I find it very interesting that Charles Haley is inducted into the Hall of Fame at the same time that Aldon Smith gets popped for another DUI. Both guys are phenomenal pass rushers. Both had major character issues that caused problems in their lives. Haley’s issues ran from pissing in Carmen Policy’s potted plants in his office to taking a shit on Steve Young’s car to countless other run-ins with teammates and opponents to the point of pissing everyone off. It got so bad that Eddie D, in a fit of hubris, decided to pawn off the problem child to hated foe Dallas, thinking he’d cause a shit-ton of problems over there. Well, that backfired in about the most horrendous way possible for Eddie and the Niners as Dallas reeled off 3 Super Bowls with Charles in charge on the defense.
Haley has been very forthcoming about his diagnosis with bipolar disorder, and how he hid from it most of his life. Never asking for help as he would feel weak to do so, etc. He has also said ‘I’m done saying sorry as I’ve spent the last 4 years doing that, and how many times can I say it?’ Which leads us to Aldon Smith. He’s a very smart kid who comes across as thoughtful and eager to move on past his earlier problems. He has said all the right things lately, and has kept his nose clean. Til now. Smith was arrested by the Santa Clara police for DUI hit and run and vandalism charges. I’m assuming the vandalism is due to damage from his car tearing shit up, but there are no details as of now as to what happened.
Smith has already come out and said he isn’t in the wrong, but really, to admit guilt would result in his immediate suspension. Here’s Aldon’s response this morning:
“The people who are faithful remain faithful,” Smith said. “Simple as this: Justice will be served, the truth will come out, there’s no DUI. I’m sorry for anybody I let down, I’m sorry for the way this whole thing . . . I need to speak and I want everybody to understand, this wasn’t a DUI, the situation I had could have been handled differently and I apologize for everybody I did let down and I apologize for how it all played out. But as far as everything is concerned, it will work out the way it’s supposed to work out. That’s all.”
Aldon’s either in full-blown denial, or he’s a real shitty driver, or I don’t know, he’s a magnet for trouble.. Point being, this goes beyond football. He needs to take care of himself and figure out what is really going on. He seems to not be able to avoid driving drunk and doing stupid shit. Problem is, the league refuses to do anything to players before court dates and this could be stalled out for a season.
So what do the Niners do at this point? They are ‘not rushing to judgement’ but this could very well play out like the RayMac situation where you have a guy on the hook for various crimes, yet without his day in court, he gets to play. Shit, Smith was on the field hours after being released from jail for his last DUI. Beyond that, Smith was fucked over by Goodell what he voluntarily went into rehab following that arrest. Goodell still levied a hefty 9-game suspension on him. So, do the Niners cut their losses now? Go the ‘due process’ route? Wait for Goodie Goodell?
Frankly, I’d have a talk with Aldon and say look, we’re going to release you. You haven’t held up your side of the bargain that we JUST struck. Get your shit together now. Admit you fucked up, and start on the road to getting past this. We’ll talk in 2016 when you’ve gotten your shit together. I’d tell Goodie as well. Just say I’m voluntarily suspending myself, so don’t go ahead and suspend me next year when all this plays out.
Thing is though, due to Goodell’s previous actions I can see Smith playing out the string until the league does something. Whether that’s here or elsewhere is a question. But you KNOW he would be on the open market for about 24 hours before some other team would sign him to a deal.
Forty Niners Forever 
Well, the Niners wasted no time and released Aldon Smith. Not surprising given the number of run-ins with the law. Wonder how long it takes before he gets signed by someone else?
They are making al the noises regarding this issue is bigger than football, he needs help, and all that. But if losing a multi-million job isn’t reason enough to get help, you wonder what his thought process is at this point.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13394571/aldon-smith-released-san-francisco-49ers
How much do you want to bet Goodell is conferencing in all the owners regarding Aldon?
Here’s what he’s saying:
“Hey guys, give this a month to sit. NO ONE can pursue Aldon Smith until September 5th.”
Drink sure has brought down a lot of famous people. I haven’t checked yet, but I bet the “other” blog is taking credit for predicting this latest player problem. The glee bursting forth will probably be significant there.
Furthermore, the Niners are ‘supporting Aldon in every way possible to get past these issues. He will not have to walk this path alone. This is from the owner to the GM to everyone on the team.’
Tomsula is handling this was well as possible. Saying this is a ‘very sad day’ for everyone involved.
Dumb. That is all.
Annnnnnnnd now, yourrrrr Super Bowl L hosts, the San Francisco 49ers 2015!
How fitting and wryly ironic that this should all transpire on International Beer Day (first Friday of every August). Here’s to you Aldon. The red-faced icing on the cake to this total embarrassment and sham of an organization that is the San Francisco Forty Niners.
Thanks Dennis I needed that. I’m pretending my ice water is some suds.
Hey dennis- love you man, but you blow it out your ass concerning the 49ers. You don’t like em, great. But lot’s of people still do care very much about the organization.
You think I don’t care? Ha. That’s my fucking problem. I care too much. They make me sick to my fucking stomach. I wish I could stop caring, but like I’ve said before, they’re my family. But that doesn’t make me have to love them all the time.
Tell me you haven’t at least once, probably numerous times said to either a sibling, parent or your spouse: I hate you. You’ve ruined my life. I wish you were dead. Fuck you. But their still your family. That will never change.
Well, I hate the 49ers. They’ve ruined my life. I wish they were dead. Fuck them. But they’re my family. We share the same DNA. And I couldn’t be more ashamed at this moment to call myself a 49er Faithful. And so should the rest of you.
Bullshit. One crazy guy who they tried patiently to help is beyond redemption at this point and we should call out the organization and hate the team?
Be a pussy as much as you want Dennis but don’t expect everyone else to have no backbone when trouble comes.
You know what’s bullshit? $1.3B on a new stadium and they can’t even practice there because the sod is sub-standard. Yet York and Co. keep renting it out and raking in the dough. They *deserve* each and every goddamn torn ACL that’s coming this year.
The City and County of Santa Clara have everything to do with the stadium being pimped out. It was part of the deal to GET the stadium built. So save your pathetic whining for something else.
Beat me to it Chuck. As usual its just lazy to point a finger at “greedy Jed” right Dennis?
Topic du jour in North Korea I understand, just won’t fly here where stupid bias is harder to find.
Thanks dennis, I understand now.
This one really fucking hurt. I am totally fucking pissed.
Aldon was looking good in TC and making the right noises. Its a real gut punch.
No Dennis, you ruined your life. The 49ers are a diversion. A sports team. They owe you nothing. That you invest so much into it is your deal. I’m as die-hard a fan as anyone. I’ve broken and thrown things over the years, but that was in my younger hot-headed days. I’m still passionate about my team, as evidenced by this fucking place and the time I put into it, but to ascribe them to ruining my life because they are having problems? Sorry. That’s just a pathetic cry for attention from you. Boo hoo. The Niners are having troubles, so you complain about how it affects you? Total candy-ass shit, Dennis. Not wholly unexpected, but candy-ass nonetheless. Nut up or shut up.
Like Aldon, you need to take responsibility for your actions and not blame the world for your problems.
Time to grow up, Dennis.
You couldn’t be more wrong. You just don’t get it. And if football remains “just a game,” you never will.
Get what? That your life is determined by how well the 49ers do? Sorry, but that is the talk of someone who has no responsibilities at all. Those of us in the real world have kids to get through school, bills to pay, and normal shit to take care of. Yet your life is ruined because the field is in bad shape? Boo hoo. Poor Dennis. I feel so bad for you. The 49ers don’t live up to your standards.
Funny because you take no responsibility for your life. If you want to feel bad for someone, feel bad for Aldon Smith. he’s got some problems that he can’t handle right now. You should at least know how he feels.
You telling me what kind of fan I should be is about as stupid as anything Bullit has ever posted, Dennis.
Like I said, your last few posts are completely disconnected with reality. I ain’t happy about all this shit raining down on the team, but in the end it doesn’t determine what happens in my life.
The only two starters remaining from the Harbaugh SB defense are Brooks and a rehabbing Bowman. Don’t get neck strain watching Rodgers. Stafford, Ryan, Palmer, Manning, Foles, Wilson, Worthlessberger and Flacco this year. The whizzing sound you hear is balls flying over, under and through the Niners D.
Note that I didn’t include on that list my second fav young QB from last year, Teddy Roosewater. He’s on probation, being his soph year. but he has AP to do his damage for him now.
The only QBs left on the Niner schedule are Cutler, Dalton, and Johnny Eightball. That’s barring injury to injury-prone guys like Palmer and Foles of course.
Is that every SB winning QB in the league with the exceptions of Brady, Brees and Peyton on the Niner schedule this year (6 games total)? Yipes.
Taylor Swift concert at Levi’s on the 15th? This after this Sunday’s practice has been moved because of crappy field conditions. Yeah, that field will be ready for the 23rd. LOL, bringing back fond memories of Candlestick already and it’s not even the rainy season!
Exactly. Chuck and the 12th Man are reading me the fine print of the stadium contract. This predicament has nothing to do with “greedy Jed” making money off other events. It has everything to do with this Mickey Mouse Organization looking like a goddamn embarrassment.
I, (state your name), am thoroughly embarrassed to call myself a 49er fan.
Say it. Say it! Say it!! Say it!!! SAY IT! SAY IT!! SAY IT!!! S A Y I T !!!
Speak for your wimpy self Dennis.
Dennis, I was thinking Taylor might write and perform a bad love song for you. Something like this. Think of it as Dennis’ Ode to the Niners:
You do know they announced weeks ago the field will be replaced after the concert and 6 to 8 times during the year and that most grass playing surfaces get replaced multiple times during the season right RT?
How’d that work last year?
Why are you shifting the argument? You make a big deal about a Taylor Swift concert damaging the field and the team had already addressed it, weeks ago.
Last year the field was decent once they figured out the new stadium shake out process. Early on it didn’t work then they figured it out.
If you want to find fault you will find it.
If it’s fixed, why did they have to move this Sunday’s practice?
The Taylor Swift concerts are next weekend. Since it’s fixed, they’ll be able to practice on the field right after?
I will go a little slower. The playing surface will be resurfaced, multiple times, starting before the first pre-season game after the Taylor Swift concert.
The team and various agencies use the facility for all kinds of events. It’s a side effect of being the only 100% privately financed football stadium in the united states, it has to generate a lot of money.
Predicting precisely how the surface will hold up following these events, such as Barcelona v Manchester United, would be a tough thing to do.
The team has already committed to a new surface before any games are played or players are at risk.
In the event it didn’t hold up we’ll enough, and it hasn’t, there are 2 practise fields at the stadium, meaning it causes absolutely zero disruption to the team in TC.
What’s the problem again?
If memory serves Kezar was a mud pile for a few games a year.
Winder. IIRC, they used to paint the Candlestick dirt they piled on top of the mud after heavy rains. By midgame, between the forty yd. lines used to look like the Thanksgiving pickup games I played as a kid.
As was the Stick.
I’m not trying to pour salt on an open wound, but I gotta vent. If I don’t laugh about it, …
As for the turf …..at least they don’t have to worry about weeds…..the turf never lasts long enough to grow any.
Meanwhile, in other NFL News:
http://sports.yahoo.com/photos/packers-continue-bicycle-tradition-with-young-fans-slideshow/green-bay-packers-ricky-collins-walks-back-lambeau-photo-180241153.html
Talk about an Image Gap! It will take the Niners years to close it.
As bad as this off season has been at least we’re not stuck in Geneoushire listening to chamber music.
I didn’t mind losing Gore or Willis. Two old men on the downside of their careers. Borland stung a little but really, we’re talking about him having a handful of good games, no guarantees with him. Aldon was a bummer mostly because I think it’s going to hit the psyche of the team pretty hard. Everyone seems to love that guy. I’m not as versed as you guys on who will replace him but the options can’t look good.
But I am not down on the season yet, not by a long shot. Harbs is gone and that looks like a huge plus. And it’s possible that Kaep got some things worked out in the off season. We’ll see if Warner had any impact at all.
But whatever, I’m ready for real games because those are the only thing that *really* matter. Anyone who pretends to know what this team will do this year is full of shit. Let’s form more cogent opinions after the first 4 games of the year…….
tru dat
oh and Dennis, good luck dude. Sounds like you need it.
Meanwhile on the “other” blog, Phil is giving advice on treatment for being a drunk.