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Raiders sign talented but troubled Aldon Smith

Linebacker Aldon Smith, with the 49ers last season, sits on the bench during the second half of a game against the Redskins.

Linebacker Aldon Smith, with the 49ers last season, sits on the bench during the second half of a game against the Redskins.

(Tony Avelar / Associated Press)
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On the field, defensive end Aldon Smith is a menace that makes life uncomfortable for opposing teams. But off the field, Smith has made things uncomfortable for his own team.

However, despite his arrest on suspicion of hit and run, drunk driving and vandalism a little more than a month ago, the Oakland Raiders signed Smith to a one-year contract Friday.

The arrest was Smith’s fifth run-in with police and third DUI since entering the NFL as the San Francisco 49ers’ first round pick in the 2011 draft.

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The 49ers released Smith on Aug. 7, the day after his most recent legal incident. But after a recent face-to-face meeting, the Raiders determined Smith to be worthy of the risk. The Raiders signed Smith on the same day the Santa Clara district attorney’s office charged him with three misdemeanors stemming from his August arrest.

“We are confident that the Raiders provide an environment where Aldon can thrive through the support, structure and leadership within the building,” Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie said in a statement released by the team. “We are excited to have Aldon here in the Raiders family.”

Smith’s talent has never been questioned. He has been one of the league’s top pass rushers coming off the edge when he’s been on the field. He has 44 career sacks in 50 games. Fourteen of those came his rookie season when he was the runner-up for AP defensive rookie of the year. The next season he totaled 19.5 sacks and an interception as he was named first-team All Pro and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl.

“Aldon is an extremely talented young player,” said Coach Jack Del Rio in the Raiders’ statement. “We welcome him to the Raiders family and expect him to bring his best every day and be a great teammate.”

But staying on the field has been the issue for Smith, who was suspended for nine games last season for violating the NFL’s Policy on Personal Conduct and Substances of Abuse. Along with the DUI arrests, Smith has also been arrested on suspicion of making fake bomb threats at the Los Angeles International Airport and he missed time in 2013 to undergo substance abuse treatment.

There was also the infamous 2012 house party at Smith’s home in San Jose in which he was stabbed and later named in a pair of lawsuits filed by men shot when caught in the middle of crossfire. Smith also faced weapons charges after police found unregistered assault rifles and ammunition.

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Smith practiced with the Raiders on Friday afternoon and is eligible to play in Sunday’s season opener against Cincinnati as of now. The NFL could intervene and enforce punishments related to Smith’s latest charges.

Del Rio said Smith could see time Sunday after arriving in good shape and veteran teammate Justin Tuck said he could see Smith being used in certain situations.

“Obviously if he plays on Sunday, he won’t have a full package but he’ll have enough,” Tuck said. “With a guy like Aldon, the talent that he is, I think he’ll get in there and fit right in.”

To make room for Smith, the Raiders waived defensive end Lavar Edwards, who was part of Oakland’s weak pass rush that managed only 22 sacks last season -- second fewest in the league.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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