San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith will face a sentence for his DUI and felony weapons charges on Friday.
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith has been one of the elite pass rushers in the NFL since getting drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft, but he has carried a lot of baggage with him.
The troubled star has been in trouble for various criminal activity over the past couple of years. He received a DUI in the 2012 offseason and was later arrested on suspicion of DUI and possession of marijuana in 2013. He was also detained in an LAX airport for indicating that he possessed a bomb.
Smith’s LAX charges were eventually dropped, but he still faces four years and four months for felony possession of weapons and drunk driving charges, which he pleaded no contest to in May. He may avoid jail time, but he may still face significant punishment from the NFL.
The 49ers’ linebacker has never failed to make an impact on the team’s defense. Smith has registered in 42 sacks in the first 43 games of his career.
Corey Lemonier and Aaron Lynch are the key backup outside linebackers. While Lemonier showed promise as a rookie, Smith’s production will be difficult to replace if he is suspended.
Update: Smith has been sentenced to 12 days in county jail, but he has served his first already. He will serve his remaining 11 in a work crew on Mondays, starting July 28. The linebacker also faces 235 hours of community service and three years of probation.
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