Sep 21, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Antonio Smith (94) before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Antonio Smith has been under investigation for a while now with the emergence of child abuse allegations. The Denver Broncos made the first step into placing the distraction of the situation away from team facilities.
According to multiple reports, the Denver Broncos have decided to excuse Antonio Smith from Organized Team Activities, which starts Wednesday. Team officials, including John Elway, have talked to Antonio Smith and have asked that he not attend OTA’s for the time being so that he may deal with the allegations stemming from the incident in question.
This was a smart move by the Denver Broncos without any question. While it will hurt Antonio Smith not getting the reps he needs to help the team out this season, pending the findings of the investigation, the Broncos needed to remove the distraction from Dove Valley so that they can head into the offseason workouts with all players taking part having a clear mind.
The recent discovery could have also distracted Antonio Smith, as his 2015 season could be in some doubt. Take for example Greg Hardy and Adrian Peterson. These two players had their cases either dropped or was plead no contest but still missed nearly the entire season.
The time off for Antonio Smith will also give him the chance to clear his name if possible. What he should do is cooperate with the law enforcement of the matter and get a chance to tell his side of the story. It should be interesting to see what the NFL does once the findings come to light.
With Antonio Smith excused from organized team activities, the Denver Broncos can now set their sights on preparing the team for the 2015 season that can hopefully end with the hoisting of the elsuive Lombardi Trophy once it is all said and done.