Aldon Smith is awaiting reinstatement from the NFL after he agreed to a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday, and the former first-round pick has reportedly kept his substance abuse issues under control for several months now.
A source told Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News that Smith has been clean for nine months. The 30-year-old’s biggest challenge with sobriety has been staying away from alcohol.
A source said Aldon Smith has been clean for nine months. Alcohol is the biggest issue.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) April 2, 2020
Smith has not played in the NFL since 2015 due to a suspension. He applied for reinstatement in 2016 but was turned down, but the Cowboys are reportedly confident he is going to be reinstated in the near future. If and when that happens, Smith will almost certainly be on a strict program and have to meet several conditions.
Smith’s most recent arrest was in June of 2019, when he was booked for suspicion of driving while under the influence. If he has been clean for nine months, that means he has stayed away from alcohol since that incident.
Smith, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, played for the Oakland Raiders in addition to the 49ers. The sky was the limit for him from a talent standpoint, but he has been in trouble with the law numerous times. He racked up 33.5 sacks in his first two NFL seasons before things went south.
