Niners’ Smith could be facing misdemeanor charges

Aldon Smith has 42 sacks in 43 career games. (USATSI)

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Nearly two weeks after 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on the felony charge of a false report of a bomb threat, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday that the case has been referred to the Los Angeles City District Attorney's Office for misdemeanor consideration.

It was the latest legal entanglement for the 49ers' former first-round pick, who was arrested last September on suspicion of DUI charges.

Shortly after the April 13 arrest, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement that "We are disappointed to learn of the incident today involving Aldon Smith."

Days later, several sources involved with the team's decision making told MercuryNews.com's Tim Kawakami that not only has Smith lost the benefit of the doubt, he might not play for the 49ers in 2014.

Kawakami added that while this doesn't mean the 49ers will release Smith anytime soon, "...There is a weariness and frustration over Smith's behavior that I've never heard involving any recent 49ers player. Until this week."

"And this is coming from people with the team who defended Smith full-tilt after his DUI arrest last September and emphasized back then that he voluntarily was seeking help, which was a clear sign that he was ready to address his problems," Kawakami continued. "It's a very, very different tone now. Starkly different."

We could get some sense of just how committed the 49ers are to Smith's future in 10 days. The team faces a May 3 deadline to pick up his $9.75 million option for 2015. Kawakami hears the team isn't likely to do it, which means that Smith could be headed for free agency next March.

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Colts TE Dwayne Allen fully cleared for action following hip surgery



Colts tight end Dwayne Allen said last month that he is "back to 100 percent" following season-ending hip surgery last October. Now we know that Indy's medically team agrees. Allen said Wednesday that he has received medical clearance to "participate in everything" during the Colts' offseason workout program. He said it "felt great" to run around and catch some passes this week.Allen played in one game last season and caught one pass, a 20-yard touchdown.



Allen is very physically gifted, and it helps that tight-end whisperer Rob Chudzinski is now on the Colts' coaching staff. But I'm not as high on Allen as others are just because of all of the mouths that Andrew Luck needs to feed in this offense. Reggie Wayne expects to be healthy for the start of this season following last year's ACL tear. There's T.Y. Hilton, fellow tight end Coby Fleener, and the Colts added Hakeem Nicks in free agency. Plus, you figure that the Colts will, you know, run the ball at some points.Injuries to some of these pieces could really open things up for Allen to have a breakout year. But until that happens, I think he's more of a wait-and-see draft pick in the middle rounds. The upside is quite large, but things out of Allen's control need to happen for him to truly fulfill it.