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The NFL has suspended Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith for three games for a violation of the league's substance abuse policy. Smith pleaded guilty earlier this year to driving under the influence in June 2014.
"This morning the NFL notified the club that cornerback Sean Smith will serve a three-game suspension effective Week 1 of the regular season," the Chiefs said in a statement. "We respect and support the league’s decision in this matter and will have no further comment on the situation."
Smith received two years' probation after his guilty plea in court. In 2014, he was stopped after an officer allegedly saw him drive into a light pole and he was cited for driving under the influence, careless driving and a failure to present insurance. Smith paid fines for the DUI and the failure to present insurance, while his probation runs into March 2017. Typically, a DUI charge starts with a two-game suspension, but if there was property damage when he hit the light pole, it could explain the third game.
Smith does not plan on appealing the suspension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Losing Smith, one of the starters at cornerback, for any length of time is a blow for the Chiefs. In Week 1, Kansas City plays the Houston Texans, who haven't named a starting quarterback yet. But the next two games are against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. Although he will be able to participate in offseason workouts and preseason games, his first regular season action won't come until Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Chiefs used a first-round pick on cornerback Marcus Peters, though he was going to have to compete for playing time. With Smith set to miss three games, that potentially opens the door for Peters to see the field sooner rather than later.
Smith has been with the Chiefs the past two seasons, and has only ever missed one game in his career, with the Miami Dolphins back in 2010. He has 307 tackles, three forced fumbles and eight interceptions since entering the league in 2009.