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NFL to investigate video of Raiders LB Aldon Smith with 'cigarette'

By The Sports Xchange
Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Aldon Smith was scheduled to be considered for reinstatement in September, but a video apparently showing him smoking a marijuana cigarette and identifying himself as "Aldon Smith" may delay that. File photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Aldon Smith was scheduled to be considered for reinstatement in September, but a video apparently showing him smoking a marijuana cigarette and identifying himself as "Aldon Smith" may delay that. File photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith, currently serving a one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, may now be investigated for an online video.

A league source told ESPN's Ed Werder the NFL will investigate whether Smith has violated the conditions required of a suspended player seeking reinstatement to the league.

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An online video shows an unidentified man and woman talking about a hand-rolled cigarette. The video is archived in a Periscope account that Smith has used on multiple occasions over the past two months, according to ESPN.

The woman tells the man in the video that he "shouldn't even be posting that" as the man holds the lit cigarette. The video cuts off immediately after the man says, "They don't know it's me. It's not like I put 'Aldon Smith.'"

Smith tweeted Monday, seemingly in response to claims it's him in the video.

The 26-year-old Smith spent the 2015 season with Oakland after being released by the San Francisco 49ers. He compiled 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks in nine games last season. The pass rusher re-signed with the Raiders in April even though he was serving the yearlong suspension.

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Last September, Smith pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run, drunken driving and vandalism, charges that stemmed from an incident on Aug. 6. He was suspended for a year on Nov. 17.

Smith will be eligible to apply for reinstatement in September, 60 days before the one-year anniversary of the suspension. Any player seeking reinstatement from Smith's level of suspension must demonstrate to the league that he has abstained from any "substances of abuse" during the period of his ban, according to the league policy.

Smith, the seventh overall pick of the 2011 draft by the 49ers, spent his first four seasons with San Francisco, where he recorded 44 sacks.

Smith spent time in rehab in 2013 and served a nine-game suspension in 2014. He was cut by the 49ers during training camp last summer after his fifth arrest since coming into the league.

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