Le’Veon Bell’s DUI suspension reduced to 2 games

Le’Veon Bell has had his three-game suspension reduced to two games upon reaching an appeal settlement with the NFL, according to USA Today’s Jarrett Bell. In August 2014, the Pittsburgh Steelers running back was charged with marijuana possession and driving under the influence after he and former teammate LeGarrette Blount were pulled over by police. Bell will now return for Week 3 against the St. Louis Rams.

The league handed down the suspension in April, and although it was a standard punishment -- two games for DUI, one game for the substance abuse violation -- Bell was able to procure a lighter suspension.

Bell is a first-time offender and started a 15-month Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program back in February. Going into that program, which requires him to steer clear of drugs and alcohol, and getting his legal issues solved might have been enough for the NFL to reduce the suspension.

It also probably helped that Bell has been apologetic about this incident from the onset, and hasn’t waged any kind of public war with the league over his suspension. With several high-profile appeals taking place in recent months -- including from Adrian Peterson, Tom Brady and Ray Rice -- Bell’s case must have been easier to handle for the league.

Bell is one of the best running backs in the league and is coming off his first full season as a starter, in which he carried the ball 290 times for 1,361 yards and eight touchdowns. Any time he misses is a blow to the Steelers, but they signed DeAngelo Williams this offseason and he might be the perfect back to shoulder some of the load for a brief period while Bell is out.