Gilbert’s side of story is not good enough

I also know he will carry the stigma of a drug cheat at least in the mind of some for the rest of the career and beyond. All of those things are rough. But I truly believe every player who uses PEDs — there are many in the NFL, in my opinion — will tell you the risk of getting caught is more than worth the benefits that go with the drugs.

Gilbert is a really good offensive lineman, “one of the best, if not the best, right tackles in the league,” Todd Haley said two weeks ago. I don’t know if PEDs helped Gilbert reach that status or if this was a one-time thing. I also don’t know if he took the drugs to help his hamstring injury heal quicker. He missed five games and parts of two others this season before returning to the starting lineup Nov. 12 against Indianapolis. All we’ve heard from Gilbert so far is his apology via Twitter in which he wrote, “Regretfully, I inadvertently took a banned substance.”

Ben Roethlisberger confirmed that is Gilbert’s story on his Tuesday radio show on 93.7 The Fan. Roethlisberger said he knew for a week, maybe even two, that a suspension for Gilbert was coming.

“He said he asked [an unnamed person] and they said that there was 100 percent no chance that there was going to be an issue,” Roethlisberger said. “So it’s tough. I believe him when he tells me that he did not intentionally do anything to harm this team or his body.” I don’t believe Gilbert. I’m not buying his explanation for one second. It’s not good enough. Professional athletes treat their body as if it were a temple. They know exactly what they put into it. Their livelihood depends on it. Gilbert isn’t the first to play the “inadvertent” card. Starling Marte did it in April when he was suspended for 80 games of the baseball season. I didn’t believe him, either.

Just one time, I’d love to hear an athlete say the truth. “Yes, I used PEDs. Regretfully, I got caught.”

“You can’t always take the word of a doctor or a nutritionist,” Roethlisberger acknowledged. “[Gilbert] knows we’re still responsible for what we put in our body.”

Gilbert is fortunate he plays football, not baseball. There isn’t the same stain associated with PEDs in the NFL because of the belief that the majority of players use them. Certainly, no one in this city holds the Steelers’ wide-spread use of steroids in the Super ‘70s against them. It’s different in baseball, probably because the statistical element of the game is so sacred. Gilbert’s suspension was announced Monday afternoon just about 12 hours before baseball legend Joe Morgan sent out a long letter to Baseball Hall of Fame voters imploring them not to vote in the known steroids users.

“They cheated,” he wrote. “By cheating, they put up huge numbers, and they made great players who didn’t cheat look smaller by comparison, taking away from their achievements and consideration for the Hall of Fame. That’s not right.”

Football players don’t face such disdain. We have proof here even in non-PEDs cases.

Fans quickly forgave Le’Veon Bell for his two marijuana suspensions because he came back to become the NFL’s best running back. They will forgive Martavis Bryant for his two marijuana suspensions, including one for the 2016 season, and his selfish trade-me rant on social media if he continues to make big plays the way he did in the past two wins against Tennessee and Indianapolis. You had better believe they will forgive Gilbert. So will his teammates. “Absolutely,” Roethlisberger said.

Roethlisberger said he and other players urged Gilbert not to appeal his suspension because hardly anyone beats the NFL on appeal. He said it’s better for Gilbert to take the punishment now and return for the final two regular-season games and the playoffs. Gilbert agreed.

The Steelers will play the next four games — the final one, that New England game — with Chris Hubbard at right tackle. It’s a terrific opportunity for him because he’s in a contract year. He started the five games when Gilbert was out with his hamstring and, according to Mike Tomlin, did “an awesome job upholding the standard.”

But that doesn’t mean Gilbert won’t be missed. His suspension compromises the team’s depth at tackle. What if something happens to Hubbard or Al Villanueva? Jerald Hawkins is listed as next in line on the two-deeps.

Hubbard also is used often as an additional tight end, a role that Tomlin said now falls to B.J. Finney.

“It stinks,” Roethlisberger said of the Gilbert suspension.

Now that, I agree with.