Martavis Bryant to train in L.A., talk with counselor once a week this offseason

[hawaiiansteeler]

Martavis Bryant to train in L.A., talk with counselor once a week this offseason

Feb 8, 2016
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2015%2F1108%2Fr24049_1296x518_5%2 D2.jpg&w=1006&h=402&scale=crop&location=origin

Martavis Bryant emerged as a core player for Pittsburgh's offense after returning from a four-game suspension for multiple failed NFL drug tests. He posted 765 yards with seven touchdowns in 11 regular-season games, followed by 267 playoff yards rushing and receiving in two games. Steelers quarterbacks targeted Bryant more than eight times per game.

The Steelers are hoping for a quiet offseason from Bryant, whose suspension dropped abruptly before the season opener in New England. The team wants Bryant to remain clean and productive.

For the start of the offseason, Bryant is spending time in Los Angeles. He's working with a trainer out there, according to his mother, Roberta. He'll spend part of the offseason in California while also returning to Pittsburgh and his home state of South Carolina at times.

Bryant is also talking with noted counselor John Lucas via phone once a week, Roberta said. Bryant worked with Lucas in Houston during his suspension. Lucas is a former NBA player who overcame addiction, and now he helps athletes with their problems.

When speaking with Steelers.com late last month, Bryant called the start of his 2015 season "rocky," but said he believed he matured throughout the year.

to read rest of article:

http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/17711/martavis-bryant-to-train-in-l-a-talk-with-counselor-once-a-week-this-offseason

[86WARD]

Steps in the right direction for the young man. Keep your head on straight and you'll go places!

[zulater]

Steps in the right direction for the young man. Keep your head on straight and you'll go places!


He had better. Because of his record he'll be subject to frequent testing and one more slip up will result in a full seasons suspension and an almost certain parting of the ways with the Steelers. And it's a shame. Because to the best of our knowledge this guy's problem is he likes to smoke him some weed. Which is likely true of a substantial number of NFL players, possibly even the majority of them. But most players have enough control over their "hobby" to keep themselves out of the system. If you test clean in the spring and have no prior strikes in the system you're done testing for the year for weed.

Anyway this will most likely be addressed in the next CBA, and the league will stop testing for marijuana. But by the time that happens it may be too late for guys like Martavis and Josh Gordon.

Previously in another thread I had suggested that the Steelers might be wise to consider trading Markus Wheaton. But given the nature of Bryant's likely addiction to weed (he's tested positive at least 4 times in a not yet three year career) the risk is too great that Bryant will relapse to trade away any able bodied receiver.

And for those that say marijuana isn't addictive. Bullshit. People can become addicted to practically anything. So am I saying Bryant is an addict? Only if he tests positive again and gains himself a one year suspension. Because in so doing he will have forfeited the possibility of making tens of millions of dollars and setting himself up financially for life. So when you consider what little reward one gets from copping a buzz to the amount of associated risk for someone who jeapordizes their lucrative career how could you argue it's not addictive?

And sorry I'm not one who subscribes to the notion that addiction is disease. Cancer is disease. Addiction is inability and lack of desire to curb ones self destructive impulses. Almost all addicts possess the ability to stop. Not saying it's easy. Not saying you should have no empathy for people struggling with addiction. But the base of most addiction is selfishness imo.

[ALLD]

Why doesn't he train in the off-season in Colorado?