Steelers’ Bell Possible 4-game Suspension

By Jared Dubin/CBSSports.com – The Pittsburgh Steelers will already be without wide receiver Martavis Bryant for the entire 2016 season thanks to a violation of the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse, and now they may be without Le’Veon Bell for the first four games of the season as well. According to multiple reports, Bell is facing a four-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy.

A published text reads in full:

Sources close to the situation tell me Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell is facing a four-game suspension for violation of the NFL’s drug policy. The suspension is the result of a MISSED drug test, not a failed one, and the reason it hasn’t yet been announced is that the appeal process is still going on. No date for Bell’s appeal has been set, though it’s expected that it will be heard before the start of the regular season, meaning that if it’s not overturned, he would miss the first four games of the season. Bell was suspended for the first three games of last season (later reduced to two) for a violation of the policy on substances of abuse after he was arrested for marijuana possession and DUI in the summer of 2014.

Bell last month denied a report that he had missed or failed a drug test and was facing a suspension.

Losing Bell for four games would be a huge blow to the Steelers. He’s one of the NFL’s best running backs and a major component of their offense, especially with Bryant missing the whole year.  DeAngelo Williams filled in admirably for Bell last season, but can’t realistically be expected to produce at the same level as Bell, even with Bell coming off an ACL tear.

The outcome of Bell’s appeal will obviously have a major effect on Pittsburgh’s season. The Steelers face the NFL’s 5th toughest schedule over the first four games of the season, opening with Washington, then the Bengals, Eagles and Chiefs.