Top Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith has been suspended four games for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy, the league announced Tuesday.
In a statement, the Ravens said the league "found evidence of threatening and emotionally abusive behaviors by Jimmy toward his former girlfriend that showed a pattern of improper conduct."
According to a petition filed last year in a Baltimore County Circuit Court by Micaela Sanchez, the mother of a young child with Smith, Smith has a "history of substance abuse and illicit drug usage" and "a history of being physically violent" toward her. Smith denied the allegations.
Sanchez sought sole custody of the child in the petition, but the parents were then bound by a shared-custody arrangement they agreed to in 2016. The Ravens said in the statement that Smith has since resolved his "custody and support issues" with his former girlfriend, whom they did not identify.
The four-game ban is Smith's second in eight months. One day after suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon tear, the NFL announced Dec. 4 that Smith had violated the league's performance-enhancing-substances policy. He served his suspension while on injured reserve, and an accelerated offseason recovery led him to an appearance in the Ravens' Aug. 9 preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams.
But Smith was absent from the Ravens' game Monday night against the Colts in Indianapolis after participating in the teams' two joint practices over the weekend. Coach John Harbaugh said afterward that Smith was tending to a "personal issue," and that his absence was excused.
"I would like to sincerely apologize to my former girlfriend, the NFL, the Ravens organization, my coaches, my teammates, my fiancee and all our fans," Smith said in a statement. "I'm very disappointed that my past actions have led to this suspension. I promise that I have already learned much and will continue to learn more from this experience. I believe I am, and will continue to try to be, a better person and a better father because of this. I am committed to being the best I can be, both on and off the field.
"I take full responsibility for my past conduct. Moving forward, I will work with the NFL and the Ravens to ensure that what happened in the past will never happen again. I will take all necessary steps to be a positive role model for both my sons, for the NFL and for the entire Ravens community."
In his absence, Smith will miss games against the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers; all but the Steelers finished in the bottom third of the NFL in passing offense last season. Smith, who can still participate in the Ravens' preseason, including games, can make his regular-season return for the Oct. 7 game against the Cleveland Browns.
"As a result of this entire process, we will allow Jimmy to return to our team after his suspension," the Ravens said in a statement. "Jimmy has acknowledged his behaviors were wrong and accepts full responsibility for them. He has completed a clinical evaluation and has agreed to undertake any follow-up care or treatment that may be recommended. Through our conversations with Jimmy, we believe he is taking the proper steps to improve and that he can change. Jimmy has assured us that he is fully dedicated to making this change. He also understands the consequences if he does not."
