Le’Veon Bell latest Steeler to embarrass ownership, teammates

Alameda Ta’amu. Mike Adams. Chris Rainey. LeGarrette Blount. Martavis Bryant. Le’Veon Bell. I apologize if I’m forgetting any Steelers miscreants from the past five years. There have been so many, it’s hard to keep track.

And, to think, we used to laugh at the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Steelers Way took another kick in the teeth Friday with the ESPN announcement that Bell is facing a four-game suspension for missing a drug test. It’s hard to say what this damages more — the team’s on-field product this season or its off-field reputation. Dan Rooney turned 84 on Wednesday. It’s safe to say the Bell news ruined The Ambassador’s birthday week.

If Bell’s appeal is turned down, which is likely, the Steelers will play the first four games against Washington, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Kansas City without two of their top four offensive stars — Bell and Bryant, who is suspended for the season because of multiple failed/ missed drug tests. Keep your fingers crossed that Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown stay healthy. If they don’t, it’s going to be a very long season.

I admit, I’m no expert on addiction. Maybe Bell and Bryant have serious drug problems. Maybe it’s unfair to blame them for something they can’t control. If that’s the case, I hope they get treatment and find peace from their demons. Life is much more important than football.

But that doesn’t change the fact the Steelers can’t depend on Bell and Bryant. Bell was suspended for the first two games of 2015 after being arrested for marijuana with then-teammate Blount. He came back to play in Week 3 and was productive until a knee injury after a hit by the Bengals’ Vontaze Burfict in the eighth game ended his season. Bryant was suspended for the first four games last season. He returned to play in the final 11 regular-season games and had a huge game against the Bengals in the playoffs with a spectacular 10-yard touchdown catch and a 44-yard run.

But now, it’s hard to imagine Bryant playing for the Steelers again. Even talented players run out of second, third and fourth chances. The team is expected to take back Bell after his suspension but any thoughts of giving him a contract extension before this season have gone up in smoke. Literally. There has been some debate in town about which player to give a big-money, long-term deal — Bell or Brown, who is signed through the 2017 season. There no longer should be any debate.

It seems almost comical now that Bell rapped just a few weeks ago about being the NFL’s best running back and wanting $15 million per year in his next contract. He won’t be getting anything close to that here. Or anywhere, for that matter.

The Steelers knew this was coming. More than a month ago, 105.9 The X reported “a rumor” that Bell was facing a suspension because of a missed drug test. He lied about it when questioned by the media, saying he had never missed a test. It turns out you can’t depend on his word, either.

The Steelers are fortunate to have DeAngelo Williams, who was superb last season during Bell’s suspension and after his injury. The team also likes Fitzgerald Toussaint despite his fumble in the Denver playoff loss. It will show up for those first four games and take its chances even if it doesn’t sign another veteran running back.

But there’s no way the Steelers offense will be as good without Bell and Bryant. It’s a shame because it had a chance to be among the best in franchise history. Roethlisberger is the second choice as NFL MVP behind Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, according to Bovada, an on-line betting site. Brown is the league’s best receiver. The offensive line was very good last season and should be even better this season.

How do Bell and Bryant look their teammates and coaches in the eye? How do they look at Roethlisberger, who, at 34, knows he is running out of NFL years? How do they look at Brown, who is the hardest worker on the team and is driven every day to be the best? How do they look at Ramon Foster, who could have left after last season for more money as a free agent but chose to stay because he believed in the offense and believed it was good enough to win Super Bowl LI? And, yes, how do they look Rooney in the eye?

Bell and Bryant didn’t just embarrass themselves. They embarrassed an organization that, sadly, has to be getting used to it.