OT: Aldon Smith Dead at 36

Final act delivering pizza’s to the homeless. RIP

They're asking to check his brain for signs of CTE. TYPICALLY, when I have heard this requested, it is in conjunction with a suicide. In my mind, this moves the suicide conjecture closer to probably true.

SPECULATION: He decided to go out on his own terms. Does an act of charity as one of the last things he does before saying goodbye. Killing himself at his friend's house ensures he is found quickly enough that a check of his brain for CTE is possible.

ON THE NATURE OF SPECULATION: Obviously, we're all armchair quarterbacking. Unlike some commentators, I would never ask anyone to treat my speculation as truth. I rush to no judgement and make no proclamations.

BennyBledsoe said:

They're asking to check his brain for signs of CTE. TYPICALLY, when I have heard this requested, it is in conjunction with a suicide. In my mind, this moves the suicide conjecture closer to probably true.

SPECULATION: He decided to go out on his own terms. Does an act of charity as one of the last things he does before saying goodbye. Killing himself at his friend's house ensures he is found quickly enough that a check of his brain for CTE is possible.

ON THE NATURE OF SPECULATION: Obviously, we're all armchair quarterbacking. Unlike some commentators, I would never ask anyone to treat my speculation as truth. I rush to no judgement and make no proclamations.

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That seems pretty wild speculation, tbh.

Spent the morning doing good deed, with friend. Sitting in that friend’s truck, waiting for him, on a nice day, and decides “now is the time I’m going to pull the plug” and has the means all ready to complete the act in moments. That just doesn’t ring true.

It seems likely it was drugs, if it wasn’t some random medical event (i.e. “natural causes” even if resulting from historical substance abuse). No firearms, bloodletting, or asphyxiation involved. A premeditated OD under those circumstances really doesn’t seem believable. Much more likely accidental. Or still a good chance, natural.

The need to speculate otherwise at this point says a lot about the speculator. Doesn’t add anything of value beyond that.

Can’t have a better start to a career as a defender than he did. Another tragedy,

BennyBledsoe said:

They're asking to check his brain for signs of CTE. TYPICALLY, when I have heard this requested, it is in conjunction with a suicide. In my mind, this moves the suicide conjecture closer to probably true.

SPECULATION: He decided to go out on his own terms. Does an act of charity as one of the last things he does before saying goodbye. Killing himself at his friend's house ensures he is found quickly enough that a check of his brain for CTE is possible.

ON THE NATURE OF SPECULATION: Obviously, we're all armchair quarterbacking. Unlike some commentators, I would never ask anyone to treat my speculation as truth. I rush to no judgement and make no proclamations.

Click to expand...

Family has hired lawyers to look into this sudden death. This perhaps indicates that there are no obvious suicide signs.

Betterthanmost said:

Family has hired lawyers to look into this sudden death. This perhaps indicates that there are no obvious suicide sign

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Perhaps.

It's all just very strange.

There's definitely a lot to this story we are missing.

Extremely sad story. I tend to follow players who have a fall from grace because it sucks to me how quickly they're given up on. Smith made a huge turnaround and really seemed to be on the path to finding happiness, something he realized he wasn't getting in the environment of football. No matter how talented, I would never wish someone be locked into something where they don't feel peace.

An absolute terror in the field and would've made a run for one of the best in history. He started making the runs of JJ Watt and Von Mileler look merely above-average. 33 sacks in 33 games, where there was a run of 19 in 16, fell half a sack short of the all time rookie record.

I think a great testament to amazing players are those who make the most of a great situation, and create on every opportunity. On a defense that was stacked at most positions, he still shined the brightest.

I forget who the player was, but when asked who was the best player they ever saw, they said Smith and it wasn't close.

May he find peace, and may his family find both the answers they seek and solace they deserve.

RIP.