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Oakland Raiders LB Aldon Smith applies for reinstatement to NFL

By The Sports Xchange
New Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Aldon Smith puts on his helmet to play the Cincinnati Bengals at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California on September 13, 2015. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
New Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Aldon Smith puts on his helmet to play the Cincinnati Bengals at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California on September 13, 2015. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith has applied for reinstatement from the NFL with his one-year suspension set to end on Nov. 17.

Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie told the San Francisco Chronicle that Smith has submitted his application to return to the club.

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"Aldon is doing well," McKenzie told the newspaper. "That situation is going to be totally up to the league because he's been in the program and they've monitored him. It's up to (commissioner Roger) Goodell to say yah, nay or when. And he could say no to everything. ... That part is out of our hands."

In September 2015, Smith pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run, drunken driving and vandalism charges that stemmed from an incident on Aug. 6.

Smith was suspended for a year on Nov. 17 for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Under league rules, the 27-year-old is eligible to apply for reinstatement 60 days before the one-year anniversary of the suspension.

Smith, who was the seventh overall pick of the 2011 draft, spent his first four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, with whom he recorded 44 sacks in 42 games.

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While with the 49ers, Smith had multiple run-ins with law enforcement and was arrested four times. San Francisco finally released Smith last year after his DUI and hit-and-run arrest in August.

Smith, who signed with Oakland the following month, recorded 28 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks in nine games last season with the Raiders.

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