Steelers get Bell and Bryant back
Martavis Bryant’s long journey back to the NFL is over. So is Le’Veon Bell’s extended vacation. Two of the most dynamic components of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ high-powered offense are good to go as the season opener approaches.
The NFL on Friday granted Bryant permission to play when the Steelers travel to Cleveland on Sept. 10, nearly 18 months after he was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
The Steelers placed the franchise tag on Bell in February. The two-time Pro Bowler responded by skipping Pittsburgh’s offseason program and stayed away during training camp after failing to reach agreement on a long-term deal. Bell appeared at the team’s facility Friday, just hours after the Steelers wrapped up the preseason with a victory in Carolina.
Bell passed a team physical and is expected to sign his franchise tender of $12.1 million before the team returns to practice on Monday.
Brock Osweiler is being released by the Cleveland Browns, who will pay his $16-million guaranteed contract not to have him on their roster, a person familiar with the move said. Osweiler will be officially cut on Saturday when the team trims its roster to 53.
He was beaten out by rookie DeShone Kizer, who will be the 27th starting quarterback for Cleveland since 1999. With Osweiler leaving, it appears the Browns will keep former USC star Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan to back up Kizer.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was aware that one of his lead investigators believed Ezekiel Elliott shouldn’t be disciplined before the Dallas running back was suspended for six games in a domestic violence case, league spokesman Brian McCarthy said.
McCarthy disputed a key claim in a lawsuit filed by the players’ union on behalf of Elliott seeking to vacate an upcoming ruling on an appeal. McCarthy said Goodell knew of investigator Kia Roberts’ contention that Elliott’s accuser wasn’t credible before deciding to suspend Elliott.
“The commissioner was aware of her views, aware of many other people’s views,” McCarthy said.
Elliott, the NFL’s 2016 rushing leader as a rookie, was suspended after the league concluded he used physical force last summer against Tiffany Thompson, his girlfriend at the time.
Arbitrator Harold Henderson, appointed by Goodell, is expected to rule on Elliott’s appeal soon. Attorneys for the 22-year-old and the players’ union said in a request for a temporary restraining order filed Friday that they believe Henderson will reject the appeal.
The Seattle Seahawks acquired defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson from the New York Jets in exchange for wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and a 2018 second-round draft pick, bolstering a defense that was already considered among the best in the NFL. The clubs will also swap seventh-round picks in 2018.
The Seahawks also traded cornerback Tramaine Brock to Minnesota, giving the Vikings an experienced defender, a person with knowledge of the deal said. Seattle is reportedly receiving a seventh-round pick in exchange.
A person with knowledge of the situation said the Arizona Cardinals released running back Chris Johnson. The 31-year-old Johnson is just 463 yards shy of 10,000 yards rushing for his nine-year career. At one point, with the Tennessee Titans, he was among the league’s best backs.
The San Francisco 49ers released quarterback Matt Barkley, clearing the way for rookie C.J. Beathard to open the season as the backup to Brian Hoyer. Barkley starred at Santa Ana Mater Dei High and USC.