Harsh but Fair 9-Game Ban Must Be Wake-Up Call for Aldon Smith

The San Francisco 49ers have one of the most formidable defenses in the National Football League. Their linebacker corps is widely considered the best in the NFL.

However, for a large part of the 2014 season, that linebacker group is going to be severely short-handed. In the case of NaVorro Bowman, it was a severe knee injury—unfortunate, but also unavoidable.

Aldon Smith once again refused to get out of his own way, and after getting hammered by commissioner Roger Goodell, the 24-year-old is officially out of do-overs in the NFL.

Bleacher Report - San Francisco 49ers
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