San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith says that he's got the full support of the team behind him, and that "a lot" of things you've been hearing about him "are being painted in a picture that's not true," according to an interview with Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area.
49ers LB Aldon Smith says things are ‘being painted in a picture that’s not true’
The prolific pass rusher says he’s a good person and has the full support of the 49ers behind him.
Jonathan Ferrey
Smith has had a rough time in the NFL everywhere but the stat sheet. In three seasons and 43 games, Smith has a total of 42 quarterback sacks. It’s because of that number and that number alone that the 49ers elected to exercise Smith’s fifth-year contract option, which will keep him with the team through the 2015 season.
Leading up to the deadline to exercise said option, many wondered whether or not the 49ers felt it would be worth it given the trouble Smith has been getting into. Smith is facing weapons and DUI charges on top of being the subject of an investigation into an incident at Los Angeles International Airport in April. That occurred on April 13, when he was arrested for reportedly making a false report of a bomb threat.
Smith claims that he never said the word “bomb,” during the incident. It was rumored that Smith had been drinking prior to the incident, something that’s significant given that he had to undergo mandatory rehab last season following his DUI arrest.
“I’m a good person and the people who know me know I’m a good person,” Smith said, “Maybe after this is over, you can tell your friends I am a good person. Anybody who hangs around me can tell that. A lot of these things are being painted in a picture that’s not true.”
This is the first time Smith has made a lengthy public statement since the April arrest. He has not been charged for that incident yet, as the City’s Attorney’s office is still mulling a possible misdemeanor charge. “The 49ers have supported me. As you can see, the option got picked up,” Smith said, “And if I was a thug or something, I don’t think they’d take those chances.”
Smith talks about his life being “good,” and says that he is “living day by day and enjoying life.” He said that he needs to make better decisions and “control your situations better.” He credits his 17-month-old son, Aulis, as a positive catalyst for change in his life.
There’s still a lot of uncertainty regarding Smith and where he goes from here. Clearly, the 49ers support him and want him to to come back stronger than ever, but it’s hard to imagine him making it to the 2014 regular season without some kind of punishment from either the 49ers or the league. This is entirely speculation at this point, and likely hinges on how his court cases go and whether or not he’s eventually charged for the LAX incident.
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