ALAMEDA, Calif. — Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith was suspended Tuesday by the NFL for one calendar year because of violations of the league's substance-abuse policy, a person with direct knowledge of the decision said.
The penalty is effective immediately, said the person, who was speaking on condition of anonymity because the decision hadn't been formally announced.
Smith, 26, was released by the San Francisco 49ers in August after several run-ins with the law before landing across the bay with the Raiders. Smith went through the locker room and told teammates goodbye Tuesday. The Raiders had no official word on Smith's status, and agent Doug Hendrickson didn't immediately respond to phone or text messages.