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Le'Veon Bell on his suspension: 'I just have to do my time'
The NFL handed down a three-game suspension to Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell last month after he was charged with possession of marijuana and DUI.
Bell, who was second in the NFL with 1,361 rushing yards last season, told ESPN’s Josina Anderson that the punishment is just.
“I made a mistake. I’m going to just have to do my time, whatever the final decision may be,” Bell said. “Get past it, and get ready for next season and continuing to be the great football player I know I can be.”
Bell’s suspension stems from the Aug. 20 incident in which he was pulled over with former teammate LeGarrette Blount hours before a team flight to a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bell ultimately reached a plea deal and was sentenced to 15 months’ probation that includes abstaining from drug and alcohol use. Bell, who reportedly appealed the NFL’s ruling, also completed community service, which he hopes will influence the league to reduce his suspension.
“I still have to do my time that they gave me, but if (the league) were to look into that and all the community service that I did and the classes that I had to take in eventually getting (the arrest) off my record, that should be something that maybe they consider and help me knock some time off,” Bell told ESPN.
Bell says he’s learned from the ordeal and that marijuana “is not an important thing” in his life.
“It’s something that got me in trouble,” Bell said. “Football is what I love. I love the game of football and nothing will come to jeopardize that.”
It’s refreshing to see Bell take ownership of his transgressions. Of course he’s going to take any steps necessary to possibly cut into the suspension, but if not, he’s not making excuses.
If the three-game suspension holds, Bell will miss the Thursday night season opener against the New England Patriots, a home game against the San Francisco 49ers and a road contest with the St. Louis Rams. In his absence, newly-signed DeAngelo Williams will likely see the bulk of the carries. Williams, who spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Carolina Panthers, rushed for a career-low 219 yards in an injury-plagued 2014 season.
Prior to the 2014 season, Williams rushed for at least 700 yards in six of his previous seven seasons.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
