Pittsburgh Steelers won’t suspend LeGarrette Blount, Le’Veon Bell for DUI
By Cory Buck
Pittsburgh Steelers running backs Leveon Bell and LeGarrette Blount were arrested for possession of marijuana, which is plenty suspendable in the NFL. However, since the two haven’t been found guilty of anything yet, don’t expect a suspension from the league to come down any time soon. In the meantime, the team has decided to punish Bell and Blount in ways outside of suspensions.
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When asked by reporters at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette if Bell and Blount would play the team’s final exhibition game on Thursday, coach Mike Tomlin said, “Absolutely.” He offered no further details on their discipline, but assured reporters that plans were already ‘laid down’.
This may seem like a decision made based on the fact that the Steelers would cripple their roster by taking out their top two running backs, but it’s not that simple. As the Gazette article notes, the CBA essentially bans the Steelers from suspending its own players for such infractions. As Article 42, Section 6 of the CBA notes:
"No Club may impose any discipline against a player, including but not limited to terminating the player’s Player Contract, as a result of that Player’s violation of the Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Sub- stances or the NFL Policy and Program on Substances of Abuse…"
The team’s top two running backs will still face punishment, per Tomlin, but that remains undisclosed. What we do know is that Bell and Blount will suit up for the team on Thursday and presumably will start Week 1 of the regular season without incident.