Pittsburgh Steelers running backs Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount will not be suspended by the team for any amount of time due to their recent arrests, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Some have suggested that the Steelers might impose their own penalties on the running backs in the form of swift suspensions, but Bouchette calls that "fantasy."
Le’Veon Bell won’t miss time this season due to arrest; fantasy owners can take him without worry
Le’Veon Bell won’t (and can’t) be suspended by the Steelers due to his offseason arrest. We break down the fantasy implications.
Al Bello
The biggest reason for this is simple: such punishment is not allowed under the collective bargaining agreement. If Bell or Blount are to receive any punishment when it comes to the NFL, it will have to come after the legal process has run its course and not a moment sooner. The closest we've seen to punishment in a situation like this is something like when the San Francisco 49ers put Aldon Smith in rehab during the season last year.
Fantasy Impact: Bouchette himself notes the fantasy impact -- saying that you can draft Bell “without fear it will cost you or him a game.” The legal process will not wrap up by the time this season comes to an end, so if there’s time to be missed, it likely won’t kick in until next season. Bell is a strong option for fantasy owners going forward.
