Le’Veon Bell is reportedly facing a four-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s drug policy, and the latest information on this front is even more discouraging for Pittsburgh Steelers fans.
Appearing on NFL Network Saturday morning, Ian Rapoport said sources have told him Bell missed “several” drug tests, via Pro Football Talk.
When rumblings of this upcoming suspension first stole into the public light, Bell adamantly denied he had failed any tests.
“I haven’t missed any drug tests, failed any drug tests. I am fine,” Bell said, via Mark Kaboly of thePittsburgh Tribune-Review.
But when there is this much smoke, fire almost certainly exists.
And if so, it wouldn’t be the first time he was suspended for violating the NFL’s Substances of Abuse Policy. Bell was also suspended for two games last year after the league shaved a game off the original three-game ban for violating this same policy.
A couple positives can be gleaned from this unfortunate situation.
One, perhaps the extra time off will give Bell the best chance to be healthy for the second half of the season as he recovers from knee surgery.
Two, the Steelers were fine without Bell last year when DeAngelo Williams put up outstanding numbers in his stead. Likely, the Steelers will be just fine again this year without the running back, provided Big Ben Roethlisberger remains healthy.
However, despite what could be a silver lining, this can only be viewed through a negative prism as it relates to Bell’s NFL career. One of the most talented running backs in the league, he’s now in danger of facing a Josh Gordon type ban in the future if he keeps up his current course.
Hopefully he will see the wisdom in abstaining from the drug of his choice in future and can stay on the field for the Steelers.