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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell will likely be suspended for the first two games of the 2015 NFL season after entering a guilty plea for his DUI and marijuana charges that date back to last August.
Sources told ESPN.com's John Clayton that the Steelers are preparing as if Bell will be banned for the first two weeks. Under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, a two-game suspension is a standard punishment for players found guilty of driving under the influence. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was speculating about a similar punishment all the way back in October.
Bell, 22, was arrested in August along with then-Steelers running back LeGarrette Blount on suspicion of DUI and marijuana possession. Charges against Blount were dropped last month after he completed community service. He is not expected to face league discipline.
Bell was admitted to Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) as part of his plea agreement with prosecutors earlier this month. The ARD program is designed for first-time DUI offenders and allows them to have their record wiped clean, assuming they complete terms of their agreement.
Bell will be required to serve a 15-month probation, pay court costs and go without driving for 60 days. He is also expected to not consume alcohol or drugs during the probation period.
“He’s relieved to have the matter finally resolved with the opportunity to earn dismissal and expungement,” Bell's attorney, Robert Del Greco, said per Paula Reed Ward of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I expect Le’Veon will not be a repeat offender.”
A second-round selection in 2013, Bell emerged as one of the best all-around running backs in football during his second season. He rushed for 1,361 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 83 receptions and 854 yards through the air. His all-around production helped him blast the Steelers' franchise record for all-purpose yards in a season and earn his first All-Pro berth.
Pro Football Focus' grading system had Bell as the NFL's best running back last season. Football Outsiders' DYAR metric had Bell fifth among backs and ninth in its DVOA metric .A knee injury kept Bell out of the Steelers' playoff loss to Baltimore.
Pittsburgh, which was left with street free agent Ben Tate as its primary back in the playoffs, will likely target a more reliable backup in free agency.
edit > espn link http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...ile&rand=ref~{"ref":"http://t.co/i8EdoyIAlI"}
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell will likely be suspended for the first two games of the 2015 NFL season after entering a guilty plea for his DUI and marijuana charges that date back to last August.
Sources told ESPN.com's John Clayton that the Steelers are preparing as if Bell will be banned for the first two weeks. Under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, a two-game suspension is a standard punishment for players found guilty of driving under the influence. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was speculating about a similar punishment all the way back in October.
Bell, 22, was arrested in August along with then-Steelers running back LeGarrette Blount on suspicion of DUI and marijuana possession. Charges against Blount were dropped last month after he completed community service. He is not expected to face league discipline.
Bell was admitted to Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) as part of his plea agreement with prosecutors earlier this month. The ARD program is designed for first-time DUI offenders and allows them to have their record wiped clean, assuming they complete terms of their agreement.
Bell will be required to serve a 15-month probation, pay court costs and go without driving for 60 days. He is also expected to not consume alcohol or drugs during the probation period.
“He’s relieved to have the matter finally resolved with the opportunity to earn dismissal and expungement,” Bell's attorney, Robert Del Greco, said per Paula Reed Ward of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I expect Le’Veon will not be a repeat offender.”
A second-round selection in 2013, Bell emerged as one of the best all-around running backs in football during his second season. He rushed for 1,361 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 83 receptions and 854 yards through the air. His all-around production helped him blast the Steelers' franchise record for all-purpose yards in a season and earn his first All-Pro berth.
Pro Football Focus' grading system had Bell as the NFL's best running back last season. Football Outsiders' DYAR metric had Bell fifth among backs and ninth in its DVOA metric .A knee injury kept Bell out of the Steelers' playoff loss to Baltimore.
Pittsburgh, which was left with street free agent Ben Tate as its primary back in the playoffs, will likely target a more reliable backup in free agency.
edit > espn link http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...ile&rand=ref~{"ref":"http://t.co/i8EdoyIAlI"}
