The nine-game suspension for San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Aldon Smith wasn't reduced to allow him to play Sunday, as many expected. Ed Werder of ESPN reports the reason, according to two league sources, is that while Smith did more than mandated in terms of community service, he did not fulfill the obligations assigned him in terms of his counseling protocol. Smith was suspended for violating both the personal conduct policy and the substance-abuse policy. Smith has 42 sacks in 43 career NFL games and ranks second to Jared Allen in compiling sacks the past three seasons. Brees has said that the Niners have proven capable of pressuring quarterbacks and being disruptive but they're not as fearsome without Smith. http://www.theredzone.org/BlogDescr...t-fulfill-counseling-obligations/Default.aspx
