Arrest warrant issued in Louisiana for Aldon Smith
Aldon Smith’s feel-good story was put on hold Monday with the news that the Seattle Seahawks edge rusher is facing legal issues from an incident at a coffee house in Chalmette, Louisiana.
According to a news release from St. Bernard Parish District Attorney Perry Nicosia, Smith is wanted for second-degree battery.
“On the evening of April 17, 2021 at the French Press Coffee House … Mr. Smith caused severe injuries to a male victim that warranted a state court judge to sign an arrest warrant,” the statement said.
The investigation was listed as “ongoing” and Smith is “still at large.”
The warrant was issued two days after Smith, 31, signed a contract to play for Seattle in 2021.
Smith played all 16 games for Dallas in 2020 with five sacks after being reinstated following four years of suspensions under the NFL’s substance abuse policy stemming from alcoholism and legal troubles.
Smith had last played for the Raiders in 2015, where he signed as a free agent following his release from the 49ers after an arrest for DUI, hit-andrun and vandalism. Smith had served a nine-game suspension before being suspended indefinitely.
— Jerry McDonald
RAIDERS SIGN VETERAN CB DOUGLAS >> The Raiders did a little pre-draft tinkering to the roster, signing fouryear veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas. Douglas, 26, played in 14 games with 11 starts for the Carolina Panthers after spending his first three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
In all, Douglas has played in 60 games with 29 starts and was a rookie on the Eagles team as a thirdround draft choice that won the Super Bowl following the 2017 season. At West Virginia, Douglas was a teammate of Karl Joseph, a Raiders first-round pick in 2016 who resigned with the team this month after spending last season in Cleveland.
Douglas joins a position group that includes presumptive starters Trayvon Mullen and Damon Arnette, veteran Nevin Lawson, second-year slot corner Amik Robertson, third-year players Isaiah Johnson and Keisean Nixon and roster longshots Rashaan Gaulden and Kemah Siverand.
— Jerry McDonald
BRADY ON ROAD TO RECOVERY >> Tom Brady is recovering from offseason knee surgery and expects to be ready for June minicamp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Speaking at a fundraiser for Bucs coach Bruce Arians’ foundation, the 43-year-old quarterback joked
that he didn’t know “if I can go this week.” He then added he is aiming to be back on the field relatively soon for the Super Bowl champions.”
Bucs players, along with those from more than half the league’s teams, have said they will not attend voluntary offseason workouts, which could begin Monday. Minicamps are mandatory for players fit to participate.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion is looking forward to getting back to work as soon as possible. Arians has said the quarterback’s recovery is progressing well and there’s a chance Brady could be ready to participate in minicamp if the Bucs have one.
ATTORNEY: ACCUSATIONS AGAINST TEXANS QB BASED ON LIES >>
An attorney for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson on Monday accused the 22 women who have filed lawsuits alleging they were sexually assaulted or harassed by the NFL player during massages of lying, claiming their assertions are based on “an avalanche of false accusations.”
The statement by Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, comes after the NFL player’s legal team filed in court its initial response to the lawsuits, alleging that eight of the women bragged about giving him massages and five “wanted to get money out of Mr. Watson.”
Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the 22 women, called the claims in the initial response by Watson’s legal team “weak and vague allegations” that are “demonstrably false.”
Golf
CALIFORNIA ALLOWS FANS FOR U.S.
OPENS IF VACCINATED OR TESTED >> A limited number of spectators will be allowed at the U.S. Women’s Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco and the U.S. Open in San Diego in June provided they are vaccinated or can show proof of a negative test for the coronavirus.
The USGA announced the policy Monday after consulting with California health officials.
The U.S. Open is at Torrey Pines on June 17-20.
Men’s college basketball
TOP RECRUIT HOLMGREN HEADED TO GONZAGA >> Chet Holmgren, the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit announced Monday on ESPN that he will play what will likely be his only college season at Gonzaga. Holmgren had also been considering Ohio State, Michigan, North Carolina, Minnesota, Memphis and Georgetown.
Holmgren combines the skills of a guard with a 7-foot-1 frame and has been projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
As a senior at Minnehaha Academy in Minnesota, Holmgren averaged 20.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.7 blocks, shooting 80% from the field.
Soccer
STANFORD MEN, SANTA CLARA WOMEN
IN NCAA TOURNAMENT >> Stanford earned the fourth seed and a firstround bye in the NCAA men’s soccer tournament that begins next week in Cary, North Carolina, and the surrounding area.
The Cardinal (9-2-1) will play the winner of Denver-UNC Greensboro on May 2 in the second round, according to the bracket announced Monday. Stanford won the Pac-12 title and will make its eighth consecutive appearance in the tournament that includes 36 schools in a truncated format.
No. 11 Santa Clara was the only Bay Area women’s team to make the tournament, which will include 48 schools and also be held in North Carolina. The Broncos (7-1) will face the winner of Ohio State and Stony Brook on May 1 at East Carolina University.
Stanford, the women’s defending national champion, went 6-6-2 and failed to make the tournament for the first time since 1997. Cal (5-7-1) missed the tournament for only the second time in 17 years. TOTTENHAM FIRES MANAGER MOURINHO >> Tottenham fired Jose Mourinho on Monday after only 17 months in charge, and just as he was preparing to coach the club in the League Cup final. Mourinho was hired in November 2019 to replace Mauricio Pochettino, who unexpectedly led the London club to the Champions League final before the team collapsed the following season.
Mourinho failed to get Tottenham back into the Champions League and has overseen another collapse this season. The team was in first place in December but a run of poor results has seen it fall to seventh place.