Why, after so many off-the-field transgressions that resulted in an NFL-mandated nine-game suspension, should you trust Aldon Smith to stay out of trouble?
“Honestly, time will show,” he told reporters Tuesday. “I’m not going to sit here and give you some, whatever, crazy answer. Time will show, you know?”
The San Francisco 49ers are counting on it, especially with the outside linebacker’s suspension ending as inside linebacker Patrick Willis' season ends after being placed on injured reserve with a toe injury.
Smith called his suspension ending “one of the top exciting moments of my life.”
Even if his suspension was never reduced as numerous reports suggested it would be. And while Smith took umbrage with an ESPN report that said the reason for his suspension not being reduced was because he had not finished mandated counseling -- “I did everything that was necessary,” he said -- he was willing to move on.
“It’s not important,” he said. “I’m happy to be here.”
The 49ers, whose 15 sacks rank tied for 24th in the league with the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers, could use his brand of pass rush.
In 43 career games since entering the NFL as the No. 7 overall draft pick in 2011, Smith has 42 sacks. He figures to pick up where he left off, reclaiming the spot taken by Dan Skuta in his absence with the Niners playing at the New York Giants this weekend.
Smith could work out at the team facility and attend meetings during his suspension but was banned from practicing with the team and from attending games.
Football-wise, he said he spent his free time watching tape and doing some “self-scouting” and “polishing up my own stuff” to prepare for regaining eligibility. Off the field, he said he put in considerable time with local Boys & Girls clubs.
Still, he was aware of the ticking clock.
“You keep hearing your name and you’re like, ‘Oh, man, obviously I’m missed out there,’” he said. “But it just put that much more in my drive when I was preparing, whether if it was my working out or whatever I was doing to mentally be prepared to come back. So it was just something in the back of my head.
“My body feels good and I’m ready to go.”