Quote:
Originally Posted by Mecca
It's not ridiculous that the Steelers could have basically rode him in his last year and then let him walk as a shell of himself?
Is that a fair thing to do?
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Is it fair for Bell, who was offered a top-15 contract for players that aren't a QB, to squabble over the guaranteed portion of the contract when he is the biggest reason for not getting guaranteed money? He was twice suspended for violating the substances of abuse policy. Once in 2015 for possession for 4 games and again in 2016 for failure to report to a drug screen (presumably because he was still smoking the green shit) for what would have been 4 games if the NFLPA didn't reach a settlement with the league for 3. He also has an MCL tear in 2015.
While I'd otherwise agree that he should get more guaranteed based on performance and a reasonable expectation for that to continue, I'd also not disregard the potential for him to get caught again and miss much more than 4 games. A 4 game suspension is a Stage Two violation of the League's SOA policy, which Bell has already had, and also carries a two-season continued testing and advancement window. With his violation in 2016 again, he may have been advanced to Stage Three because two Stage Two violations in 24 months is an automatic advancement. If you go to Stage Three, you stay there for the remainder of your career. If he's in Stage Two and gets caught with marijuana again, it's 6 games but it's 10 if he's in Stage Three.