Smith had 14, 19.5 and 8.5 sacks in his first three seasons, respectively. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith appears to be motivated to bounce back after a disappointing season in 2014.
At least 49ers general manager Trent Baalke hopes so, saying Smith is “hungry” this offseason.
After serving a nine-game suspension a year ago for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct and substance-abuse policy, Smith returned and finished with a career-low two sacks.
“He has been here for everything,” Baalke told reporters at Levi’s Stadium on Friday, referring to the team’s voluntary offseason workout program.
Smith restructured his contract in March to turn his $9,754,000 salary for 2015 into a series of bonuses, with a base salary of $1 million and an offseason workout bonus of $500,000, according to ESPN.com. Roster bonuses are due to Smith if he is still on the 49ers’ roster on the following dates: April 1 ($200,000), May 1 ($200,000), June 1 ($200,000), July 1 ($200,000) and Aug. 1 ($300,000). He earns $322,150 for each game he is on the 53-man roster during the 16-game season, which maxes out at $5,154,400. In addition, there are incentives of $2 million if he plays more than 50 percent of the team’s defensive snaps or gets at least eight sacks.
Smith had 14, 19.5 and 8.5 sacks in his first three seasons, respectively.
“He’s got a great look in his eye,” Baalke said of Smith’s mindset this offseason. “He’s doing well. … For anybody that’s been in a situation like Aldon’s been in, every day is a process. But he’s doing exceptionally well and he’s probably in as good a shape as he’s been in a long time.”
