Madden 17 News | Top 5 Running Back Ratings - Le"Veon Bell 94 OVR!
I really dont care if people smoke marijuana. I just dont.I think it should be legal. We waste hundredsof millions of dollars annually on it, arresting, prosecuting and locking people up.But it isnt legal in most places and isnt permissible bythe NFL. Therefore, players should find a way to avoid it.
Im not going to get on a soapbox because I believe people should be freeto make choices about their own lives.This isnt about players lacking character or morals. Its aboutplayers lacking intelligence and not caring about theirteammates.In other words, players getting suspended for smoking weed (ormissing a mandatory drug test) is a really dumb, selfish act.
Remember those discussions about whether the Steelers should signLeVeon Bell or Antonio Brown to a big contract extension?Yeah, well, that is no longer a discussion given the latest newsthat Bell is facing a four-game suspension for violation of the NFLssubstance abuse policy.
Bell was suspended for two games for his little adventure up McKnight Road with formerSteelers running back LeGarrette Blount in 2014,whichshould have been a wake up call but apparently wasnt.Bell, who has appealed this suspension, either tested positive or missedfour different drug tests, which tells me he either is too dumb tounderstand the rules or too arrogant to care about them.
That brings me back to the Bell and Brown contract extension discussion. Not only should the Steelers give the money toBrown, they shouldnt even offer a contract to Bell and maybe evenshould look to trade him.
To be clear, I thought Brown should get the money anyway because heis the Steelers best player (sorry Ray Fittipaldo) and one of the bestplayers in football. It has been proven time and time againthat you dont need an elite running back to win at a high level intodays NFL.The Steelers almost got to the AFC title game with Fitzgerald Toussaint at running back, so they will be fineoffensively.
Its ridiculous that a guy with millions on the line cant lay offmarijuana for a few months.And please, spare me the argument that he was medicating himself because heis in pain from playing such a brutal sport.That is nonsense and an excuse for players. If a guy is in pain, there are plenty of drugs availablefor pain that arent illegal and banned by the NFL.
It isnt that hard to know when a drug test is coming, so it shouldnt bethat hard to be prepared for one.Thats why I said either he isnt very bright, or he just selfish and doesnt care about his teammates. Either way, heneeds to go somewhere else and try again.
Bell is one of the best running backs in the league. There is noquestion about his talent.But he has been injury-prone and drug-prone,which means he is suspension-prone. Therefore, he isnt reliable.
The Steelers cant count on him, so they shouldnt pay himthe big money he wants.Sadly, some owner wont be able to help himself and will giveBell a big contract. Therein lies part of the problem: talented guys like Bell havebeen told their entire athletic life they are above the rules becausetheir talent trumps all else.
For Bells sake, I hope he figures it out, stops doing drugs andgoes on to a great career.I hope he breaks records and goes to the Hall of Fame and becomesa great role model for kids in terms of how to bounce back fromself-inflicted adversity.
All of that has to happen elsewhere. He cant stay withthe Steelers beyond the end of his current contract (after this season) because they cant count on him. He clearly hasnt learned his lessonfrom his first suspension.The Steelers would be foolish to sign Bell long-term, but if theydo, they deserve what they get. At this point, thats a talented yetunreliable tailback who may not be available on game day.
Follow Paul Zeise on Twitter @PaulZeise.
Source: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/zeise-is-right/2016/07/22/Paul-Zeise-Steelers-should-not-offer-Le-Veon-Bell-a-new-contract/stories/201607220172
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