The Dallas Cowboys are apparently in the reclamation business once again. While the team is waiting to get defensive end Randy Gregory back from a second year-long suspension, the team is still working to augment the edge spot opposite DeMarcus Lawrence. While big names are being floated about and the possibility of a high-end draft pick coming aboard are very serious, the club still is looking to protect themselves in things don’t fall their way.
To that end, the team has agreed to terms with defensive end Aldon Smith. Yes, that Aldon Smith. Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer broke the news.
Breaking: The #dallascowboys have signed former Pro Bowl LB/DE Aldon Smith to a one-year, marking the end of a 4-year absence. Clean and sober now, incredible how much he’s turned his life around. @NFLonFOX @dallascowboys
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 2, 2020
Aldon Smith getting a penny more than the minimum is incredible after being out of the league since 2015. He gets a $2 million base value and $2 million in sack incentives on his one-year deal.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 2, 2020
Smith, 30, will have to be reinstated by the league, but it appears the Cowboys believe that is an inevitability. He has not played in the NFL since 2015 but notched 42 sacks in his first three seasons. He will reunite with his defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, who was brought in to coach under Mike Nolan on Mike McCarthy’s new staff.
The 6-foot-5, 255 pound edge rusher was an absolute terror when he broke into the league in 2011, posting 14 sacks as a rookie for San Francisco. He followed that up with a 19.5 sack campaign in 2012, however after a fast start to 2013, things went downhill in a hurry.
In between those seasons though, Smith was stabbed while trying to break up a fight at his home where two people were shot.
In 2013, Smith was in a car accident and was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana possession. Soon after he checked himself into a rehab facility and was out for the next five games. He finished his 11-game season with 8.5 sacks.
In 2014 he was arrested at LAX for an alleged bomb threat but charges were dropped after it was determined he didn’t make one.
Two more DUI arrests followed, bookending a nine-game suspension for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy and he was released by San Francisco in 2015.
He played a few games for Oakland in 2015, but was suspended indefinitely. Unable to get himself back on track, he applied for reinstatement but still sat out the 2016 and 2017 seasons. In 2017 there were domestic violence allegations and he was arrested in both 2018 and 2019 for violations of a stay-away order and then again for driving under the influence.
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