It has been a tough two weeks for former Missouri Tigers football stars Sheldon Richardson and Aldon Smith.
Let’s start with Richardson, former Gateway Tech football standout and graduate. It was disclosed that on July 14 Richardson was flying down I-64 near St. Charles at speeds up to 143 mph in his 2014 Bentley Silver Spur. His three passengers, who are related to him, included a 12-year-old boy.
Oblivious to the fact that driving twice the speed limit on a highway is dangerous and foolhardy, Richardson led police on a brief chase that, once he left the highway, included him allegedly driving around stopped vehicles.
Once he was stopped, police said the car smelled heavily of marijuana. A loaded handgun was also found.
No weed was located, so Richardson is not facing a charge on that alleged foible. The gun was properly registered, and Richardson holds a conceal-and-carry permit. In Wild West mentality Missouri, it is apparently perfectly acceptable to be in possession of loaded handgun while speeding in a car reeking of pot.
As for the 12-year-old, Richardson dodged a child endangerment charge because St. Charles County prosecutors said they could not prove that the New York Jets lineman knew his behavior was putting the kid in danger.
In other words, he didn’t realize speeding and overpowering marijuana odor and loaded gun could be a danger to his young relative.
If this isn’t ridiculous enough, Richardson met the New York media on July 29. It was the first time he spoke to reporters since the NFL suspended him for the first four games of the 2015 season for failing a substance abuse test. If you guessed marijuana was the culprit you would be correct.
In order to be suspended, you have to fail multiple tests during your career so this is not Richardson’s first F on a drug test.
After saying the obligatory “I take full accountability for my actions, I apologize to my teammates and the organization,” Richardson laid it on thick.
“I’m not a dope fiend. I can say no. I just chose not to. I was in a depressing time in my offseason. That’s just that. It’s that simple. But there’s money on the line. My money is worth more than some weed. It is what it is,” he said.
You want depressing? Richardson was making this statement with full knowledge of his arrest on July 14. The New York Jets found out an hour or so after Richardson’s “dope fiend” speech.
Richardson now faces a lengthier suspension for violation of NFL conduct policies and – if nothing else – being in close proximity to marijuana while facing suspension for marijuana use.
By the way, Car and Driver lists the price of Richardson’s car at about $204,000. It leases for $3,032 a month.
Aldon Smith’s story is far less comical.
The San Francisco 49ers released the former Mizzou Tiger after he was charged with DWI (yet again) and property damage. If convicted of the DWI allegation, it would be his third.
According to Santa Clara, California, police, Smith allegedly damaged another car while parking his own vehicle. He then caused additional damage with his door while exiting his car.
“Smith “later returned to the parking area where he was contacted by officers. Smith displayed objective symptoms of being under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. Officers administered a field sobriety test to Smith.”
San Francisco’s ABC 7 greeted Smith as he left jail on bail and he said, “Justice will be served. The truth will come out. There’s no DUI. I’m sorry to anybody I let down.”
Smith has let his family and teammates down many times over the last few years.
In April 2014, he was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for making a false bomb threat.
In October 2013, he was charged with three felonies related to the illegal possession of an assault weapon.
In September 2013 and January 2012, he was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
Smith served a nine-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse and personal conduct policies last season.
In 2013, he missed five games while in a substance abuse treatment program.
When Smith entered rehab, Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel said Smith “never had any problems with that, zero,” at school.
If Pinkel didn’t know Smith was an alcoholic train wreck waiting to happen, he certainly should have. Who believes that, anyway?
To think that Smith did not have a drinking problem in college and that all his anti-social behavior began the day he was drafted into the NFL is farcical. His deep-seeded problems have roots that include his time under Pinkel’s guidance.
Richardson will certainly resume his NFL career sometime this season. With all his baggage, an anonymous NFL executive told the Washington Post that it won’t be too long before we see Smith back in action.
“He’s obviously a talented player who could have an impact on your defense. He’ll be back in the league. It’s not if. It’s when and where,” the executive said.
