Steelers' Le'Veon Bell apologizes for three-game suspension
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell has been suspended for the first three games of the season following a violation of the NFL substance-abuse policy and an appeal.
The suspension was reduced from four games to three.
Bell missed the first two games in 2015 following an August 2014 incident with teammate LeGarrette Blount en route to the airport to catch a team charter to a preseason game against the Eagles."I couldn't go to the facility to get tested, they couldn't come to me and get tested and I missed those tests and that's on me," Bell said of a December test.
Bell said he overslept for an April test that was scheduled for 5:37 a.m. on a Saturday.
Missed tests are considered failed tests by the league.
“I am not a perfect person, I am not going to sit here and act like I am a perfect person,” Bell said on the video that he later deleted. “I made some mistakes, but I want you guys to understand I didn't purposely miss any drug tests. I never failed any drug tests. I haven't smoked since December 2014. All of the drug tests are random.”
“We will continue to support Le'Veon, but we acknowledge this mistake has put the team in an unfortunate position,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said. “We will continue to work with Le'Veon to help him eliminate distractions in his life so he can reach his full potential as a member of our community as well as a player for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
“I am genuinely sorry for not being on the field and not being available to you guys and help the Steelers win ring No. 7,” he said.
“I can't sit here and blame anybody else for missing my tests, but I just want everybody to understand I didn't purposely try to evade or avoid any drug tests,” Bell said. “I don't have any problems.”
