The Pittsburgh Steelers knew that they would have to be without Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell to begin the 2015 season.
Now they know for how long.
Bell was handed a three-game suspension on Thursday by the NFL and fined one game check for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
He is appealing that decision.
The suspension comes from a DUI arrest back in August 2014 during a traffic stop in Pittsburgh in which Bell and former Steelers running back LeGarrette Blount were smoking marijuana prior to heading to the airport for a preseason game.
In February, Bell received 15 months’ probation in a first-offender’s program.
Blount was suspended one game.
The suspension leaves the Steelers with just DeAngelo Williams, Josh Harris and Dri Archer in the backfield, so it is possible that the Steelers look to add running back depth in the draft.
Bell had a breakout season in 2014 finishing as the NFL’s second-leading rusher, gaining 1,361 yards and scoring eight touchdowns. He also was the Steelers second-leading receiver with 83 catches for 854 yards.
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