Suspended Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant has officially applied for reinstatement to the NFL, reports Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). It was reported in mid-January that the embattled wideout would apply for reinstatement “in the near future.” Bryant won’t be eligible to return until March, one year after the NFL suspended him for violating its substance abuse policy.
Although Bryant’s Steelers made it all the way to the AFC title game, the 2016 campaign will go down as a lost season for the 25-year-old. Bryant is serving his second suspension since he entered the pros in 2014.
Previously, Bryant sat four games in 2015 for multiple substance abuse violations. Marijuana usage was at the root of the penalty then, but Bryant’s current suspension came as a result of multiple missed drug tests. Bryant elected against appealing the ban, as he deemed it an “unwinnable” situation, and decided to enter rehab for depression issues.
If Bryant’s off-field troubles are behind him and he does come back next season, his presence could be a boon to an already high-octane Steeler attack. However, there’s no guarantee the franchise would welcome him back.
“We are very disappointed that Martavis Bryant has put himself in this current situation of being suspended by the League,” the Steelers said in a statement last March. He is at a crossroads of his professional life, and he needs to understand significant changes need to occur in his personal life if he wants to regain his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler. We are hopeful that Martavis will take the necessary steps to develop the discipline in his personal life to become a successful player and a good teammate.”
When on the field, Bryant has been a major threat. The ex-Clemson Tiger caught 50 passes for 765 yards and eight touchdowns in just 11 games last season. That came after he hauled in eight scores and averaged a whopping 21.1 yards per catch in 10 games as a rookie. All told, the 6-foot-4, 211-pounder has amassed 76 receptions, 14 scores and posted a 17.3 YPC in 21 games. Should he don a Pittsburgh uniform in 2017, he’d join an Antonio Brown-led receiving corps that also includes Eli Rogers and Sammie Coates.
Would have been great to see him this year playing with the killer b’s.
As a Ravens fan, no thanks. Keep him out of the AFCN.
Don’t worry he will likely get suspended again. As a steeler fan I have no faith in him or bell being on this team long term until they prove otherwise.
Just don’t play against us lol. We have enough trouble with Brown, Bell and the other WRs. We don’t need a second #1 WR to cover lol.
Really? Bell hasnt proven it to you? He was only suspended this year because of the Blount ride last year… Bell hasnt touched weed in 2 years
We’re pulling for you Martavis! The league will be put on notice when you are reinstated.
Add him to the triple “B’s” and it’s the wrap!
Bryant would make it the Quad B’s?? 🙂
The steelers knew what they were getting with bryant and his issues
Forget about football. I hope this kid is healthy mentally. He was silently dealing with multiple issues off the field.
If he’s healthy in that regard, the league is officially put on notice. Kid is dynamic and he’s the equivalent to a #1 wideout.
Keep him out. No tolerance for drug users.
You’re a hypocrite–you got Nick Boyle and Darren Waller on your team, and Boyle was suspended for PEDs.
They were innocent. Steelers aren’t. Duh.
He’s just joking lol.
You just don’t want to face him as a raven fan. I don’t blame you not with that raven secondary! Lmao
As an eagles fan I hope they cut him. We could use him! But in reality he will instantly boost the steelers and give them the best receivers in the league again.
as Emma explained I am stunned that someone able to make $4177 in one month on the computer . try this web-site
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, tinylink.net/G57vb