Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell’s suspension has been reduced from four games to three, meaning he’ll be able to return to the roster for the teams’ week four game at home against the New York Jets.
Bell was originally facing a four-game suspension for missing several drug tests. As part of a settlement between the two parties, Bell will remain in his current stage of the substance-abuse program.
The Steelers confirmed the suspension and GM Kevin Colbert said in a statement via the team’s website:
“We are disappointed Le’Veon Bell has been suspended three games to start the 2016 season. We will continue to support Le’Veon, but we acknowledge this mistake has put the team in an unfortunate position. We will continue to work with Le’Veon to help him eliminate distractions in his life so he can reach his full potential as a member of our community as well as a player for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
One more suspension and the Steelers could face the same $250,000 fine the Cowboys are facing for their three suspended players.
Why was Bell able to get his suspension reduced? Tom Pelissero of USA Today sports said it was due to some issues with the missed tests.
How’d Le’Veon Bell get suspension reduced? There were some issues with process surrounding missed tests, source said. Reached settlement.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 19, 2016
NFL sportsbook betting seems to feel the Steelers are still favorites to win the division even without Bell, as the team sits at +120, the Bengals are +180 and Baltimore is +300. The Browns – forget it – +2000.
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Dave B.
August 19, 2016 at 7:37 pm
Excuses are just that , they’re excuses . You had pre scheduled drug tests and you were not available . That my friend is a , you problem . If you miss the test then its considered failed by the league and you knew that as well . The 64,000 dollar question is why ? The answer is simple . You had been smoking your precious weed and you knew they’re was no way in hell you could pass the test , so you skipped it . Plain and simple . Even if this guy serves his three game suspension and comes back and has a breakout season how do we or the Steelers know that we wont be going through this same thing next year . Bell has proven , he cant be trusted to control his self when hes away from the team . The Steelers have more than enough problems as it is without having to babysit players who are to immature to control themselves . If Im Dan or Art Rooney , I sit this kid down and tell him , three strikes and youre out . You already have two .
Bobby
August 19, 2016 at 10:37 pm
At this point, I would simply sit Bell down and give him a pair of scissors and he can get busy cutting up the Steelers throwback Bumble Bee jersey – unless he gets hurt doing that too.
Jay
August 20, 2016 at 9:54 am
Again ALL on Tomlin’s watch! I don’t see this happening to harbaugh, Belichick, Carroll, (ok, a backup safety is gonna miss one game and a third string TE is gonna miss 10 for baltimore—oooooh, big deal), or andy raid’s players. But I do see it happening around the league to players who play for subpar coaches. Wait a minute, it is happening to our guys like every year…maybe we have a subpar coach as well!