Last week, we reported that the 49ers were not going to release linebacker Aldon Smith as a result of his latest brush with the law and that the team had not decided whether or not to pick up the option on his contract for the 2015 season.
On Friday, General Manager Trent Baalke said pretty much the same thing. Baalke said that the organization is disappointed in Smith, but that disappointment isn’t going to lead the team to part ways with him.
“We’re a family. You don’t just open a door and toss people out of it,” Baalke said, via Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
Baalke also said that the team has yet to make a decision about whether or not they will be exercising the fifth-year option that is attached to Smith’s rookie contract, but said that he wants to have Smith on the roster in 2015 and beyond. Exercising the option would give Smith a salary of $9.754 million for the 2015 season, although it is guaranteed for injury only and doing so wouldn’t close the door on signing Smith to a long-term deal instead.
The 49ers have until May 3 to make a decision on the 2015 option.