HEADLINES

Le’Veon Bell

Le’Veon Bell Suspended Three Games

April 9th, 2015 at 8:39am CST by Luke Adams

Two days after we learned that LeGarrette Blount will be suspended one game for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell will be suspended three games for his involvement in the same incident. Bell, who is appealing the ban, would also be fined an additional game check if the penalty is upheld.

While Blount was arrested for marijuana possession before the season got underway last summer, Bell was charged for both marijuana possession and DUI, which explains the more punitive discipline the Steelers back received from the league.

If Bell is indeed forced to sit out the first three games of the 2015 season, it figures to result in an expanded role for DeAngelo Williams, the only outside free agent signed by Pittsburgh so far this offseason. Dri Archer and Josh Harris also should be in the running back mix, though they’re unlikely to carry the majority of the load. The Steelers may consider adding a back in the draft as well.

Coming off a season in which he led the AFC with 1,361 yards, Bell looked poised to contend for the NFL’s rushing title in 2015, but missing three games would certainly put him at a disadvantage in that race. Assuming the penalty – including the fourth-game fine – holds up, the 23-year-old will forfeit $194,900, a quarter of his $779,600 base salary for 2015.

Extra Points: Rams, Bell, Incognito

February 11th, 2015 at 10:36pm CST by Zachary Links

Inglewood mayor James Butts told The Beast 980 that enough signatures have been acquired to support a stadium initiative. The next step in the process will be a public hearing regarding the stadium project on February 24th. Of course, there are many more hurdles to be cleared, but this is a potentially big step towards clearing a path toward the Rams heading west to L.A. More from around the NFL..

  • Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is expected to be suspended for the first two games of the 2015 season following his August arrest, sources told ESPN.com’s John Clayton. Since Bell is a first-time offender, that’s the maximum suspension allowed under the NFL’s new substance abuse policy.
  • New Bills offensive guard Richie Incognito told Jeff Darlington of NFL Media that he discussed the Miami bullying scandal with his new team and told the club about what he learned from the situation. The 31-year-old says that he understands that this will be his last chance to play in the NFL given the hit that his reputation has taken.
  • The Chargers regressed on special teams in 2014 and they’ll need some reinforcements for 2015, Tom Krasovic of U-T San Diego writes. Depending on how things break, it’s possible that the Bolts could carry a kickoff specialist. Of course, doing that would take a bit away from other area on the roster.
  • The somewhat surprising decision by the Buccaneers to release quarterback Josh McCown could signal that the team is gearing up to spend significant dollars in free agency, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. Meanwhile, if the Bucs don’t use that money to sign another quarterback in free agency, that almost certainly means the club will select either Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston with the No. 1 overall pick.
  • Former Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik‘s experience with Josh Freeman is why he prefers Mariota to Winston, as Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times writes. Both have serious talent, but Mariota is regarded as someone with very high character.
  • The Saints should retain Mark Ingram, but only at the right price, according to Sean Fazende of WVUE. Ingram stands as the fourth-best free agent tailback in Fazende’s view and he feels a four-year, $16MM offer with $6MM guaranteed would make sense for both sides.
  • Michael Felger of CSNNE.com wonders if the Broncos might use Tom Brady‘s contract as leverage in contract talks.

North Notes: Bears, Hoyer, Jones, Bell

October 15th, 2014 at 1:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Field Yates of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req’d) reflected on the offseason’s top value signings. Bears defensive end Willie Young, signed to a three-year, $9MM deal, tops the list. Young has seven sacks so far, more than he had during the first four years of his career combined. One NFL coach told Yates that he’s quite impressed with Young’s improvement from last season to this season. “If you look at him from the Lions, he was a straight-line, situational rusher,” he said of Young. “Now he is not a straight-line rusher. Now he uses his hands and feet and has become a skilled pass-rusher.” More out of the AFC and NFC North..

  • While there’s been plenty of speculation about a potential contract extension for Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer, the team has displayed “zero” interest so far in negotiating a new deal for him, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
  • Yesterday a foot specialist told Marvin Jones that he’ll require surgery on his balky ankle, which is why the Bengals decided to place the wideout on injured reserve, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network.
  • Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell waived his right to a preliminary hearing on marijuana possession and and DUI charges, writes Joe Mandak of The Associated Press. That means the 22-year-old won’t contest that police have enough evidence for the chargets to go to court, where he will either plead to all or some of the chargers or stand trial.
  • Terrelle Pryor worked out for the Bengals as a quarterback, so it would seem that he’s not entertaining a position change, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports.
  • Sunday was a rough day for Vikings GM Rick Spielman‘s recent first-round picks, as Michael Rand of the Star-Tribune explains (video link).

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

NFL/NFLPA Notes: Rice, DUIs, Policies

September 26th, 2014 at 4:46pm CST by Luke Adams

The last few days haven’t been quite as explosive in terms of scandals and other major NFL stories as recent weeks have been, but the league is still dealing with the fallout of multiple embarrassing situations, and working on finalizing and creating various policies. Here are a few Friday updates on issues relating to the league and the player’s union:

  • Despite new details in an Associated Press report alleging that a law enforcement official sent the Ray Rice elevator video to league security chief Jeffrey Miller back in April, the league indicated today that its office “has found absolutely no evidence” suggesting it received the video or that an alleged phone call confirming its receipt took place. Nancy Armour of USA Today Sports has the details.
  • Player agents are being informed that their clients have until November 1 to resolve outstanding cases relating to DUI charges, in order to avoid the mandatory two-game suspension dictated by the league’s new drug policy, says Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter). Pelissero clarifies (via Twitter) that the deadline only applies to players who face chargers on alcohol-related impairment, so it wouldn’t apply to someone like Le’Veon Bell.
  • In a series of several tweets, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report passes along some highlights from a memo sent by Roger Goodell and the NFL to team owners today. The memo provides progress updates on the league’s efforts to improve its personal conduct policy and handling of domestic violence situations.

Le’Veon Bell, LeGarrette Blount Arrested

August 21st, 2014 at 3:25pm CST by Zachary Links

3:25pm: Charges have officially been filed against both Bell (possession of marijuana, DUI) and Blount (possession of marijuana) by the Ross Township Police Department, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. However, as Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets, the Steelers will allow the NFL to deal with any potential discipline for the two running backs, which isn’t likely to happen this season.

THURSDAY, 9:06am: As first reported last night by Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), Blount was not charged with anything and was allowed to leave the scene and travel with the team. Andrea Hangst of Bleacher Report tweets that neither player is likely to face discipline from the league this season, since it usually takes time for the case to be resolved and the NFL to determine the severity of a potential suspension.

WEDNESDAY, 6:47pm: Steelers running backs Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount were arrested earlier today for marijuana possession, according to Colin Dunlap of CBS Pittsburgh (on Twitter). Things are a little more serious for Bell, who was also charged with driving under the influence.

According to Will Graves of The Associated Press (on Twitter), a traffic officer detected smoke coming from the car and police found about 20 grams of marijuana in the vehicle. According to NORML.org, a pro-legalization website, a possession charge for carrying 30 grams or less of marijuana can result in a misdemeanor and up to 30 days of incarceration. A DUI charge, of course, carries additional consequences. Both players could face punishment from the league office but that likely won’t be discussed until the case is resolved.

Bell, last year’s No. 48 overall pick, won the starting job as a rookie in 2013 and finished with 860 yards and eight touchdowns. Blount spent last year with the Pats and tallied 772 yards and seven touchdowns. While there won’t be an NFL suspension anytime soon, the Steelers could be on the lookout for reinforcements if punishment does come down from Commissioner Roger Goodell. There’s also the possibility that the Steelers will levy a suspension of their own.