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It should be an exciting time for NFL teams and its players, watching all the wheeling and dealing being done in free agency. Unfortunately for the Pittsburgh Steelers it is becoming reality that the team will likely be without their number two receiver Martavis Bryant. Bryant is facing a year-long suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, per his agent Tom Santanello and DKPittsburghSports.com. Santanello also confirmed that his client will be fighting the suspension, however, it appears unlikely that it will get lifted.
Bryant has already served a four game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He also had “character issues” while in college at Clemson which is why the Steelers were able to grab him with a fourth round pick. Hopefully this time will be different as Bryant is expected to enter treatment tomorrow for depression. His other agent Brian Fettner told USA Today Sports that he was “shocked” when he heard the news of the suspension. He explains that Bryant is not going out every night like other NFL players, but instead has a “coping issue”. He went on saying, “This is the biggest cry for help I’ve ever seen. And that hurts. It hurts us to see. He’s 24 years old and he’s got to get right, whatever it is. If you talk to anybody’s family that has depression, they will be talking about these same things — the [despondence], the withdrawal, the head-in-the-sand despair — just trying to cope.”
Both the NFL and the Steelers have not commented on the news. The team recently signed WR Darius Hayward-Bey to a three-year extension which had to have been insurance for a situation like this. Bryant has made a big impact when on the field and this is a big loss for the Steelers who have one of the best offenses in the league. Hopefully, Bryant can get his mind right and return to the league when the time is right.
