Aldon Smith will likely never get the opportunity to play in the NFL again, but it sounds like football should be the least of the 28-year-old’s concerns at the moment.
On Monday, a warrant was issued for Smith’s arrest after San Francisco Police named him a suspect in an alleged domestic violence incident. The victim, believed to be Smith’s fiancee, told police Smith bit her wrists before climbing out a window and fleeing in his vehicle. She also said he had been drinking heavily and that the former Raiders linebacker called her parents to take him to rehab.
According to a new report from TMZ, Smith has been struggling so badly with alcohol abuse issues that some of those close to him fear for his life.
“I’m worried for him. I’m worried for his safety,” a source told TMZ. “He’s an alcoholic. It’s not about football anymore. We’re hoping this is rock bottom for him.”
Former Raiders coach Jack Del Rio on Monday criticized the NFL for having rules in place that prevent teams from being able to get suspended players the help they need.
Never liked “league rules” that eliminate the ability of teams to offer Aldon and others in his situation the structure they so desperately need. https://t.co/hk0ENVhqWb
— Jack Del Rio (@coachdelrio) March 5, 2018
Smith missed the entire 2016 and 2017 seasons while serving a suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy and a number of other things. He was hoping to be reinstated last March, but he was investigated for a separate domestic violence the month before and then involved in a bizarre incident in which his girlfriend collided with a police cruiser while driving Smith’s car. Smith denied reports that he had any involvement with the crash, but he revealed some information in an incredibly bizarre interview with reporters while leaving the police station.
Though his NFL career once looked very promising, Smith is clearly in need of serious help.
