Lately the San Francisco 49ers have gotten more publicity than they wanted when linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested early last Friday morning on hit and run, DUI, and vandalism charges. Smith is just the latest member of the 49ers to find his way off the roster when the team quickly released him after finding out the information needed concerning his arrest. 49ers General Manger Trent Baalke was still interested in re-signing the linebacker and noted the way he’s handled the situations Smith has put himself in over the years in a statement made the Tuesday before his arrest.
Following from Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee
Smith had not been in trouble since an April 2013 incident at LAX airport, and on Tuesday general manager Trent Baalke said the 49ers were interested in re-signing Smith at some point. No charges were filed in the LAX incident in which Smith was arrested for making a bomb threat.
“Aldon’s like any young player, he’s growing up, he’s maturing, You see that with a lot of these guys. Some of them get themselves in a few more situations that you wish they didn’t. If you asked them, I think they’d say the same thing. Really pleased with the way he’s handled things, the way he’s working both personally and professionally.”
Baalke must be confident in the pro-bowler because this isn’t the first time Smith has had problems staying out of the cuffs. He has been arrested five times since 2012 for multiple things such as a felony charge for possessing a gun to making a false bomb threat. Smith is a promising linebacker recording fifteen tackles and two sacks in seven games after returning from his nine game suspension last year. He needs to straighten up or he is going to be miss out on a lot of money.
