San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested on Friday for driving while under the influence for a second time in two years, but he could wind up in trouble for more than just being under the influence of alcohol. According to the San Jose Mercury News, police also found marijuana and pills in Smith’s car when they searched it after he hit a tree.
The arrest occurred at 7 a.m., which is an odd time for someone to be arrested for a DUI. Your initial reaction might be that Smith was hungover, but sources told the Mercury News that his blood alcohol level was .15 — nearly twice the legal limit. He did not have a prescription for the marijuana, not that it would matter since NFL players are not allowed to smoke weed regardless.
The 49ers released a statement saying they are still “gathering information” about the incident and have no comment at this time.
Unless there was some sort of epic mixup, Smith is almost certain to face discipline from the NFL in the form of a suspension. He has been involved in a number of off-field incidents since coming into the league, despite recently expressing a desire to get his act together. If he is forced to miss time, San Francisco’s pass rush and defense would be dealing with a major downgrade.
