CBSSports.com reported Sunday that San Francisco 49er outside linebacker Aldon Smith was taken into custody and charged for making a false report of a bomb threat at Los Angeles International Airport.
NFL.com released airport police details of the incident:
“At approximately 1400 hrs, a 24 year-old Aldon Jacarus Ramon Smith…was going through Terminal 1 screening where he made a comment indicating that he was in possession of a bomb. Los Angeles Airport Police made contact with him in the gate area where he became uncooperative. After conducting their investigation, LA Airport Police took suspect into custody and transported him to LAPD-Pacific division where he was booked for California Penal Code 148.1(a) – False report of a bomb threat.”
49ers general manager Trent Baalke said, “we are disappointed to learn of true incident today involving Aldon Smith” Baalke had no further comment since it is a pending legal matter and 49ers wanted time to conduct a full investigation.
Understandably, these are just allegations at this stage and it is likely more details will be forthcoming to explain what happened at the airport terminal. But, what is distressing is that Smith has already had other incidents in the past two years and most of them allegedly involve the use of alcohol.
On September 20, 2013, Smith was arrested by Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of DUI and charged with possession of marijuana after being involved in a one-car accident. According to NFL.com wire reports, following a party Smith held at his residence on June 30, 2012, Smith was reportedly stabbed attempting to break up a fight. That stabbing incident resulted in two civil lawsuits filed against him. In addition, Smith was later charged with three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon stemming from the stabbing incident. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that on January 28, 2012, Smith was arrested for DUI in Miami Beach, FL. Those DUI charges were later reduced to reckless driving.
Worse, according to the Sacramento Bee, 49er players have faced at least five DUI related arrests over the last three years. Just last week, unsubstantiated reports surfaced about an investigation involving Colin Kaepernick and Quinton Patton and a woman in Miami, FL. Notably, the Miami incident involve only allegations at this point.
By now coach Jim Harbaugh must surely regret his June 2013 statement that he wants his players to be “above reproach.” Harbaugh was making his comment in response to the PED suspensions for several Seattle Seahawks players.
Harbaugh’s sincerity about his players being “above reproach” was questioned when Smith played the Sunday game two days after his DUI arrest last September. Smith then entered a rehabilitation facility and returned again to play for the 49ers for the last seven games of the season.
The immediate focus for the 49ers and Smith will obviously be to determine all of the underlying facts and put forward the best defense for Smith. But when will enough be enough for Harbaugh? Harbaugh may need to send a strong message to the team and cut ties with a very talented but possibly troubled player in Smith. Even if Harbaugh and the 49ers continue to tolerate Smith’s off-field incidents, Roger Goodell and the NFL may have to suspend Smith for a significant amount of time.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @LASTWORDgcp. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Interested in writing for LWOS? We are looking for enthusiastic, talented writers to join our Football writing team. Visit our “Write for Us” page for very easy details in how you can get started today!
Football fans…check out our two partnered NFL podcasts – Thursday Night Tailgate Radio and Overtime Ireland. Both shows bring you interesting commentary, critical analysis and fantastic guests including former and current NFL players, coaches and personalities.
Main Photo:
