The San Francisco 49ers know Aldon Smith still has plenty of work to do in order to repair his tarnished image and stay on trac

SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco 49ers know Aldon Smith still has plenty of work to do in order to repair his tarnished image and stay on track away from the football field. Chuck Klein Jersey . They want to be an integral part of his self-improvement project, exercising their 2015 fifth-year contract option for the star linebacker on Friday. The team made the decision despite Smiths long list of legal trouble that included an arrest at Los Angeles International Airport just more than two weeks ago. San Francisco faced a Saturday deadline to decide on Smiths immediate future, and general manager Trent Baalke suggested last week the team would keep the fearsome pass-rusher around for the near future at least -- for 2015, "and 16, and 17 and 18." The 49ers will provide Smith with the support he needs to deal with his rash of off-the-field issues. Yet Baalke has made it clear there must be positive change, and soon. San Francisco realizes Smith still could face a suspension from the NFL for his DUI last September, and is expected to look for depth at linebacker during next weeks NFL draft. "Well, that remains to be seen. You prepare for the worst and hope for the best," Baalke said of a potential suspension for Smith. "There are still a lot of things that are going to factor into that decision at the league level and the club level. Were working very diligently in the background trying to make sure the right decisions are made long term, not only for Aldon but for this club." In his latest run-in with the law, Smith was arrested April 13 at Los Angeles International Airport. Police say the 24-year-old NFL star was randomly selected for a secondary screening and became unco-operative with the process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb. The district attorney has referred the case for misdemeanour consideration. That followed Smiths five-game absence last season to undergo treatment for substance abuse after a September DUI arrest. In November, he pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of illegal possession of an assault weapon, stemming from a June 2012 party at his home. Investigators say several shots were fired, two partygoers were injured and Smith was stabbed. In the subsequent investigation, prosecutors say detectives found five unregistered, illegal weapons in Smiths house, including two Bushmaster rifles and an Armalite AR-10T. Yet, what Smith brings on the field makes him one of the NFLs best at chasing down and pressuring quarterbacks. Smith emerged as one of the leagues most-feared pass rushers in 2012. He had a franchise-record 19 1/2 sacks that year, but failed to record a sack in his final six games including the teams post-season Super Bowl run. Smith finished with 8 1/2 sacks and 34 tackles in 11 games last season, making eight starts. His 42 sacks are second-most in the NFL since he entered the league. He and former teammate Delanie Walker were named in a lawsuit last September filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court by a Northern California man who said he was shot at a party at Smiths house on June 29, 2012. The players charged a $10 admission and $5 per drink, the lawsuit said. Smith and now-Tennessee Titans tight end Walker were allegedly intoxicated on Smiths balcony when they fired gunshots in the air while trying to end the party, the lawsuit said. Smith, selected seventh overall in the 2011 draft out of Missouri, had previously been arrested on suspicion of DUI in January 2012 in Miami shortly after the 49ers lost in the NFC championship game. Baalke and the rest of the 49ers hope Smith will learn a lesson at last, and become a better person because of it. Smith said during a January interview with The Associated Press he was encouraged by his strides and confident he had made positive changes in his life. "Im a firm believer in the humanistic approach to everything. You continue to work just like you would with any family member," Baalke said. "Were a family. You dont just open the door and toss people out of it. You continue to work until they leave you no choice. Thats what were going to do. Were going to continue to work with him, were going continue to find ways to support, not defend, we cannot defend the actions of others, all we can do is support." Tim McCarver Jersey .C. - The Panthers will be without starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei for Saturday nights NFC divisional playoff game against Seattle after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a broken bone in his foot. Steve Carlton Phillies Jersey . - Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II says the NFL has told the team it will not be docked a pick in this years draft for coach Mike Tomlins foray onto the field against Baltimore last November. http://www.baseballphilliesofficial.com/tommy-hunter-jersey-c-42/ . The game marks the rare occasion when two homegrown running backs, Jon Cornish of the Calgary Stampeders and Andrew Harris of the B.C. Lions, will start in the West Divisions battle for a Grey Cup berth.BUFFALO, N.Y. - Nikita Zadorov scored his first NHL game-winner Saturday night to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 4-3 overtime win over the Florida Panthers.I probably never had that big a goal in my life, the 19-year-old defenceman said. Its a great feeling and Im going to try to do it again.Zadorov took a crossing pass from Tyler Ennis and scored 29 seconds into overtime to cap the comeback victory, Buffalos third in a row and ninth in the past 12 games.Brian Gionta scored the tying goal with 14:33 left in regulation for the Sabres, who have overcome third period deficits in four of their last five wins.Marcus Foligno and Cody Hodgson also had goals for Buffalo and Jhonas Enroth made 25 saves.The team feels good about themselves, coach Ted Nolan said. Theyre playing hard for one another and when you do that good things happen. So right now, knock on wood, things are going good for us.Jussi Jokinen, Sean Bergenheim and Jimmy Hayes scored goals for Florida (12-8-8), which had won its last five meetings with Buffalo.Backup goaltender Al Montoya stopped 28 shots for the Panthers, who picked up three points on a three-game road trip after losing Monday in St. Louis and winning in a shootout Friday in Detroit.Overall we got three points in three tough buildings, Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said. Not happy, but, I guess, satisfied going home.With the Panthers playing on short rest, the Sabres were the aggressors early, firing off the first four shots of the game and taking the lead on Hodgsons goal 2:06 into the first period.Zadorov had the secondary assist on Hodgsons goal, giving him his first career multi-point game. Pat Kaleta set up the goal with a backhand pass from the boards. It was Kaletas first point of the season and his first assist since March 7, 20122. Mitch Williams Phillies Jersey. Foligno scored to make it 2-0 with 6:55 left in the first period. It was the sixth time in seven games the Panthers have fallen behind in the first period.We have to be better in the first period, Florida defenceman Brian Campbell said.Campbell brushed off the suggestion that playing on the second night of a back-to-back contributed to the Panthers poor start.I dont think good teams use that excuse, he said.Florida was better in the second period, scoring on its first two shots to tie the game less than five minutes in.Bergenheim knocked the puck in off Zadorovs skate 1:08 into the period, then sent a pass across the crease to set up Hayes tying goal at the 4:51 mark.Zadorov was on the ice for both of the Panthers second-period goals.That was just a bad couple of shifts, bad couple bounces, bad couple goals, Zadorov said. I just forgot about that, stepped on the ice and did my job.Jokinen gave Florida its first lead 57 seconds into the third period, scoring on a slap shot from the right circle off a crossing pass from Dave Bolland.Gionta took a long pass from Tyler Myers and scored on a wrist shot from the top of the right circle to tie the game 3-3 with 14:33 left in the third period.NOTES: The Sabres were down to four healthy defencemen by the end of regulation. Andrej Meszaros left the game in the second period after he was hit in the face by a deflected shot. Josh Gorges, Buffalos alternate captain, was injured while blocking a shot in the third period. Nolan said both players will miss Mondays game against Ottawa. . Sabres D Mike Weber underwent surgery on his left knee Friday and will miss about two weeks, coach Ted Nolan said. . Florida has gone to overtime in 11 of its 28 games, tying Anaheim for the most in the league. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL Jerseys Stitched NFL Jerseys China Womens NFL Jerseys ' ' '