Raiders outside linebacker Aldon Smith’s year is up today.
And while he’s yet to be reinstated from his year-long suspension for multiple violations of the league’s substance abuse policy, Smith declared in a YouTube video that he would not be deterred from coming back.
Via Jimmy Durkin of the Bay Area News Group, the video shot during one of Smith’s workout sessions in San Francisco included him being asked what advice he’d give others who felt down.
“I’m going to speak for myself because I’m in that situation,” Smith said. “I won’t take no for answer. I won’t be defeated. You’ve got to understand that it’s your life. You control it. You can’t let nobody else control it. It doesn’t matter what they try to do to you.
“And most importantly, God put you here for a reason so make the best out of your life, your situation and be a blessing to somebody else and show the world what you’re worth.”
Smith was banished for a year after a long list of incidents with the law and various league policies. Though his time has been served, commissioner Roger Goodell still has to reinstate him, and there’s no clear timetable for when he might consider that.
If he makes it back, it would be a huge boost for the Raiders, but if he stays well enough to remain eligible, the bigger victory will be for Smith himself.
