49ers’ Aldon Smith draws 9-game suspension

SANTA CLARA - Aldon Smith drew a larger-than-anticipated nine-game suspension from the NFL on Friday, a day after commissioner Roger Goodell outlined a stronger stance toward violations of the league’s personal-conduct policy.

Smith, the 49ers’ premier pass rusher and arguably the league’s best, will be eligible to return to the active roster Nov. 10.

He will miss games against the Dallas Cowboys (away, Sept. 7), Chicago Bears (home, Sept. 14), Arizona Cardinals (away, Sept. 21), Philadelphia Eagles (home, Sept. 28), Kansas City Chiefs (home, Oct. 5), St. Louis Rams (away, Oct. 13; home, Nov. 2), Denver Broncos (away, Oct. 19) and New Orleans Saints (away, Nov. 9).

It’s not immediately known if Smith, a fourth-year veteran, plans to appeal the punishment. He met three weeks ago in New York with Goodell, prior to the Aug. 7 exhibition opener at Baltimore.

The suspension would put him back in time for a Week 11 matchup at the New York Giants on Nov. 16. That’s two games before the 49ers play NFC West rival Seattle twice in the span of three weeks.

General manager Trent Baalke issued a statement in which he neither approves nor disagrees with the NFL’s punishment.

“Our organization has known this decision would come and we have prepared for it as a team,” Baalke stated. “Aldon has taken responsibility for his actions and has continued to show growth personally and professionally.We will continue to support him, but it is time to put this matter behind us and focus on the season ahead.”

Smith missed five games last season - the 49ers won all five - when he voluntarily entered a substance-abuse treatment facility following his Sept. 20, drunken-driving accident in San Jose’s Silver Creek neighborhood.

Last month, Smith was sentenced by a Santa Clara County judge to 11 days on a sheriff’s work crew, three years probation and 235 hours of community service. That punishment came after Smith pleaded no contest to illegal weapons possession and drunk driving.

In a letter Thursday to NFL owners, Goodell set forth a stronger policy against domestic violence and sexual assault. He also wrote about other infractions involving weapons offenses and drunken driving.

“In addition to focusing on domestic violence and sexual assault, we will continue to maintain strong policies regarding weapons offenses,” Goodell wrote.