Aldon Smith has to pay to play in NFL this year

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith must pay his team $661,000 (€530,000) for the privilege of playing in the NFL this season, it has emerged.

The star pass-rusher will return to action next week after serving a nine-game suspension, without pay, for violations of both the league's personal conduct policy and the substance abuse policy. Smith's salary for the remainder of the season, after taxes, will, according to ESPN, come to $525,000, but the fourth-year player's suspension requires him to repay part of the signing bonus he received when he was drafted by San Francisco. That figure comes to $1.18million, leaving Smith with a hefty bill to pay this season. Time to roll out that old cliché - for the love of the game...