NFC Notes: A. Smith, Rams, Falcons, Panthers
Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee has had a look at how Aldon Smith‘s release will impact the 49ers as a whole and a few individual players moving forward. For instance, Barrows writes that the team had been working with $10MM of cap space which, if unused, would roll over to 2016 and would be put toward a player. That player, of course, was Smith. Now, the team will need to decide what to do with its surplus cash. The team could bring in free agent guard Evan Mathis, and players like Vernon Davis, Ian Williams, and Quinton Dial might also be in line to get some of that money.
Barrows also details the emotional and strategic fallout of Smith’s release, and he writes that Corey Lemonier, who looked destined to be cut just a couple of days ago, may be able to hold on to his roster spot.
Now let’s take a look at a few more links from around the league:
- Paul Domowitch of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that Rams head coach Jeff Fisher took the St. Louis head coaching job because of Sam Bradford, but he traded Bradford because he could not afford to gamble that Bradford would not suffer a third ACL tear.
- Within an article touching on Julio Jones, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports that Falcons president Rich McKay will meet with commissioner Roger Goodell and executive vice president Troy Vincent to discuss McKay’s reinstatement to the NFL’s competition committee. McKay, Atlanta’s GM from 2003-08, was suspended from the committee as a result of the Falcons pumping in crowd noise during home games the past two seasons.
- In his latest mailbag at ESPN.com, David Newton writes that despite Michael Oher‘s slow start in camp, the Panthers are in a much better place at left tackle than they were a year ago. Head coach Ron Rivera has spoken in defense of Oher, and Carolina is content with Nate Chandler and Amini Silatolu as Oher’s backups.
- While the Panthers‘ front seven has been widely lauded, the clubs’ secondary has remained largely anonymous, even being labeled the “Legion of Whom” by broadcaster Jon Gruden. But as Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer notes, Carolina’s defensive backfield could start to generate some headlines this year, as young corners Bene Benwikere, Tre Boston, and Josh Norman will be joined by veterans Charles Tillman, Kurt Coleman, and Roman Harper.
Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.
Baalke Counseled Aldon Smith After Release
It may have come as small consolation for Aldon Smith, but according to Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News, 49ers GM Trent Baalke reportedly spent hours with the troubled linebacker after he was released from the club to offer counsel, comfort, and assistance. As Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes, the decision to release Smith was made not long after his arrest, and prior to any meeting between the player and front office. However, even though the 49ers may have parted ways with Smith the player, they remain invested in Smith the person.
While head coach Jim Tomsula was addressing the media at a press conference to discuss Smith’s release, Baalke was having a conversation with Smith elsewhere (it is unclear whether that conversation took place at the team’s facility or at Smith’s nearby apartment). According to Baalke, there was nothing Smith could have said that would have changed the team’s decision, but Baalke wanted to offer his support moving forward. As Baalke said:
“What we fail to realize a lot of times in this business is the human side of it. There are a lot of emotions, not only with the player, but with everyone in the organization. He was very well-liked. Obviously, we placed a lot of time and energy into helping him and we’ll continue to do that. He’s not going to walk this thing alone. This isn’t about football. Everybody wants to make this about football. It has nothing to do with football right now. It has everything to do with a human being and a quality, quality person. Everyone who’s met him understands that. But he’s made some mistakes.”
Smith, of course, was cut after his arrest several days ago, his fifth brush with the law since the 49ers made him the 7th overall pick in the 2011 draft. Although this latest off-field incident proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, Baalke said that the team plans to give Smith as much help as he is willing to accept, and as much as the team can give under the terms of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
Baalke added that it is too soon to say whether the 49ers would be interested in bringing Smith back into the fold in the future. At this point, Smith is free to sign with any team, and although it may take a little time for another club to pull the trigger, his age (25) and track record as a pass rusher with elite ability will surely land him another chance to continue his still-promising career.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/8/15
Here are Saturday’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:
- The Colts made several moves along their offensive line today, adding guard Dionte Savage while waiving guard Kitt O’Brien and tackle Matt Hall (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle). O’Brien lost his roster spot quickly, as he was just signed yesterday.
- In Kansas City, the Chiefs have also been busy, signing offensive tackle Anthony Dima and receiver Adam Drake, and waiving linebacker Sage Harold and receiver Armon Binns, writes Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
- The Rams have signed defensive tackle Marcus Forston, who has spent the past few years with the Patriots, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In order to create a roster spot, the team waived running back Terrence Franks, a 2015 undrafted rookie free agent (Twitter link).
- The Cowboys have removed linebacker Justin Anderson from their injured reserve list, according to Wilson (Twitter link), who reports Dallas reached an injury settlement with Anderson. The Cowboys also cut fellow linebacker Will Smith, who, like Anderson, had been on the club’s IR.
Earlier updates:
- The Browns signed former Ravens tryout cornerback Joe Rankin, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). A 2014 undrafted player from Division I-FCS Morgan State, Rankin worked as an overnight forklift operator to save enough money to train for another NFL opportunity.
- Former Arena League and CFL cog Shawn Lemon signed with the 49ers, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (on Twitter). The Steelers waived the 26-year-old outside linebacker last week.
- The Steelers have placed safety Isaiah Lewis on the waived/injured list, and they’ve signed safety Jordan Dangerfield to take his spot, the team announced (via Twitter). Lewis, a former undrafted rookie, was signed to a futures contract at the end of last season. The Michigan State product had been battling a hamstring injury for most of camp. Dangerfield has previously been with the Steelers, participating in their 2014 camp and practice squad before being signed to a futures contract. He was waived last month when Pittsburgh added offensive lineman Kelvin Palmer.
- The Lions have waived cornerback Ethan Davis, tweets ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein. The undrafted rookie had joined Detroit earlier this week.
2015 Release Candidates: NFC West
Most clubs have fairly set rosters at this point, as OTA, minicamp, and preseason performances won’t do much to alter roster composition. The majority of key releases came in March, but there are still several scenarios where certain contributors could lose their roster spot in the coming months. For the most part, we’ll focus on situations where the cap savings would be in excess of $1MM.
Because free agency has already passed, financial ramifications won’t play a huge role in these decisions; there aren’t a ton of high-profile free agents on which to spend that saved money, so these calls will mostly be made based on performance. However, any cap space saved through these potential releases could be rolled over into 2016, so that’s something clubs have to consider.
We’ve already looked at the AFC East, NFC East, AFC North, NFC North, AFC South, and NFC South, and AFC West, so let’s wrap up with the NFC West…
Arizona Cardinals:
- Lorenzo Alexander, LB: Alexander, 32, is basically a special-teams only player at this point in his career; he saw 336 special teams snaps in 2014, as opposed to just 51 on defense. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus didn’t rate him positively even on special teams duty, handing him a -4.0 grade (subscription required). But Alexander is regarded as a valuable veteran presence on Arizona’s roster, and given that the club would save less than $2MM by releasing him, he will probably make the final 53. Prediction: not released.
- Ted Larsen, G: Larsen had a forgettable 2014 season, during which ranked as the league’s No. 68 guard among 78 qualifiers, per PFF. He won’t be playing left guard again, as the Cardinals handed Mike Iupati $40MM to handle that spot on the offensive line, but Larsen is actually listed atop Arizona’s depth chart at center. But the Cardinals were apparently so displeased with Larsen’s (and A.Q Shipley’s) camp performance that they re-signed last year’s starting center Lyle Sendlein, whom PFF graded as the league’s second-worst center in 2014, in the hopes that he’d be an improvement. Getting replaced by a player of Sendlein’s caliber isn’t a great look for Larsen, and given that Arizona can save $2.2MM by releasing Larsen, I don’t think he’ll last the summer. Prediction: released.
San Francisco 49ers:
- Ahmad Brooks, LB: Any discussion of a San Francisco release candidate has to be couched with the knowledge that the club has lost a good amount of talent during the offseason. No position on the 49ers’ roster has been more affected by offseason losses than linebacker — Chris Borland and Patrick Willis both announced their retirement, while Aldon Smith was released yesterday following an arrest. So even though Brooks lost playing time last season (and wasn’t effective when he did play, grading as a bottom-five 3-4 outside linebacker per PFF), the team will rely on him as its top OLB in 2015. The Niners could save about $4.7MM by releasing the 31-year-old Brooks, but when their other option at outside ‘backer are rookies Eli Harold and Marcus Rush, the club will gladly by the price to keep Brooks. Prediction: not released.
- Vernon Davis, TE: The 49ers’ offense didn’t take quite the offseason hit that did the team’s defense, but San Francisco’s starting 11 is noticeably lacking in terms of playmakers. That descriptor might no longer fit Davis, who caught just 26 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns last year, his worst totals since his rookie season. Davis publicly complained about his contract status last summer, but never received a new deal, and now the club save $4.9MM in cap space by cutting him. Earlier this week, however, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said that he’s interested in working out an extension with Davis, so the 31-year-old tight end will definitely stick around for 2015. Prediction: not released.
Seattle Seahawks:
- Brandon Mebane, DT: The Seahawks don’t have much cap space to work with after extending both Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, and with that in mind, they released Mebane’s running mate at defensive tackle — Tony McDaniel — earlier this week. Clubs don’t need a ton of cap space to get through the season — Seattle should be fine with its ~$4.9MM — but Mebane’s roster spot still could be in jeopardy for several reasons. First, Mebane is coming off an injury-plagued 2014 season; he was placed on injure reserve in November after suffering a hamstring injury. Second, if the Seahawks did feel that they needed more cap room, Mebane would be the logical candidate to go, as the club could save $5.5MM by cutting him. But with McDaniel gone, Seattle probably wants some stability on the interior of its defensive line, and Mebane was a solid player as recently as 2013. Prediction: not released.
St. Louis Rams:
- Isaiah Pead, RB: It’s been a quick fall to irrelevance for Pead, whom the Rams selected out of the University of Cincinnati in the second round of the 2012 draft. After garnering just 17 rushing attempts through his first two seasons, Pead missed the entire 2014 season after tearing his ACL. He recently accepted a pay cut, lowering his base salary from about $940K all the way down to the minimum. But I wonder if St. Louis is even interested in paying Pead that much — he’s buried on the deptch chart behind Todd Gurley, Tre Mason, and Benny Cunningham, and he isn’t a real factor on special teams, having hovered around 15% ST participation during his first two years in the league. Prediction: waived.
NFC Rumors: Smith, Kaepernick, Wilson, Floyd
PFR’s Ben Levine assessed some of the Aldon Smith fallout this morning, and now the conversation shifts to which team will take a chance on him.
Whichever franchise takes this PR plunge, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes said team should insist the deal for the former All-Pro pass-rusher is for at least two years, with at least part or all of the fifth-year veteran’s 2015 set to be erased via suspension. That way, Florio notes, the team that acquires Smith’s rights would be able to play him in 2016 and ’17.
While general managers will be careful, with Smith being a repeat offender who shows no signs of slowing down, there will be considerable interest in a refocused Smith’s services, Florio writes.
Among the teams referenced as potential landing spots are the Seahawks, Cowboys, Cardinals, and Giants in the NFC, with the Patriots, Steelers and Colts serving as theoretical destinations in the AFC. Some of these teams would place Smith at defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, but with
With Junior Galette signing so quickly after video of him striking a woman surfaced, a Smith signing soon isn’t out of the question.
Here are some more items from around the league as we continue in the last Saturday before game action commences.
- A TMZ report alleging Smith and Colin Kaepernick and another naming the car that Smith is being charged with vandalizing as Kaepernick’s are being debunked by the fourth-year quarterback, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News. With TMZ reporting a fight between the two took place Tuesday, Inman reports no fights have taken place in the 49ers‘ five practices. “I don’t drive a Mercedes. Let’s put it that way,” Kaepernick told media in his denial of the report.
- Russell Wilson‘s new Seahawks contract does not include a no-baseball clause like Jameis Winston‘s does with the Buccaneers, Florio reports. Johnny Manziel has a similar clause.
- Bruce Arians doesn’t know when Michael Floyd will be able to return due to having never witnessed a sequence like the one that ended with the wideout dislocating three of his fingers this week in 40 years in football, according to Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic. “There really is no timetable because it really is such a different type of injury,” Arians told McManaman. Arians said the Cardinals will now break camp with six receivers, since Floyd is not viewed as a short-term IR candidate, after saying there was a chance they would have anyway.
Reactions to Aldon Smith Release
Following linebacker Aldon Smith‘s release from the 49ers yesterday, some of his former teammates voiced their concern for the 25-year-old. Still, consider all the turnover this offseason, the players know it’s best to look forward, and they made that clear in their comments to Eric Branch of SFGate.com.
“It’s a tough loss for us,” said wideout Anquan Boldin. “Aldon’s a great football player and it’s tough to replace someone like that … As a team, we have to move forward. We have no choice. And I think we’ll get over it. We’ve got some guys behind him that are capable of getting the job done.
“I think everybody was shocked. I wasn’t here the entire offseason, but from what I’ve gathered he’s worked his butt off. And it looked that way when I got here. So I think it was just a shock to everybody.”
Let’s check out some more reactions to Smith’s arrest and subsequent release…
- The 49ers deliberately protected themselves when they restructured Smith’s contract in March, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. The writer reports that the team had previously considered releasing the embattled player, and they were leaning towards not picking up his fifth-year option for 2015. When the sides restructured, Smith signed a deal that would only guarantee his salary if he was on the roster for the whole season. “It wasn’t like they said, ‘If you don’t do this, you’re cut,’” said Doug Hendrickson, one of Smith’s representatives. “The thought behind it is that Aldon realizes he’s been his own worst enemy. He has come a long way since he was suspended. Ultimately his goal, my goal, and the team’s goal is for him to sign a long-term contract with the Niners.”
- Smith was “poised for a revival,” says Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, and the writer believes coach Jim Tomsula‘s comments following the linebacker’s release echoed that sentiment. “You saw a man fighting and working and trying, and I think, to a man in this building, and you’ve been to practice to watch him, the energy about him,” Tomsula said. “Once again, real life. Everybody has struggles – they’re just in different ways.”
- Despite the Raiders‘ clear need for a pass-rushing defender, Steve Corkran of Raiderbeat.com doesn’t believe the team should pursue Smith. While the team is in “dire” need of an impact defender, Corkran says the embattled linebacker “isn’t worth the trouble.”
- Smith’s issues are a reminder of what Broncos linebacker Von Miller could have become, writes Mike Klis of 9News in Denver. Both players were 2011 first-round picks, and they both battled substance abuse issues earlier in their careers. However, Miller has managed to stay clean over the past couple of seasons. “He was there for me and I’m going to be there for him—wherever that may be,” Miller said. “He’s just going through a tough patch right now. We all go through a tough patch. I have full confidence that he will be able to get out of it. We’ll see the same Aldon Smith that we saw his first two years in the league. It’s just tough right now. People go through tough times. I’ll be the first one to tell you. I’ve been through a lot of stuff and I’m going to be there for him however long it is to get him back right.”
Aldon Smith Free To Sign With Any Team
After being cut by the 49ers earlier today, Aldon Smith‘s release has become official and he is now free to sign with any team, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter).
While his notice of termination of vested veteran has hit the NFL waiver wire, it would be naive to think he will sign with a new team immediately. As transcendent of a talent as he is, last night’s arrest is only the most recent in a long list of off-the-field issues he has had since being drafted in 2011.
The NFL has been very forgiving in the past. Only four days after Junior Gallette’s off-the-field issues became too much for the Saints to handle, Washington swooped in and signed the troubled pass rusher.
Gallette’s most recent controversies weren’t so close in the rearview mirror, and NFL team’s will likely let Smith’s most recent arrest play out until more information is had before any considers bringing him into their organization. The details so far have been condemning of Smith, who was arrested for driving under the influence, hit and run, and vandalism, according to the press release from the Santa Clara Police Department.
Smith’s 44 career sacks leaves him as the 49ers fifth all-time sack leader, despite only playing four seasons and appearing in only 50 games. His 19.5 sacks in 2012 is tied for 12th all-time in a single season in NFL history, and only three behind Michael Strahan’s record 22.5 in 2001. Talent like that will almost always find a second chance in the league.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN reached out to a number of general managers around the league, and writes that none seem ready to make a move to bring Smith into their organization at this point (via Twitter).
Mortensen notes that some of those decision makers have taken risks with players before, but with the NFL still investigating, none would be jumping to take a risk on Smith. He will assuredly serve a suspension before suiting up in a game with whoever signs him next, which further diminishes his value..
Community Tailgate: Who Will Win NFC West?
We’re still a few weeks away from the start of battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. Earlier this summer, we launched a new series here at PFR that will be known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
Since we began our Community Tailgate series, we’ve been examining each division in football, slowly but surely making our way through all eight and asking you which team you think will win each division in 2015. Having already looked at the first seven, we finally arrive today at the NFC West.
On paper, the Seahawks appear to be strong favorites in the West. The team didn’t lose any of its most important players in the offseason, and has appeared in consecutive Super Bowls. Still, there are some potential red flags in Seattle. Reports have indicated that Kam Chancellor‘s holdout could extend into the regular season if the two sides don’t reach a compromise. And while the addition of Jimmy Graham should help the Seahawks’ passing game, center Max Unger headed to New Orleans in that trade, leaving the club to work in another new starter on the offensive line, which is arguably the weakest position group on the roster.
In recent years, the 49ers have been Seattle’s primary competition in the West, but an offseason exodus has left plenty of question marks in San Francisco. Among the 2014 Niners who were released, retired, or signed elsewhere? Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Mike Iupati, Patrick Willis, Chris Borland, Justin Smith, Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox, head coach Jim Harbaugh, and, most recently, Aldon Smith.
The new-look Niners may exceed expectations and challenge for the division crown, but the Cardinals look like the stronger team. Arizona was in first place in the West last year before its top two quarterbacks went down with injuries. With Carson Palmer ready to return in 2015, head coach Bruce Arians will look to lead the Cards back to the postseason.
Finally, the Rams may not have won a division title since 2003, but St. Louis’ defense looks increasingly fearsome, having added Nick Fairley to what was already one of the NFL’s best defensive lines. If Nick Foles can provide consistent, steady production at quarterback, the Rams could be a dark horse in the West.
Who do you think will win the NFC West in 2015? Let us know in the comment section below!
49ers Cut Aldon Smith
1:44pm: The 49ers have officially confirmed Smith’s release. The team issued the following statement:
“This organization has tried very hard to help Aldon fight his issues. Although he is no longer a member of this team, our support and concern for him will continue.”
1:33pm: Aldon Smith‘s latest off-field incident will be his last as a member of the 49ers. According to Jim Trotter of ESPN (via Twitter), the Niners have decided to release Smith following his arrest in Santa Clara late Thursday night. Per Mike Loyko (Twitter link), Trotter said on ESPN that the team made the decision after Smith met with GM Trent Baalke and refused to accept responsibility.
Smith, 25, was arrested by Santa Clara police on hit and run, DUI, and vandalism charges, though when he was released from jail this morning, the outside linebacker disputed the fact that he had been driving under the influence. The incident is the latest in a series of off-field run-ins for Smith, who has had DUI arrests in the past, and missed nearly half the 49ers’ games over the last two seasons after entering a rehabilitation facility in 2013 and serving a nine-game suspension in 2014.
When he’s healthy and on the field, Smith can be one of the league’s most effective pass rushers, as he exhibited during his first two years in the NFL. As a part-time player in his rookie season, Smith recorded 14 sacks, and he piled up another 19.5 as a starter in 2012, en route to a spot on the All-Pro first team. However, his off-field issues have limited his production since then.
Baalke spoke earlier this week about wanting to lock up Smith beyond the 2015 season, but a new deal for the linebacker would have been contingent on him staying out of trouble. The Niners protected themselves in the offseason by renegotiating Smith’s contract to convert most of his base salary into per-game roster bonuses and incentives. Now that he has been cut, the former seventh overall pick won’t have a chance to earn that bonus money.
By releasing Smith, the 49ers will create in the neighborhood of $3MM in cap room, leaving just $1.6MM in dead money on their cap. Had the team not reworked the linebacker’s deal, he would’ve been on San Francisco’s books for a guaranteed $9.754MM, so the club’s foresight paid off.
The 49ers’ defense has already taken several hits this offseason, making Smith’s absence the latest blow to an increasingly depleted unit. The team saw cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox depart in free agency, while defensive end Justin Smith and linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland all decided to retire.
With Smith no longer in the mix, Ahmad Brooks, Aaron Lynch, and third-round rookie Eli Harold will be leaned on more heavily in San Francisco. The club also signed free agent linebacker Steve Beauharnais, who recently worked out for both the Niners and the Colts, to take Smith’s spot on the 90-man roster, tweets John Middlekauff of 95.7 The Game. However, Beauharnais is more of an inside linebacker, and may not crack the team’s Week 1 roster.
As for Smith, after missing nine games last season due to a suspension, he’s now under review for further discipline from the NFL, a league source confirms to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). We recently saw Junior Galette, another talented pass rusher with off-field red flags, catch on with a new team shortly after being released by his old team, but Smith may not find a new job as quickly, as one general manager tells Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (Twitter links).
“For now, not touching him,” the GM said in a text message to Freeman. “No one will for the moment. Every team will wait and see … We won’t see Aldon Smith in an NFL uniform until next season.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
49ers’ Aldon Smith Arrested
11:09am: After getting out of jail this morning, Smith told KTVU (YouTube link) that “this wasn’t a DUI” and “the truth will come out,” while apologizing to fans. Meanwhile, 49ers CEO Jed York tells Michael Silver (Twitter link) that the team hasn’t yet made any decisions on Smith.
9:58am: 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith has run into more off-field trouble, according to Matt Keller of ABC7 News, who reports (via Twitter) that Smith was arrested and booked by Santa Clara Police last night. The Santa Clara PD confirmed Smith’s arrest, tweeting that he was charged with hit and run, DUI, and vandalism.
Smith, 25, has had his share of legal run-ins in the past, including multiple DUI arrests. The linebacker has missed nearly half the 49ers’ games over the last two seasons after entering a rehabilitation facility in 2013 and serving a nine-game suspension in 2014. Given the nature of his latest violation, Smith may be facing another suspension, either from the team or the league. Repeated arrests cost Ray McDonald his spot on the Niners’ roster last season, so Smith’s spot on the team may also be in jeopardy.
The timing of the incident is unfortunate for the 49ers, whose GM – Trent Baalke – spoke earlier this week about wanting to lock up Smith beyond the 2015 season. Instead, the club may consider parting ways with Smith, since his cap hit wouldn’t be exorbitant. The former seventh overall pick agreed to restructure his contract during the offseason, converting most of his base salary to per-game roster bonuses. Smith can earn up to $9.754MM via bonuses and incentives, but the Niners would only have to eat $1.6MM if they were to release him.
When he’s healthy and on the field, Smith can be one of the league’s most effective pass rushers, as he exhibited during his first two years in the NFL. As a part-time player in his rookie season, Smith recorded 14 sacks, and he piled up another 19.5 in 2012, en route to a spot on the All-Pro first team. However, his off-field issues have limited his production since then.
The 49ers’ defense has already taken several hits this offseason, so Smith’s absence – if he’s cut or suspended – would be the latest blow to the increasingly depleted unit. The club saw cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox depart in free agency, while defensive end Justin Smith and linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland all decided to retire.