Le’Veon Bell sentenced to 15 months probation in marijuana case

[squidkid]

we invested a 2nd rounder when we had the likes of Isaac Redman at running back. why do you think we'd invest something higher than that when we have bell?

because redman wasnt a dope head facing suspension when we drafted bell.
bell might be stupid enough to continue smoking dope and get caught multiple times over the next 15 months.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Steven Jackson is nearing the end of the road

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 12, 2015, 2:26 PM EST

After 11 seasons and 11,388 rushing yards, Falcons running back Steven Jackson appears to be near the end of the road.

Jackson will turn 32 in July and has averaged 3.7 and 3.5 yards a carry in the last two years — the two lowest yards-per-carry averages of his 11-year career. Combine that with the fact that Jackson is owed $3.75 million this year, and it’s easy to see why ESPN says Jackson is likely to be released.

New Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has said that any type of running back can succeed in his offense. If that’s true, the Falcons will surely join the growing numbers of NFL teams that decline to pay much money at the running back position. Younger, cheaper options like Jacquizz Rodgers and Devonta Freeman would make a lot more sense as the 1-2 punch in Atlanta than the aging and expensive Jackson. (Antone Smith, who showed some promise for the Falcons last year, becomes a free agent next month.)

Assuming that Jackson is released, he likely wouldn’t have a very big market for his services. The running back position has been devaluated to the point that teams are rarely even willing to pay big money to the running backs who are in their primes, let alone those like Jackson who are past their primes. It’s entirely possible that we’ve seen the last of Steven Jackson.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/12/steven-jackson-is-nearing-the-end-of-the-road/[/URL]

If SJAX gets cut and is willing to sign a deal down around the vet minimum or so, we could run the wheels off him for the 2 games we'd be without Bell, then he could sit back and get a few touches here or there for the rest of the year whenever Bell needed a breather (a Blount-like workload for us). We'd still likely draft a RB, and also have Harris/Archer to compete as well. Although he is no longer bellcow starter RB material anymore, his skillset is quite similar to Bell's and we may still be able to get a couple of solid games from him.

[RuthlessBurgher]

DeAngelo Williams has also been cut by the Panthers today. Dude seems like he's always hurt, so he may not command big dollars anymore, but we might only need him for 2 games, not 16.

[phillyesq]

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/12/steven-jackson-is-nearing-the-end-of-the-road/[/URL]

If SJAX gets cut and is willing to sign a deal down around the vet minimum or so, we could run the wheels off him for the 2 games we'd be without Bell, then he could sit back and get a few touches here or there for the rest of the year whenever Bell needed a breather (a Blount-like workload for us). We'd still likely draft a RB, and also have Harris/Archer to compete as well. Although he is no longer bellcow starter RB material anymore, his skillset is quite similar to Bell's and we may still be able to get a couple of solid games from him.

Does he have some tie to Pittsburgh? I seemed to remember that there was some sort of interest in him last time he was available. He's certainly near the end of his road, but as a mentor and 2 game fill in you could do worse.

[Slapstick]

A couple of years ago, Steven Jackson had a Doc Holliday/Johnny Ringo moment when talking about LeVeon Bell..."Kinda reminds me....of ME!" I don't know if he hates Bell, though...

[RuthlessBurgher]

Le’Veon Bell faces a maximum suspension of four games

Posted by Mike Florio on March 1, 2015, 4:59 PM EST

The new substance-abuse policy imposes a two-game suspension for a first-offense DUI. By landing on probation for a July 2014 DUI arrest arising from marijuana use, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is expected to be suspended for two games.

But there’s a catch that could result in a doubling of Bell’s expected punishment. The new substance-abuse policy makes a two-game suspension the standard penalty for a DUI arising from alcohol use. For violations of the law involving other substances of abuse, a first offense exposes the player to a suspension of “up to four” games.

It’s unclear whether the NFL will give Bell, who becomes the test case for the new substance-abuse policy, four games, three, two, or fewer. The prior substance-abuse policy also exposed players to a suspension without pay of “up to four” games for violations of the law for substances other than alcohol. Still, it would be a surprise if Bell gets less for DUI-marijuana under the new policy than he would get for DUI-alcohol under the new policy.

But don’t be surprised if he gets more, especially since alcohol is legal in Pennsylvania and marijuana currently isn’t.

Either way, the Steelers need to have a solid plan in place for replacing the team’s workhorse tailback for at least two and as many as four regular-season games in 2015.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/01/leveon-bell-faces-a-maximum-suspension-of-four-games/[/URL]

[Moonie]

Le’Veon Bell faces a maximum suspension of four games

Posted by Mike Florio on March 1, 2015, 4:59 PM EST


But there’s a catch that could result in a doubling of Bell’s expected punishment. The new substance-abuse policy makes a two-game suspension the standard penalty for a DUI arising from alcohol use. For violations of the law involving other substances of abuse, a first offense exposes the player to a suspension of “up to four” games.

[/URL]

He should change his plea to drunk driving instead of stoned driving. Is it too late to do that? Its like a Due Process/14th Amendment type situation.

[hausparty]

DeAngelo Williams has also been cut by the Panthers today. Dude seems like he's always hurt, so he may not command big dollars anymore, but we might only need him for 2 games, not 16.

Disagree. We do need a back for 16 full games.

We learned a very valuable lesson with the ride him till the "wheels fall off" approach with both Parker and Bell. We need a back who can carry the load without hurting our offensive system even if for 15% of the offensive snaps + 2 full games.

[squidkid]

Disagree. We do need a back for 16 full games.

We learned a very valuable lesson with the ride him till the "wheels fall off" approach with both Parker and Bell. We need a back who can carry the load without hurting our offensive system even if for 15% of the offensive snaps + 2 full games.

we had that guy last year but didnt use him

[feltdizz]

we had that guy last year but didnt use him

not true, we gave him 2 or 3 touches every few games. lol...

[squidkid]

not true, we gave him 2 or 3 touches every few games. lol...

i stand corrected

[RuthlessBurgher]

By Josh Alper
April 7, 2015, 4:48 PM EDT
LeGarrette Blount suspended for one game

The Patriots will have to kick off their title defense without running back LeGarrette Blount.

The NFL announced Tuesday that Blount has been suspended for one game for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Blount was arrested last summer for marijuana possession when police stopped a car he was traveling in with then-Steelers teammate Le’Veon Bell. Blount’s case was resolved earlier this year when prosecutors dropped the charge after Blount did 50 hours of community service. Bell was driving the car and charged with DUI in the case, which was resolved with a sentence of probation, and faces a likely two-game suspension from the league.

Blount joined the Patriots for the final five games of the 2014 regular season after he was released by the Steelers and ran for 281 yards and three touchdowns. He added 189 more yards during the playoffs and scored three touchdowns during the 45-7 blowout of the Colts in the AFC Championship game.