San Francisco 49ers Star Aldon Smith Reinstated By Team After Nine Game Suspension; Will He Behave In Return?

Good news for San Francisco 49ers fans as outside line backer Aldon Smith has been reinstated after serving a nine game suspension for firearms and DUI charges; but will the problematic star behave himself for the rest of the season?   

CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco tweeted earlier today that Smith was officially allowed back on the field by the NFL, and would be a part of the team's Tuesday practise walkthrough. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The NFL has officially reinstated Aldon Smith from his nine-game suspension. He'll be on the field for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/49ers?src=hash">#49ers</a> walk-through today.</p>&mdash; Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaioccoCSN/status/532199920866824192">November 11, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The news was quickly confirmed by NFL.com's Ian Rapoport and Kevin Patra. 

Smith was suspended - as per ESPN - in August due to violating the NFL's substance abuse and personal conduct policies, and copped the nine game suspension due to being a repeat offender. The suspension - according to SBnation - stemmed from Smith's firearms and DUI charges, which he avoided jail time for, instead being slapped with three years of probation and 235 hours of community service. There was also a bizarre incident at LAX in April when Smith was detained and arrested after making a comment about a bomb.   

The 7th overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft, Smith will actually have to pay the 49ers this year, due to a discrepancy between his signing bonus and his salary, according to Sports Illustrated.  

San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh sounds excited about having the problem-child star back, telling the San Jose Mercury that he wasn't ready to predict whether or not Smith would be back and ready to play the New York Giants this Sunday.  "I'm not ready to jump, predict or answer that question, " Harbaugh told Steve Corkran. "I'm excited to have him back playing football, with the team. That's where the hope, the excitement, lies right now."

He also added that he was pleased with the way Smith has handled himself around the team for the duration of his suspension. "There's consequences for our actions, good and bad. Good consequences for good actions. There's accountability. He has served that. He has done that, and we look forward to moving forward in a fresh, clean slate. That's what I anticipate and look forward to."

The team are also hopeful of regaining defensive tackle NaVarro Bowman, who tore his ACL and MCL in last season's NFC championship game, in the next few weeks as they try to muscle their way into the NFC playoff picture.