News: Aldon thinks he can be the same player and better person

Hawkeye0202

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I haven't seen anything printed to presume this is the case but I wouldn't be surprised if it is. Lord knows, Randy's already tried to quit and failed miserably to do it. If he has told Goodell of his intentions to keep smoking weed, I'd be surprised to see him be reinstated at all, much less remain in good standing to stay that way. I suppose we'll see how it goes, assuming he's ever allowed to play again. No doubt, time will tell. I'd wish him well, in any event.

Notice his agent's response regarding his status...." he working through the process". Honestly that's not saying much at all. Remember how we've heard over the last couple years he's flirted with coming back but never officially applied for reinstatement. Why is that? Pretty sure the first criteria reinstatement is A CLEAN TEST.




Why the NFL’s new marijuana policy won’t help Randy Gregory — for now

https://sports.yahoo.com/randy-gregory-cowboys-suspension-reinstatement-marijuana-nfl-041223458.html


Notice the nugget about him passing drug test reference an article from July 2019.
 

Bullflop

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Notice his agent's response regarding his status...." he working through the process". Honestly that's not saying much at all. Remember how we've heard over the last couple years he's flirted with coming back but never officially applied for reinstatement. Why is that? Pretty sure the first criteria reinstatement is A CLEAN TEST.




Why the NFL’s new marijuana policy won’t help Randy Gregory — for now

https://sports.yahoo.com/randy-gregory-cowboys-suspension-reinstatement-marijuana-nfl-041223458.html


Notice the nugget about him passing drug test reference an article from July 2019.

I couldn't find the one you referred me to but saw one from March of this year, instead. As I understand it, he managed last year to stay clean for about a year previous to the time he got reinstated. That seemed to offer some degree of hope that he might be able to do it again. However, he's been in and out of rehab so many times that his habit seems more in line with something much more potent than pot. No doubt but what it affects many in different ways.

After so many instances of his failures to quit, I can't say as I'm counting on him to remain free of pot indefinitely, however. I'm just hoping he'll somehow manage to get his life squared away. If a return to the Cowboys is part of that, so much the better. I'm sure there's nothing else we can do but hope for him to get back to the NFL. If that's not in the picture, life goes on, regardless.
 
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Hawkeye0202

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I couldn't find the one you referred me to but saw one from March of this year, instead. As I understand it, he managed last year to stay clean for about a year previous to the time he got reinstated. That seemed to offer some degree of hope that he might be able to do it again. However, he's been in and out of rehab so many times that his habit seems more in line with something much more potent than pot. No doubt but what it affects many in different ways.

After so many instances of his failures to quit, I can't say as I'm counting on him to remain free of pot indefinitely, however. I'm just hoping he'll somehow manage to get his life squared away. If a return to the Cowboys is part of that, so much the better. I'm sure there's nothing else we can do but hope for him to get back to the NFL. If that's not in the picture, life goes on, regardless.

I'm thinking if he can just get back in, they'll give him plenty of rope. Also IF he applied for reinstatement as reported and Goodell has 60 days to respond, the deadline is around the corner. This begs the question, WHY is he "working through the process" if Goodell's deadline a few days away and as far we know, he has not met Goodell.

Wouldn't surprise me if his application is withdrawn to avoid Goodell make a public denial and we won't hear anything. This way nothing stops him from resubmitting another one before the season starts.
 

CCBoy

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...Smith seems to have his head right this time around. He seems to have realized how lucky he is to have the ability on the field that he has. Perhaps he will finally put everything together.

Dallas made a good football decision by signing Smith. They are also giving him what is likely his final chance in the NFL. If things don’t work out with the Cowboys, Smith’s NFL career will likely be over.

Expect to see Smith come in and make the most of this opportunity. He may not end up being a double-digit sack producer again, but he should be able to make a difference and become a major X-Factor for the Cowboys.

This is certainly going to be a storyline to keep an eye on throughout the entire 2020 NFL season...

http://www.nflanalysis.net/aldon-smith-is-ready-to-be-a-major-x-factor-for-the-cowboys/
 

Creeper

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Meet my new pet cat


I'm rooting HARD for this guy


I believe in giving guys second chances on the football field. Sometimes even 3rd chances. After watching this interview, I get a very good feeling about him as a person. I have no idea how good of a football player he can be. But a lot of guys who have messed up give interviews that do not look as natural and sincere as Aldon does here. A lot of guys sound like they are trying to say the right things so they can earn those big paychecks again. Aldon sounds proud of himself and how he has turned his life around. And it does sound like he has put his demons behind him. Good for him. I hate when people with his kind of talent throw it away on something stupid. Aldon has a chance to use his talent again and I hope he succeeds, not just for the Cowboys but also for himself.
 

Texas_Pete

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I believe in giving guys second chances on the football field. Sometimes even 3rd chances. After watching this interview, I get a very good feeling about him as a person. I have no idea how good of a football player he can be. But a lot of guys who have messed up give interviews that do not look as natural and sincere as Aldon does here. A lot of guys sound like they are trying to say the right things so they can earn those big paychecks again. Aldon sounds proud of himself and how he has turned his life around. And it does sound like he has put his demons behind him. Good for him. I hate when people with his kind of talent throw it away on something stupid. Aldon has a chance to use his talent again and I hope he succeeds, not just for the Cowboys but also for himself.
Well said. :thumbup:
 

Kaiser

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He's missed 4 years the same amount Roger Staubach missed for his navy commitment.

And Chad Hennings, though I'm not comparing Aldon Smith rear-ending a police car to Hennings flying an A-10 in combat.

The things I keep going back to with Smith is that he was an elite player, not an average one, so coming back at 70% is still bringing in a good player.

Also the position he plays is less dependent on technique than a position like QB or WR.

Also he is replacing Robert Quinn, who was a bargain for the trade we made but was still pretty one dimensional as a pass rusher who was soft against the run.
 

Typhus

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And Chad Hennings, though I'm not comparing Aldon Smith rear-ending a police car to Hennings flying an A-10 in combat.

The things I keep going back to with Smith is that he was an elite player, not an average one, so coming back at 70% is still bringing in a good player.

Also the position he plays is less dependent on technique than a position like QB or WR.

Also he is replacing Robert Quinn, who was a bargain for the trade we made but was still pretty one dimensional as a pass rusher who was soft against the run.
You nailed both topics Ive been running through my mind, and that's about as much as my old brain can handle these days..lol
Hennings comparison = talent and older can still transition at 70%.
Quinn comparison = worries me the most, would rather see Aldon focused on being a team player first, not copying the Quinn model of just highlight reel only pass rush intention, ignoring the running game.
 

big dog cowboy

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Aldon Smith has been reinstated to the NFL after a long substance abuse suspension, and despite a nearly five-year layoff, he says he can still be the All-Pro he once was.

Smith told TMZ.com that he sees no reason he can’t be the guy on the field who had 19.5 sacks in 2012
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GMO415

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The question will be, which form of wear and tear does more damage over 5 years, playing football or drugs and alcohol? I would be very happy if he can be half the player he once was. Would be a heck of a story.
Half a player is 10% of the people in here. Hahaha
 

DanA

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Every 30 year old thinks they can do what they could when they were in their early 20's, and they might be able to once or twice. But when you ask them to get up and go again, and again and again.....that's where it gets hard. And it's especially hard when you take time out and are no longer used to taking hits. The real difference between 24 and 30 is the ability to recover. While I think Aldon Smith can make an impact, IMO he's gonna have to manage himself real careful to make sure he's still got juice in the second half of the season and hopefully playoffs. If he and the coaching staff are smart, I think they'd have him on a reduced snap count and give him veteran days off mid-week during the season.
 
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