When speaking to reporters at the start of Steelers camp on Thursday, Le’Veon Bell “did not sound almost so certain” that he would win the appeal of his four-game suspension. Having already served a two-game suspension last season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, Bell’s appeal will nearly certainly be an all-or-nothing kind of case.
Advertisement
On Thursday, Bell told reporters that he first learned of his impending suspension in March, according to Fowler, which seems to contradict statements that Bell made earlier this summer when confronted with internet rumors concerning a missed test.
If the suspension is upheld, Bell will miss games for a second year in a row due to a drug suspension. Profootballtalk has reported he is unlikely to win.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin demurred when asked about Bell’s status and will wait until the case is adjudicated, noting “anything prior to that is speculation and I’m not in the speculation business”. I’m going to let everything handle itself. Bell pointed out he hasn’t been tackled in nine months and “once that happens, I’ll know exactly where I am” in terms of his rehab. While the age is something of a concern, the veteran did rack up 907 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground a year ago while Bell dealt with the suspension and injuries. “Regular-season games, that’s what I’m shooting for”.
While it seems this elephant won’t go away until at least after the National Football League hears and then rules on Bell’s appeal, his teammates insist it will not be a distraction.
“Things come up”, linebacker Arthur Moats said. “At the end of the day, whoever is out there is going to be able to perform at a high level”. So we look at second-year players who might be 20 pounds or so lighter than they were when we first developed our professional relationship with them.
“It’s good to get it done now and to get a chance to move forward”, said Zimmer, a longtime defensive coordinator for Dallas and Cincinnati who got his first opportunity to be a head coach with Minnesota at age 57.
Advertisement
“There’s nothing we can really do about it”, All-Pro guard David DeCastro said. “We’re used to it, sadly”.
