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ByJanieMcCauley TheAssociatedPress SANTA CLARA San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith has been suspended for nine games by the NFL after a se- ries of off-field legal issues. A statement Friday from the league said Smith had violated the NFL's substance abuse and personal conduct policies. Smith won't be eligible to re- turn until Nov. 10, the day af- ter the 49ers' game against the New Orleans Saints. "Our organization has known this decision would come and we have prepared for it as a team," 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. "Aldon has taken responsibility for his actions and has continued to show growth personally and profes- sionally. We will continue to support him, but it is time to put this matter behind us and focus on the season ahead." The 24-year-old Smith, one of the NFL's top pass rushers, missed five games last season to undergo treatment at an in- patient facility following his DUI arrest Sept. 20. Just before training camp began last month, the 24-year- old Smith was sentenced to serve three years of proba- tion and to spend 11 days with a work crew after he pleaded no contest to drunken driving and weapons charges. He has repeatedly said he has been sober since his NFL 49erlinebackerSmith suspendedbyleague San Francisco's star pass rusher to miss first nine games this season for violations MARCIOJOSESANCHEZ—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (le ) has been suspended for nine games by the NFL a er a series of off-field legal issues. MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A statement Friday from the NFL said San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith had violated the NFL's substance abuse and personal conduct policies and is suspended for nine games. Online: For more stories about the San Francisco 49ers visit the website REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM/49ERS. By Jerry McDonald Bay Area News Group ALAMEDA As the Raiders be- gan the process of forming their 2014 roster Friday, quarterback Matt Schaub was not at the fa- cility and dealing with a "per- sonal issue." Oakland Raiders coach Den- nis Allen, asked about the con- dition of Schaub's sore elbow on a conference call, said he hadn't talked with his quarterback. "Matt's got a personal issue that he's been excused for and so I haven't had an opportunity to see him and I'm not sure ex- actly when that will be," Allen said. "He's got something that he's having to deal with right now." Allen said that while he expected to see Schaub on Mon- day when the club reconvenes af- ter two days off and begins prep- arations for the regular-season opener, he declined further com- ment because the two had not spoken. Schaub missed three days of practice heading into Thursday night's 41-31 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Allen said Schaub had thrown "on the side" during that period but the quarterback's pre- game routine at O.co Coliseum was limited to footwork and he made no throws. In the meantime, rookie sec- NFL Raiders still waiting on Schaub's health Preparations for season opener start Monday with Carr in the quarterback mix as starter MIKE ROEMER — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub (8) throws a pass against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of a preseason game Friday, Aug. 22, in Green Bay, Wis. By Paul Newberry The Associated Press HAMPTON,GA. Tony Stewart took his seat on the podium — un- shaven, his eyes glassy — and un- folded a sheet of paper. His voice quivered as he read, pausing to maintain his composure as he de- scribed the death of a driver he hit as "one of the toughest tragedies I've ever had to deal with." This was a far cry from the brash driver known around the track as "Smoke." Ninety minutes later, he climbed into his No. 14 car and sped toward the high-banked oval at Atlanta Motor Speedway, drawing a cheer from the crowd gathered around his garage. He quickly got up to speed, turning laps of nearly 190 mph, a racer back in his element. Ready or not, Stewart is back on the track. Describing himself as heartbro- ken but eager to heal, Stewart re- joined the race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship sur- rounded by those he considers a second family — his team, his crew, his rivals. He missed the last three races, going into seclusion after the sprint car he was driv- ing struck and killed 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr., who had stepped NASCAR SPRINT CUP Stewart back at the track, tries to heal Former Cup champion missed last three races JOHN BAZEMORE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Driver Tony Stewart reads a statement at a news conference Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. By Antonio Gonzalez The Associated Press STANFORD David Shaw was an assistant on the Baltimore Ravens in the fall of 2005 when he heard about the most unlikely upset: UC Davis 20, Stanford 17. "I just remember I had a pit in my stomach as an alum," Shaw said. The Cardinal have come so far since that stunning loss to a lower-tier California school that Shaw sees no reason to talk about it now. Instead, he is focused on taking the two-time defending Pac-12 champions even further, starting Saturday when No. 11 Stanford opens its season against an overmatched Aggies team. And with a big game against No. 15 Southern California loom- ing next week, Shaw is as eager as anybody to get a glimpse of his re- tooled team in action. "When things come up, things flying all over the place, how they handle all the changes, how they handle all those things, how they handle things that come up right before a play that maybe they hadn't seen and we prepared them for, can they handle those things? And how do they han- dle those things? That's what I'm COLLEGE FOOTBALL No. 11 Stanford set to open season vs. UC Davis today A day before facing Venus Williams — and a partisan crowd — at the U.S. Open, Italy's Sara Errani came across a video posted on Twitter that gave her a little extra motiva- tion for the match. U.S. OPEN TENNIS Italy'sErraniknocks off Venus Williams FULL STORY ON PAGE B2 The Mercy Warriors open up the 2014season at 1p.m. Saturday when they host Redding Christian at Sacred Heart Parish School. Redding Christian is the defending section champion. WEEK 0 8-MAN FOOTBALL Mercy hosts Redding Christian on Saturday Due to our print deadline, coverage of the Red Bluff Spartans at Central Val- ley football game can be found on our website redbluffdailynews.com. PREP FOOTBALL Spartans at Central Valley story online President Barack Obama's possible delay in taking action on immigration has thrown advocates and lawmakers from both parties a curveball, barely two months before the midterm elections. POLITICS Immigration delay a pre-election curveball FULL STORY ON PAGE B8 SMITH PAGE 2 STEWART PAGE 2 STANFORD PAGE 2 RAIDERS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, August 30, 2014 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1