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Additional news on Bell suspension

I believe medical marijuana is legal in PA. What if Bell had a prescription for his knee?
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You're kidding right? I work in Montana, where medical Mary Jane is most certainly legal and my "day gig" is with government contracting for the Navy. Guess how long I'd keep my "day gig" if I used the medical Mari Ju Wanna legal or not for pain or any other reason?

Exactly as long as it took HR to process my papers. The U.S. Military and the folks my company contract for don't give one blue **** about what Montana or any other state feel is a reasonable use for medical marijuana.

The NFL as a corporate entity believes pot is in violation of their substance abuse protocol. End of story.

As for the "random testing" situation, As I understand it (and I'm no expert here so I can certainly be wrong, Bell has around 4 hours from the time he is contacted to provide his sample to the contacting agent. If he never gets that call, well he can't very well respond within 4 hours. Again, it's absolutely critical that Bell is able to prove he never received ANY calls on his previous phone number after the cutoff date. If he can do that, I think he may have a VERY good chance of clearing the hurdle, particularly if he can also show he gave the League Offices his new number.

Those two together and I think he truly does have a slam-dunk case against suspension and the league as well as most of us owe him an apology.
 
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ZonaBurgh said:
This whole thing with weed is becoming absurd. Almost daily it is becoming legal as a medical need.
I believe medical marijuana is legal in PA. What if Bell had a prescription for his knee?
How does the NFL interfere with a patient and their physician? Not saying this is a realistic scenario, but it could be and what a legal mess that could be. The NFL needs to move out of the 1970's.
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The 900 lb gorilla in this scenario is the Federal Gubmint. They say it's illegal, therefore all associates even slightly connected with them and most all private entities will fall under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

There are two basic levels in the U.S legal system: federal law and state law. A federal law applies to the nation as a whole and to all 50 states whereas state laws are only in effect within that particular state.

If a state law gives people more rights than a federal law, the state law is legally supposed to prevail. This means state law will always supersede federal law when the person in question stands to gain more from the state law, right?

Wrong. The law that applies to situations where state and federal laws disagree is called the supremacy clause, which is part of article VI of the Constitution. The supremacy clause contains what’s known as the doctrine of pre-emption, which says that the federal government wins in the case of conflicting legislation. Basically, if a federal and state law contradict, then when you’re in the state you can follow the state law, but the feds can decide to stop you. When there is a conflict between a state law and federal law, it is the federal law that prevails. For example, if a federal regulation prohibits the use of medical marijuana, but a state regulation allows it, the federal law prevails.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lesley-daunt/state-vs-federal-law-who-_b_4676579.html.
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Well, this is how I see it... it’s the “go ask your mother” law. Regress back into your childhood and think of your father as the state law and your mother as the federal law. You want to go to a party and stay out a little later past your curfew. Your father (state) says yes but your mother (federal) says no. Who ultimately has the final say?

“Go ask your mother.”
 
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I had a news alert that they were hearing his appeal in Mid August.
 
Being that he is a celebrity I can believe he changed his number. Did he make a good faith effort to notify the league of the new number is the question. I agree with Wingman a process server or registered letter to both the player and his agent should be the standard not a phone call.
 
This is all bullshit. He was on thin ice. The expectation from any normal person in that situation is to be hyper-sensitive to following rules and showing up for tests. You guys are grasping at straws.
 
CharlesDavenport said:
This is all bullshit. He was on thin ice. The expectation from any normal person in that situation is to be hyper-sensitive to following rules and showing up for tests. You guys are grasping at straws.
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Not to mention he has an agent, if people want or need him to know something, he'll know.
 
The key point in this to me is was he smoking.. If he just missed a test and wasn't smoking and he is still suspended fine. Rules are rules. As long as he wasn't smoking. Which can't be determined cause he missed the test. Why because he passed probation. To pass probation he had to abstain from weed and alcohol. Silver lining if he is still suspended 4 more games to get even healthier before he comes back. As long as he wasnt smoking and stays clean I don't care anymore..
 
With the history of 'the rog" and STEELERS players, I don't see a positive outcome for Bell. Because he is a Steeler doesn't entitle him to any special treatment. There maybe a cinerio where he is proven but will the NFL take it in the shorts for Bell? I don't think they will say "hey I'm sorry Le'veon we screwed up". I think his SUSPENTION will be of a reduced role but suspended none the less.


Salute the nation
 
First let me state two things. 1) I am 100% in favor of legalizing weed. 2) the NFLPA has ****** their people hard on this subject. As a player you get paid for the 16+ weeks that the season actually is paid, when the season ends you are no longer being paid by the league, so why in the hell would the union allow off season random drug testing. I know you are under contract but unless you are at the facility working in one way or another what you do for your four months off should not be any of the leagues damn business.

Same thing with any other banned things by the nfl, If I choose to use supplements during the off season, or even certain cold meds that can make you test positive as long as I show up for camp clean then **** the NFL. The NFL is just like the Democratic party, they want to control aspects of other peoples lives that are non of their damn business.
 
Bell has been dishonest. Hard to believe anything he says right now
 
Ramon Foster speaks out in support of Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell's potential appeal process
By Jeff.Hartman  @BnGBlitz on Aug 2, 2016, 10:35a 39


Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have to wait until the appeal process wraps up, but Ramon Foster is supporting Bell throughout his ordeal, unlike how Bell has been proven guilty by the court of public opinion.

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When it comes to the court of public opinion, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell might as well stop the appeal process on his 4-game suspension, because he is already guilty as charged. Thankfully for Bell, the public's opinion of him won't stop him from at least having a third party arbitrator hearing his appeal to get his potential suspension voided.

The details of the case are still grey. Bell reportedly changed his phone number, reportedly missed "several" tests and is claiming the missed tests were around the month of March. Although the general public might never know the actual facts in this case, teammate Ramon Foster, and NFLPA representative, spoke to Lance Lysowski of DKPittsburghSports.com on the upcoming appeal.


Before getting into the meat of Foster's comments, he didn't just come out and say he supported Bell and his appeal, he made some glaring insights into the frustration with the NFL, the leak of the suspension and what Bell might be leaning on to prove his innocence.

"It should be voided, in my opinion, but that's something that's going to be looked into," Foster said. "The NFL and NFLPA need to get together on that because these leaked failed tests, and everything that goes along with it, hurts the players. It hurts the players' pockets as far as their marketing and their image to the masses."

The marketing of themselves as potential free agents, as Bell could be after the 2016 season, is something not many have spoken about throughout this process. Bell could be out of millions of dollars due to the NFL not just leaking the news, but what went wrong which led to the suspension.

Players have a very real argument in this circumstance, but can Bell actually have his suspension reduced or voided?

"I think he has a fair shot at passing this thing," Foster said. "He's worked hard, he's done his job. That's never been the case with him. There are small things here and there, but hopefully his case passes in his favor."

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"The communication, there's argument there," Foster said. "He is a busy guy. He's not a guy who is going to sit in one place for a long amount of time, and the fact that it was leaked. You can't have those types of things come up right there. He's already guilty before anyone found out what's going on."

These comments speak to the theory of Bell not being available for a potential test, which he clearly missed for whatever reason, but the question remains will the excuse given be enough for a change in the ruling? Only time will tell, but no teammate wants to see their friend go through a situation like this.

"You don't want to see a teammate go through anything like that, but he's a tough guy," Foster said.

The Steelers are still built for success if Bell's suspension holds at 4-games, but if he is able to have his suspension reduced, the team would be even more of a threat in the NFL in 2016
 
I love what the guy does between the lines, but he's a total idiot off of it. Hard for me to imagine a second contact at this point
 
I could care less if he ever played again, for us or anyone. always someone that will step in...and I'm thankful we have one helluva back to step up
 
south dakota STEEL said:
I could care less if he ever played again, for us or anyone. always someone that will step in...and I'm thankful we have one helluva back to step up
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I felt like this too but when it was said he changed his phone and all I will just take a wait and see approach. If he is in the wrong he should get the full four games. If the NFL is in the wrong he should get zero games. I just don't like this reduced suspension stuff. He is either wrong or the NFL is. Also the NFL has to look into this whole thing and fire the person or people who are leaking this info. They want to penalize the players for their action against the SHIELD...well they better start holding their office employees to a higher standard. We should not even be talking about this until if and when Bell failed in his appeal attempt.
 
So what if he hasn't smoked..there are rumors that Steelers feel like Bell hasn't smoked because he hasn't failed any tests since being put in the system. He has passed all tests before and after this has came out. They are also factoring in his being taken off probation and being able to pass those tests. To them its not about him actually smoking but missing the tests..
 
antdrewjosh said:
So what if he hasn't smoked..there are rumors that Steelers feel like Bell hasn't smoked because he hasn't failed any tests since being put in the system. He has passed all tests before and after this has came out. They are also factoring in his being taken off probation and being able to pass those tests. To them its not about him actually smoking but missing the tests..
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In the end though a missed test is a failed test. If it is Bell's fault he should get 4 games. That is the rules. I'm hoping he wins his appeal. I will keep my fingers crossed. :)
 
stillwright said:
In the end though a missed test is a failed test. If it is Bell's fault he should get 4 games. That is the rules. I'm hoping he wins his appeal. I will keep my fingers crossed. :)
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Yes and the Steelers understand that part but it does change things in their eyes about Bell going forward. Meaning it does take out some of the hesitation they may feel about giving him a new deal.
 
The problem is that there are masking agents that can help a player / person "pass" the tests. So if you "miss" a test you may be acquiring a masking agent that allows you to pass a "scheduled" test. Therefore a random test provides better opportunities to get around the masking agents.

If Bell missed a test it could be because he didn't have any masking agents in his system and thus would NOT have passed. Later, when he DID have masking agents in place, he can request a test or take a scheduled test and pass easily. Thus it is important to the NFL that Bell NOT miss any "random" tests. This is why a missed test, random or otherwise is considered a fail.
 
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wig said:
The problem is that there are masking agents that can help a player / person "pass" the tests. So if you "miss" a test you may be acquiring a masking agent that allows you to pass a "scheduled" test. Therefore a random test provides better opportunities to get around the masking agents.

If Bell missed a test it could be because he didn't have any masking agents in his system and thus would NOT have passed. Later, when he DID have masking agents in place, he can request a test or take a scheduled test and pass easily. Thus it is important to the NFL that Bell NOT miss any "random" tests. This is why a failed test, random or otherwise is considered a fail.
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I agree wig. The issue is in my eyes is did he have the chance to take the test or not. It is hard to fault someone for not taking a random test if they did not get notified of it. If it is in fact mere gamesmanship on his part to try and beat the system they should not have difficulty in proving this to be the case. I have seen and most of us have talked about irregularities on here from the nfl over the years that makes me doubtful of the integrity of the league and I would not consider them more reliable than the players. I believe corroborating evidence is needed to back up either side in any judgement they try to impose or have set aside.
 
south dakota STEEL said:
I could care less if he ever played again, for us or anyone. always someone that will step in...and I'm thankful we have one helluva back to step up
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I swear some of you guys have some long term memory issues. Remember a game against the damn Browns when we had Redman, Johnathan Dwyer, and Chris Rainey as our 1, 2 and 3? Remember we needed like a yard a few times in that game, and we couldn't freaking BUY IT?

I'll take Bell for as long as we can have him, and be happy to have him. Hopefully this passes, but 12 games with him beats the **** outta 16 with any of the scrubs listed above.

Joe
 
I understand that but you have to take in account that Bell was on Probation. Their tests are random also..Bell was able to pass probation also.
 
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Why Steelers are supporting Le'Veon Bell despite suspensions



Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

LATROBE, Pa. -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are not branding Le'Veon Bell with the scarlet letter for NFL players: Character concern.

In fact, the team's marquee players have gone out of their way to cite the wait-and-see approach with Bell's looming four-game suspension. Whereas the mere mention of wide receiver Martavis Bryant (one-year suspension) elicits frustration, there's a sense the Steelers believe Bell is different, despite the threat of kicking off back-to-back seasons with suspensions.

Bell's looming suspension, which is under appeal, is for missing drug tests. The NFL clearly states if a player misses three tests, he gets a four-game ban. In 2015, Bell missed two games for a marijuana citation in the greater Pittsburgh area.

Privately, players are frustrated with the drug-related distractions attached to two prominent players. But Bell is genuinely liked as a player and person. That's what complicates things.

He's practicing with the team, so teammates wouldn't exactly bash him publicly, anyway. Until proven otherwise, though, the Steelers generally see Bell as a hard-working asset rather than a locker-room problem. Bell's offseason training regimen is known as one of the team's most intense, for example.


Le'Veon Bell (26) talks with Ben Roethlisberger (wearing 83) in practice last Friday. Steelers players are firm in their support of Bell, who faces a potential four-game suspension. Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo
"I think that’s the way everybody sees him," offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. "We’ll see how it all plays out. The guy has been nothing but an energy-bringer to this group and has endeared himself to the entire team quickly. He’s been through some adversity."

Also, players can claim naivete in this case. Running back DeAngelo Williams said he's not sure Bell actually made a mistake because "we don't know the complete story."

Checking with a few scouts, the concerns in Bell's 2013 draft scouting report were more about weight concerns (he was 240 at Michigan State but is around 220 now) and fumbling issues than off-field problems. One NFC scout said Bell had no red flags on his report.

Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark, a teammate of Bell's in 2013, said Bell checks all the boxes for the prototypical team guy, but his self-induced distractions are concerning.

"He’s a good teammate," Clark told me on ESPN NFL's Facebook Live. "He’s a locker room guy. He’s fun to be around. And he works his butt off. But you can't keep making the same mistakes. One thing the Rooneys and the Pittsburgh Steelers have always done, they conducted their jobs with integrity. For this team, this is a big hit to have this many distractions off the field. Obviously, they love him. And you know how it works, if you can play well, if you can ball, they want you out on the field. He can help them win games."

Bell has logged significant work in training camp less than nine months removed from serious knee surgery. He is running and cutting well and gave a few linebackers problems with swift route-running in one-on-ones Wednesday.

He resembles the 2014 Bell that rushed for 1,361 yards and 8 touchdowns and caught 81 passes for 854 yards and 3 touchdowns, though he hasn't been tackled yet.

Haley was impressed by Bell's insistence on running 100-yard "gassers" -- part of the conditioning test for training camp report date -- 16 times instead of the standard requirement of eight. Bell ran with both groups.

"Something I've never seen," Haley said. "He did all this with the first group, then did it again."

At least for now, given his suspension to open the season, Bell's explosive playmaking is nothing more than a tease.
 
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