Both players were hurt during training camp practice Thursday.
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“It’s tough”, safety Antoine Bethea said. I knew something was wrong because everyone kept telling me something was wrong.
Tomsula and general manager Trent Baalke met with Smith on Fridaymorning and informed him of the organization’s decision that also involved owner Jed York’s input.
“It’s a sad day”, Tomsula said.
“Yeah, I heard about it”, Miller said of Smith’s release. Smith was also suspended by the NFL for the first nine game of last season for violations of the league’s personal conduct and substance abuse policies.
On the atmosphere in his locker room Friday, Tomsula said. The scene was only a couple of miles from team headquarters, at or on the street of Smith’s luxury apartment complex. When he returned, officers administered a sobriety test. Hopefully if another team were to sign him, maybe, just maybe Smith will get his act together and put on a show for the fans who attend games, not the police.
Asked about whether or not Tomsula believes Smith will ever play in the NFL again, he simply said, “I sure hope so, I think he can”.
As TMZ previously reported, Smith was arrested earlier this morning and charged with hit and run, DUI and vandalizm.
“Justice will be served, the truth will come out, there’s no DUI”, he told KGO in San Francisco.
Smith didn’t offer any further information but said the “situation that happened could have been handled differently”. Now the 49ers will most likely look to Ahmad Brooks to replace his production however it will be hard to replace a guy who can get 44 sacks in 50 games. “You see that with a lot of these guys”, Baalke said Tuesday. “We’re friends before everything else”. I’ve decided it sounds good so it’s going in. He was there for me. “And if he is, I’ll be there to help him through it”.
One year later, he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of marijuana following a single auto accident in in San Jose, Calif. Following Week 3 of the 2013 season, he voluntarily checked into a rehabilitation facility.
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In April of 2014, Smith was randomly selected for a screening at LAX Airport, and became uncooperative. However, no charges were filed in that incident. He was arrested in January 2012 for DUI (which was later reduced to reckless driving), and later that year, in June, he was involved in an incident at a party that resulted in three felony weapons charges (they were eventually reduced).
