Despite being arrested for his second DUI in less than two years on Friday, San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith was still allowed to play against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Niners CEO Jed York justified the decision by saying the team felt keeping Smith active was the best thing for his future. The always-outspoken Chris Kluwe strongly disagreed.
Like many others, Kluwe felt that San Francisco allowed Smith to play for one reason — they wanted to win. Obviously, it didn’t work.
“Listening to the announcers justify playing Aldon Smith is pretty ridiculous,” Kluwe wrote on Twitter. “The sole reason he’s playing is because they care more about winning a child’s game than what a man does with his life.”
In particular, Kluwe was angry with the assertion that Smith could file a grievance against the team if they made him inactive after police reportedly found weed and pills in his car.
[Related: Roddy White tells ESPN announcers to lay off Aldon Smith]
“Dear sports analysts. If you don’t know what “conduct detrimental” is, kindly refrain from sharing your ignorance with other people,” Kluwe wrote. “Thanks! For those curious, ‘conduct detrimental’ is a clause in EVERY player’s contract that states you can be fined and/or suspended if you engage in behavior deemed detrimental to the image of the team and/or league. It applies to EVERYONE. So saying ‘the 49ers didn’t have a choice’ is flat out hypocritical bulls— and you should be ashamed of yourselves. Do your f—ing job.
“A head coach can make any player inactive. He could suspend him for conduct detrimental. He could cut him if he wanted to. He could keep him active and not let him go on the field. There are numerous scenarios where Smith doesn’t play today, but there he is.”
We agree. The decision to play Smith was inexcusable given the problems he has gotten himself into off the field. Smith is reportedly going to go to rehab as soon as this week, which probably isn’t a bad idea. Allowing him to play was a horrible choice.
