Aldon issues statement: ‘Taking this time to work on myself'

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Ten weeks into the 2015 season, Aldon Smith's campaign is over after the NFL handed down a year-long suspension for violating the league's substance policy.

On Tuesday evening, the linebacker issued a statement regarding the suspension:

First, I want to thank the Raiders, my teammates, the fans, our coaches and our owner for supporting me throughout all of this.

I am taking this time to work on myself and become the man I need to be, my team and organization needs me to be, and I know I can be.

I had lost my love for the game and it led me to some poor choices, but I am thankful to the Raider organization for believing in me this season and will continue to better myself and grow from my experiences. I look forward to rejoining the team next year.

Additionally, the league released a statement regarding the suspension:

Aldon Smith of the Oakland Raiders has been notified that he is now suspended without pay for a minimum of one year for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Under the terms of the policy, Smith will be eligible to apply for reinstatement no sooner than 60 days before the one-year anniversary of the suspension.

Smith's suspension stems from an Aug. 6 run-in with the law that resulted misdemeanor charges of DUI with a prior conviction, hit-and-run and vandalism under $400. He was released by the 49ers the next day.

Smith pled not guilty to those charges. His case remains in a pre-trial phase, and a court date hasn’t been set.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney formally charged Smith on Sept. 11, the day he signed an incentive-laden one-year contract worth up to $8 million to join the Raiders.

Smith was already involved in the league’s substance abuse program after being convicted of DUI stemming from a 2013 incident. Smith was suspended nine games in 2014 for violating the league’s personal conduct and substance abuse policies.

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