New Seahawks pass rusher Aldon turned himself in to police Tuesday night at St. Bernard Parish Prison in Louisiana, where he was booked and released Wednesday on $25,000 bond. An arrest warrant was issued for him Monday charging second-degree battery for an incident Saturday, two days after he signed a one-year free agent deal with the Seahawks.
Parish District Attorney Perry Nicosia told ESPN that Smith allegedly choked a victim unconscious during a confrontation that began inside a coffee shop in Chalmette, east of New Orleans. Nicosia said the episode was captured on a security camera. The victim, who said he was acquainted with Smith, was taken to a hospital but did not stay overnight.
Under Louisiana law, if convicted, Smith could face a sentence of up to eight years.
New Orleans TV station WWL obtained Thursday the incident report from the sheriff’s office, which said the dispute was over the treatment of the assault victim’s wife, a relative of Smith.
Smith and the victim agreed to meet at the coffee shop, where they were eventually joined by three other men invited by Smith. The responding deputy’s report said Smith grabbed his victim’s neck with one hand and slapped him with his other hand. Abrasions to the face and ligature marks of the left and right sides of the victim were visible to the deputy.
The WWL story said the victim told investigators that the meeting was heated. Smith and one of the other men threatened his life if he hurt his wife again.
The parties left the coffee shop. Outside, the victim said Smith grabbed his cellphone and destroyed it and began choking him. One of the other men also began punching the victim. Smith punched and kicked him and then choked him until he lost consciousness.
The Seahawks signed Smith, 31, a linebacker/defensive end who was named All-Pro in 2012 with the San Francisco 49ers, to help with pass-rush depth behind starter Carlos Dunlap.
He was a 16-game starter for the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, signing a one-year deal for $4 million. He signed with Seattle for the veteran’s minimum of $990,000.
It was Smith’s first football action after an indefinite NFL suspension that lasted four years following multiple off-field incidents and violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Smith had 33.5 sacks in his first two seasons in San Francisco, an NFL record, after being drafted seventh in the 2011 draft. But he had three DUI arrests in five years with the 49ers before they released him in early 2015. He signed with the Raiders for a season.
No incidents involving Smith were reported during his season in Dallas, but the Cowboys chose to not re-sign him.
SI.com last week reported that the Seahawks offered Smith a contract in March but that those talks broke down due to the team’s concerns over Smith’s “personal issues,’’ which were said to be why the Cowboys walked away. In the game between the teams in week 3, Smith had three sacks of Russell Wilson and four QB hits.
The Seahawks issued a statement saying the club had been contacted by Smith.
“We are aware of the reports regarding Aldon Smith,” the statement read. “Aldon notified us and we are gathering more information. We have no further comment at this time.”
— Travers Mackel (@TraversWDSU) April 19, 2021
27 Comments
Not a person that we want in the community.
Looks bad. But let’s hold off a bit on judgments.
If the police retract their statement and say it was in error then all will be forgiven.
He has a history that is not forgiven. A bad hire.
Some said the same about Marshawn when the Seahawks traded for him. He had multiple arrests on his record including pushing a police woman. When the Seahawks acquired him he was immediately arrested for a DUI and already had such an arrest on his record. The Seahawks simply said they were aware of the situation and were monitoring it closely. It’s not like the NFL is stocked with nothing but Altar Servers. Or society itself for that matter.
Ouch, my Alter Boy internship was cut short, perhaps because my lips lingered too long on the wine chalice.
You could say that about the majority of the Seattle City Council.
Although the truth will eventually be revealed it don’t look good. Much like a well liked wide receiver we hoped had changed the issue is much more about the young man than the game of football. Right or wrong these athletes are in a spotlight 24-7 that most of us can’t even imagine or could tolerate. It may turn out a loon was messing with Smith much like Charles Barkley was years ago resulting in him throwing his harasser out a plate glass window. When asked if he had any regrets – to paraphrase Charles said “only that it wasn’t the second floor”. This kind of thing won’t wash nowdays, after all dispite Charles statement to the contrary – you are a role model.
It’s not the athlete’s fault society considers them to be “role models”, though. It’s not their obligation to change who they are so as to “set an example” for anyone else. ESPECIALLY for kids that aren’t even theirs and they don’t even have any contact or interaction with. Never once did I expect Rupert Jones, Dr. J, Lonnie Shelton, Lynn Swann or Jockey Scott as “role models” who should’ve felt obligated to “set an example” for me nor anyone else when I was of a certain age range in the ‘70’s. I had parents, relatives, teachers, coaches and religious-types for that. You know, the people whom I actually interacted with. I didn’t finger point at some guy on TV and put it on him just because his picture was on my bedroom wall.
What does it say about the adults that they’re pointing at the guy on TV to “set an example”? Those are usually the same people who finger point at pro athletes, expecting them to “give back” because of their income and position, but often haven’t done anything themselves.
I don’t think many kids of any era set about to seek role models out of pop culture. They like who they like, and parents have to respond when the supposed role models fail.
Consider yourself lucky to have had a youth that included so many candidates. Lots of kids aren’t nearly as fortunate as you were.
It is more about Smith’s welfare than the Seahawks. He was their player for a day. Barkley’s remark was a warning to parents that they shouldn’t count on athletes, or actors, politicians, clergy or anyone they don’t know, to be role models. Often it can’t be helped, but be ready with a good explanation when failure presents.
The seemingly long standing belief that athletes being considered role models is ludicrous and are being consistently placed on a pedestal that most athletes don’t want or are worthy of is damaging to them and those who idolize them. Sports is nothing more than a form of entertainment as is so called TV and movie stars. There are plenty of professions that are far more deserving of the role model tag.
The only celebrity off the top of my head who utterly deserves “role model” status is Mr. Rogers. The guy was an absolute saint who did so much for children through his PBS show.
Close seconds might include Paul Newman, Tom Hanks, Mother Teresa, post-presidency Jimmy Carter, and Jimmy Stewart.
Hope it all works out but this could mean the end of his NFL career. Going to depend on the details of the arrest.
“Could”? It’s over, period.
And you base that train of thought on the fact that the NFL is the bastion of good citizenship.
Anger management has got to be even tougher in an angry society.
I’ve noticed that in many places. Can’t know how it applies here yet.
While I’m happy the Seahawks have well moved passed the Tim Ruskell era merry band of undersized saints being trucked every week, with Mora clamoring for dirtbags, this signing may have gone too far the other way. I had hoped Smith had indeed moved passed these shenanigans, but considering even the Cowboys passed after a pretty productive season, alarm bells were ringing. I hope this is overblown more for the man than the team, but if it’s true and his celebration of a new contract was choking someone out, outside of a coffee shop, the man clearly needs help.
Most every team has some history with taking on high-risk personalities. But getting in an altercation the day after signing, regardless of the legal outcome, is reckless.
I’d be mad too if there was no froth on my cappuccino!
In Seattle, maybe . . .
He’s entitle to due process, and could have been provoked, but… the most likely explanation is that he repeated the awful behaviors that he’s demonstrated in the past. If true, Pete and John should “protect the team” and wish Aldon well in getting help elsewhere.