The 49ers May Release Aldon Smith

Published on 16-Apr-2014 by Stacey Mickles

Football - NFL    NFL Daily Update

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The 49ers May Release Aldon Smith

Predictably, it looks the San Francisco 49ers aren't going to waste anytime on deciding the fate of Aldon Smith.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, the club doesn't think Smith will play this year.

At least, not for them.

In the words of their columnist Tim Kawakami:

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.

In oher words, the Niners are waiting for the NFL to drop the hammer before they do. This is just the latest of a series of incidents involving Smith, which will probably cost him most, if not all, of the 2014 season.

The other reason the team might hold on to Smith for now is they don't want to pay him the $3million that he's still due. If the NFL suspends him, they may not have to pay him at all.

This is definitely not how they expect their public image to be conveyed:

Aldon Smith arrested

It's clear that Smith probably needs to seek help for his issues and screw his head back on tight, so maybe a year off without football is the medicine he needs to not only save his life, but his career.

Perhaps Smith should turn to Rolando McCain for advice on how hard it is to get his act together and make a major comeback.

It could save his life.

Click on a photo to enlarge.