RB Bell addresses media on possible punishment
Bell declined to elaborate on Thursday. His reply: “I know what I said, I said what I said but I’m just going to let the appeal process handle itself.”
But he did say he was sorry.
“First and foremost, I want to apologize to Steelers nation, all the fans, all my players, coaches for being a distraction to this whole situation,” Bell said during a late afternoon interview after the Steelers reported to training camp at Saint Vincent College. “I don’t obviously want to be a distraction but this whole situation, the appeal, is going to take its course, run its course, so I’m going to let everything handle itself.”
Bell, who made All-Pro in 2014, served a two-game suspension to start the 2015 season. He was charged with a DUI for using marijuana after the car he was driving was pulled over in August 2014, hours before he was to join his teammates on a flight to Philadelphia for a preseason game. Originally a three-game suspension, it was reduced to two on appeal.
With his appeal now stretching into mid-August and a decision possibly not until the eve of the regular season, it’s highly unlikely the Steelers will negotiate a new contract with their star halfback before the season, even if he wins his appeal. He is on the final year of his four-year rookie deal.
“I’m not sure” Bell said about how it might affect getting a new deal with the Steelers. “I’m just going to let everything handle itself. I can only control what I can control today.”
But losing control when he failed his drug test — one report said it was more than one — is what may cost him millions of dollars in a new contract and also limit his chances to repeat as an AllPro back.
“It’s obviously a little frustrating but I understand things happen, everything happens for a reason,” Bell said of the ordeal. “I’m sure people think a certain way about me, that’s understandable. But like I said I can only control what I can control.”
His teammates earlier in
— Le’Veon Bell, Steelers running back
the day commented on Bell’s situation.
“It sucks, he’s a talented player and it’s going to hurt,” said guard David DeCastro.
“It would be frustrating, but obviously we don’t know yet,” said wide receiver Markus Wheaton. “It sucks to hear that.”
All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey, returning after missing a full season with a leg injury, was asked if he worries that Bell will miss the first four games.
“I worry about the Pittsburgh Steelers and who is going to play the first game,” Pouncey answered.
The issue for Bell is not so much that he might miss the first four games of this season; DeAngelo Williams is quite capable of handling the halfback job for that first month, as he did for more than half a season in 2015.
The issue comes with the time he already has missed to injuries and suspension, and the possibility of him missing more games. Unless his appeal is upheld, he will have missed 17 of his first 52 games (14 of the last 20 before he would be reinstated).
Add to that the fact that if he failed yet another drug test, the next suspension would be 10 games. There are not many NFL teams that would be willing to sign a player to a big bonus and a long-term deal at top dollar with that hanging over his head.
Even if Bell wins his appeal, his injury history has to cause the Steelers some pause in doing a long-term contract with him. His NFL career got off to a slow start after a rookie training camp foot injury that caused him to miss the first three games of 2014. His last two seasons ended prematurely with knee injuries.
There was a smidgen of good news from Bell Thursday. His right knee that underwent surgery last year is healing well and the Steelers did not place him on the physically unable to perform list. He will begin practicing with his teammates today.
“I’m confident where I am right now,” Bell said. “I feel like if we had a game tomorrow, I’d be able to play.”
The NFL will have the final say in that.
“First and foremost, I want to apologize to Steelers nation, all the fans, all my players, coaches for being a distraction to this whole situation. I don’t obviously want to be a distraction but this whole situation, the appeal, is going to take its course, run its course, so I’m going to let everything handle itself.”