Why the NFL might be taking their time with Aldon Smith
Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith was suspended for a year for multiple transgressions. He became eligible to apply for a return from that suspension on November 17 but as of the time I am writing this, there has been no word from the NFL one way or the other on Smith.
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As different as Smith’s situation is from most suspensions, the Raiders actually have a recent case to compare it to. This past offseason, Josh Gordon, the troubled Cleveland Browns receiver, went through a similar process. The big difference? Rodger Goodell actually decided to announce his decision to reinstate Gordon before Gordon was even eligible.
Many Raiders fans assume this is a sign that the NFL is being unfair to Aldon Smith because he’s a member of the Silver and Black (yes, even now people believe the NFL is out to get the Raiders).
That, however, is not likely the reason why we haven’t heard about Aldon Smith yet. But the reason is still probably tied to Josh Gordon. Less than a week before Gordon was set to return, Gordon checked himself into rehab which effectively checked him out of a return to the NFL this season.
That was, no doubt, an embarrassing moment for Goodell. After reviewing the case, he determined early on that he would allow Gordon to come back. But before he ever got back, Gordon took a step back and showed he was not ready to be back. Surely, Goodell is thinking about that as he decides what to do with Aldon Smith. What if he allows Smith back only to see him also have a regression and wind up in rehab again? If that happens, you know people will be questioning whether or not Goodell has any idea what he is doing.
Obviously, the fact that Aldon Smith checked into rehab somewhat recently is a bad sign. You don’t check into rehab unless you had a relapse. Perhaps that in addition to what happened with Gordon has Goodell deciding he will be overly cautious with Smith after throwing caution to the wind with Gordon.
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