by Jeremy Kahn and Joe Hawkes Beamon

photo credit AP Raiders Aldon Smith

ALAMEDA–Aldon Smith who was busted for DUI on August 6th and faces DUI charges in Santa Clara it was at that time the San Francisco 49ers released Smith. Smith had served a nine game suspension for DUI during the 2014 season for substance abuse. This time in 2015 as an Oakland Raider Smith has been found to be a substance abuser again and will serve a one year suspension immediately according to the Raiders.

The Raiders really counted on Smith this season and was hoping that he finally would break through his drinking habit but he just couldn’t handle it any longer. Smith said a in a statement released on Tuesday “First I want to thank the Raiders, my teammates, the fans, our coaches and our owner in supporting me throughout all of this. I’m taking this time to work on myself and become the man I need to be. I had lost my love for the game and it led me to some poor choices, but I’m thankful to the Raider organization for believing in me this season and will continue to get better myself and grow from my experiences. I look forward to rejoining the team next year.”

Smith will lose $323, 529 in per game salary, he’ll miss out on the $514,000 base salary and $1.75 million in roster bonuses. The Raiders will depend on Khalil Mack and Mario Edwards to pick up the slack where Smith left off. The Raiders have another problem with linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong who taunted and barked at a Pittsburgh Police Dog when the team was at Heinz Field. The action by Armstrong is considered a felony and if prosecuted and convicted Armstrong could face a seven year prison sentence and a $15,000 fine. Sources say that the Pittsburgh Police are prepared to prosecute.

Jeremy Kahn and Joe Hawkes Beamon cover the Oakland Raiders for http://www.sportsradioservice.com