Raiders GM: ‘We’re not going to bail’ on Smith

7:25 PM ET

NAPA, Calif. — Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said the team would not “bail” on suspended linebacker Aldon Smith, who has reportedly entered an undisclosed rehab facility after a Periscope video on an account purportedly belonging to Smith surfaced last week of an unidentified man and woman showing a hand-rolled cigarette or blunt.

“We’re going to support, our deal is to support Aldon from a standpoint of the person,” McKenzie said Saturday at training camp. “Whether he comes back to us or not, it has no bearing. We told him from Day 1, we care more about you than the player. So, whatever he does to ensure his health, we’re going to stand behind him.”

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie remains supportive of suspended linebacker Aldon Smith, who signed an $11.5 million, two-year contract in the offseason, but reportedly checked himself into a rehab. AP Photo/Ben Margot

The Raiders could not say that Smith is in rehab because they cannot have contact with him while he is under league suspension.

Smith is currently serving a yearlong ban handed down in November for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He will be eligible to apply for reinstatement in September, 60 days before the one-year anniversary of the suspension. The linebacker recently signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with no guaranteed money this offseason.

“We know his situation; it’s not that we have blinders, you know?” McKenzie said. “Going into last year, we knew the suspension was probable and it was going to be an uphill battle. He’s just going to have to fight the good fight, but we’re not going to bail on him. But, he has to do his part.”

McKenzie was speaking in the wake of his four-year contract extension, a move announced Friday night at a team alumni dinner by owner Mark Davis.

“I …

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