The summer of 2017 has not been kind to Sean Smith. The Oakland Raiders cornerback was demoted to the second string team at the beginning of August. The $38 million contract he signed last summer hovers over it’s impending cancellation. Today, TMZ reported news of an interesting July 4th incident after Sean Smith was arrested and charged with felony assault. The 30-year-old is experiencing a tale of two summers.
Defense attorney Daniel Rosenberg says Sean Smith has maintained his innocent & will plead not guilty. He's going to fight this all the way. https://t.co/HM8LwnMtug
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 18, 2017
Sean Smith Arrested and Charged With Felony Assault
The details from the incident are spotty, but the known facts tell a little of the story. Sean Smith is accused of beating up his sister’s boyfriend and stomping on his head in the early hours of July 4th in Pasadena, CA. Smith claims innocence and his lawyer assured the public that the player will fight the charges all the way.
On March 10, 2016, Sean Smith signed with the Oakland Raiders. That same summer, he joined a talented, young team and made the most money of his career. Unfortunately, Smith has not played well enough as a Raider. There is hope for Sean Smith to learn a different role, but he is looking more like a cap casualty everyday.
Speed Kills Smith
The 6’3″ cornerback has the size for an Oakland Raiders starter on the outside. However, speed has always been his weakest attribute and the signs show the veteran is slowing down. The first two games of last season were dreadful for Smith. Though the rest of the season went by without many mistakes, he struggled in the playoffs. It is unlikely he can handle a 16 game season defending offenses that grow faster every week.
T.J. Carrie replaced Sean Smith as the other starting corner next to David Amerson last week. The Raiders also selected two defensive backs, Gareon Conley and Obi Melifonwu, in the 2017 NFL Draft. Those two picks, the poor play, and the price tag showed Smith that his future with the club was cloudy.
A release seems inevitable, but the Raiders haven’t been in this situation for four years. Since Derek Carr was drafted, the team has held a streak of no arrests. Smith ended the run on Thursday and Reggie McKenzie handles the business of the Raiders with little nonsense. The lines look written for Smith, whether he proves to be guilty or not.
