Bryant trade looks smart

I’vebeen wrong a million timesover the years.

MartavisBryant makes it a millionand one.

I’mthe dummy who said theSteelers made a bad decisionby trading Bryant to the OaklandRaiders for a thirdroundpick in the April draft. Theyused that pick to trade upthree spots to take Mason Rudolph,who the organizationthinks has a real chance tobe Ben Roethlisberger’s backupthis season and, eventually,his successor. Bryant, meanwhile,reportedly is lookingat another possible suspensionfrom the NFL, which,considering he already hasbeen suspended twice, couldend his career.

Ifeel like a really big dummytoday.

I’mguessing Raiders coach JonGruden feels the same way.“I think a change of scenerycan unleash his greatness,”he said of Bryant after thetrade. “He’s been through alot in his life, and he’s got somethingto prove. I think we’recatching him at the righttime.”

That’swhy I wanted the Steelersto keep Bryant. I thoughthe got his mind right lastseason after Mike Tomlin suspendedhim for one game for,essentially, conduct detrimentalto the team because of hissocial-media rant asking tobe traded and demeaning teammateJuJu Smith-Schuster.I knew he was going into hiscontract year, which usuallyinspires a player to greatnessbecause so much money —“Mines,” as Bryant called it lastseason — is at stake. I thoughthe would give the Steelersoffense — along with Roethlisberger,Le’Veon Bell, Brownand a really good line —its best chance of carrying theteam’s leaky defense. He is anamazing talent when he’s right,a rare combination of sizeand speed. Keeping him madeeven more sense to me becausethe Steelers could haveused their second-round pickon defensive help instead ofon Bryant’s replacement, JamesWashington.

Somuch for my plan, althoughI still have major concernsabout the defense.

Itdoesn’t make me feel muchbetter that Roethlisbergershared my thinking abouttrading Bryant, at least initially.“I’m bummed,” he saidafter the deal was done.

Thatwas before Washingtoncame in for offseason workoutsand wowed team officialsand practice observers. Hehas a chance to be better thanBryant, certainly more dependable.

Thatalso was before news brokelate Thursday about Bryant.Michael Gehlken of theLas Vegas Review-Journalreported the Raiders fear leaguediscipline for Bryant becauseof its substance-abuse policy.Bryant was suspended forfour games at the start of the2015 season and all of the 2016season because of marijuanaissues and could be facinganother suspension of at leasta season. You might thinkthat punishment is extremebecause marijuana is legalin some states, but marijuanastill is against NFL rules.If Bryant wants to play inthe league, he needs to followthe rules. Perhaps he is dealingwith a powerful addiction.If that’s the case, I hope hefinds help and peace. Or maybehe is just too stupid to realizehe could lose everythingwith another slip-up. He didsay at training camp with theSteelers last summer, “I knowit’s my last chance.”

Eitherway, I feel sorry for Bryant.

IanRapoport of NFL Networkconfirmed Friday that Bryantis dealing with an issuewith the league, “but it’s notclear if it’ll cause a delay [likelast year before camp], a quickfix via paperwork or a suspension.All was well whenBryant met at the NFL officesin late April.”

Ihope it works out for Bryant.I don’t want to see him suspended.

I’mnot looking at it from a footballstandpoint, although I’msure the Steelers are thrilledto be done with him andthrilled they don’t have to spendanother second sweatinganother suspension for him.I’m looking at it from a humanstandpoint. I hate to seeanyone waste incredible talent.