NFL Insider Ian Rapaport<\/strong> said today that Aldon Smith<\/strong><\/a> will be reinstated in March barring any set backs. Here is the Tweet<\/p>\n #Raiders<\/a> LB Aldon Smith will be reinstated in March, sources say, barring a slip up in the drug program. His request was deferred in Dec.<\/p>\n \u2014 Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 5, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n For Oakland Raider fans this has been a good weekend for positive news.<\/p>\n First Khalil Mack<\/a><\/strong> won Defensive Player of the year. Here<\/a> is a fantastic article about that by our own Ryan Smith<\/a><\/strong>. Then it was followed up by Derek Carr<\/a><\/strong> winning\u00a0Castrol Edge Clutch Performer of the Year<\/strong>. Now add to that Aldon Smith returning in March.<\/p>\n The real question, should Aldon Smith be reinstated, is if he can return to form. Remember he has been out of football now for over 400 days, but people close to him have said he has put in extra work at the gym and could be in the best shape of his life. So if that is accurate, it seems he has put that time to good use.<\/p>\n Also, with the addition of John Pagano<\/strong>, a base 3-4 specialist and Wade Phillips disciple, we should expect to see more base three man fronts. Imagine a front that has Khalil Mack,\u00a0Bruce Irvin<\/a><\/strong>, Aldon Smith, and a healthy Mario Edwards<\/a> Jr<\/strong>. And that is before free agency and the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n Expect Reggie McKenzie<\/a><\/strong> and Jack Del Rio<\/a><\/strong> to lean defense again this off season as the Oakland Raiders transition from Superbowl<\/strong> pretender to Superbowl favorite. If this defense truly does get Aldon Smith back, and especially back into the man we saw a few years ago, it could seriously make this defense a nightmare for opposing offenses.<\/p>\n Especially those from the AFC West.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n