swift. The Mercury News is reporting that Smith is unlike to play for the Niners in 2014 and could be done with the franchise all together.
-Right to the point: My view, after talking to several sources involved with the 49ers’ decision-making, is that troubled linebacker Aldon Smith hasn’t only lost the benefit of the doubt, he probably won’t play for the 49ers in 2014.
That doesn’t mean the 49ers will release him any time soon–remember, he almost certainly will face NFL punishment, it probably won’t be lenient, and the 49ers will probably wait through the legal and NFL processes before making any final conclusion.
They also are on the hook for a guaranteed $3M+ to Smith and have time to see how this plays out before dumping him and throwing away the money (and letting him have the money for nothing, by the way).
But there is a weariness and frustration over Smith’s behavior that I’ve never heard involving any recent 49ers player. Until this week
The report suggest that Niners brass are beyond embarrassed and prepared to make an example out of Smith. The 49ers reportedly don’t hold Colin Kaepernick’s Miami investigation in the same light as Smith, and are prepared to fully support their quarterback.
Aldon Smith in the meantime will likely get hit with a serious suspension from Roger Goodell that’s likely to keep him away from the football field for a subsequent amount of time anyway.