aldon smith once had the potential to be one of the best defenders in the NFL. His own mistakes have served to derail a promising career. Just when the linebacker seemed destined to take one more shot at achieving football glory, he shot himself in the foot once again, at least allegedly so. He's currently under investigation following a domestic incident that could land him in the NFL's doghouse for the last time.
New allegations
Smith is under investigation after an alleged domestic disturbance took place in his San Francisco home. There is no news about the nature of the alleged incident, but there is a victim, who the police took a statement from.
Smith was not arrested in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Smith has had many run-ins with the law over the course of his NFL career. In 2012, he was arrested for driving under the influence. In 2013, he was charged with illegal possession of a weapon and driving under the influence, again. Most infamously, he was subdued after allegedly making a bomb threat at LAX in 2014, though those charges were soon to became unfounded. Among his issues in 2015 was another DUI.
Career gone bad
The new investigation against Smith could signal an end to an NFL career derailed by legal problems and league substance abuse violations. He has been suspended by the NFL since mid-November of 2015 for a hit-and-run incident.
He applied for reinstatement in November, but the league wasn't expected to rule on it until March. With the latest cloud of suspicion, that ruling could turn from saving Smith's NFL career to ending it in one fell swoop.
On the field, the former seventh overall NFL Draft selection was a budding star. In 2012, he made his first Pro Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers, finishing First Team All-Pro and earning the NFC Defensive Player of the Year award.
His legal issues resulted in the team releasing him and he was eventually given a second chance by the Oakland Raiders, one he has ultimately blown. In his career, Aldon Smith has 47.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.
