Seahawks part ways with Smith, citing off-the-field issues
Last year Aldon Smith made his NFL comeback after a four year suspension. The Seahawks signed the DE in the offseason, but he was realeased on Wednesday
The Seattle Seahawks have cut ties with defensive end Aldon Smith, just days before their first preseason game. The 31 year old veteran was waived on Wednesday after the team sited off-the-field issues, but did not get into more detail.
Smith's off the field issues is nothing new
Smith made a comeback last season after missing the previous four years due to league suspensions. The pass rusher has faced a number of non-football issues including alcohol and legal troubles that have followed him throughout the course of his career.
In April of last year, just a few days after being signed by the Seahawks, Smith was arrested on a second-degree battery charge. Since then the defensive end has been living in a sober living home in Seattle. Smith was in a similar setting when he made his return to the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys last year.
Former Cowboy was staying in a sober living home
Late last month Smith spoke with reporters about his internal battles, "For me, it was just making myself vulnerable and being willing to trust and lean on [those] people," he said. "I've always had people that were there, but I would always try to carry everything on my shoulders. So letting people help me and accepting that help was a major game-changer."
The word inside training camp and the days leading up to the first preseason game was Smith was doing “really good” as one team source put it. Smith practiced on Tuesday after the team’s day off, but was waived on Wednesday.
Courrt date nearing for Smith
In just over a weeks time Smith is set to be arraigned stemming from his arrest last April. According to police reports, Smith is accused of choking a man unconscious after disagreement sprouted outside of a coffee house in Louisiana.
The arrest took place just days after Smith signed a one year, $1.1 million dollar contract with Seattle.
Head coach of the Seahawks, Pete Carroll spoke with reporters about Smith saying "We really sense that the more we can support him, the more, obviously, we can be there for him, the stronger it makes him," said Carroll. "So that's really what our intent is here."
DUI, domestic violence among charges in Smith's past
Smith’s off the field troubles include DUI arrests, domestic violence charges, and NFL suspensions for violations of personal conduct and substance abuse.
In his first two seasons, Smith registered and NFL record 33.5 sacks with the San Francisco 49ers. Last year, the former Dallas Cowboy had five sacks in 16 games, including three against the Seattle Seahawks.