1. Graham Barton, C, Duke 2. Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida 3. Maason Smith, DT, LSU 3. Max Melton, CB, Rutgers 4. Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame 6. Tommy Eichenberg, ILB, Ohio State 6. MJ Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh
League office decided it was time to issue a statement on why Bryant still cannot practice
A spokesman for the NFL said Friday morning Bryant still has to fulfill requirements before he can rejoin his teammates in practice.
“He would be permitted to participate in all preseason activities, including practices and games, once he satisfies requirements,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email Friday.
McCarthy was not specific in what requirements Bryant has to fulfill, but the league’s announcement in April indicates it might have to do with his arrangements for “clinical resources” in Pittsburgh.
“Bryant may join the Steelers at the training facility and participate in meetings, conditioning work and similar activities,” the statement said. “Once arrangements have been confirmed regarding Bryant’s clinical resources in Pittsburgh, he will be permitted to participate in all preseason activities, including practices and games.”
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...ime=1501858771
So it does appear to be related to setting up the support/counseling system
Either the league is simply dragging this out or Bryant's agent f***ed up by not getting this set up for approval months ago.
Not a peep from the NFLPA (no surprise there - that clown show that calls itself a union is worthless) or Bryant's agent, which indicates to me the agent screwed up.
Ben and others claim he has done everything and are perplexed as to why the league has not moved forward on it ..... that being said somebody is serving up bad info be is team mates Bryant himself ( or is he speaking under false pretenses being told to him by his people who could very well be the ones that dropped the ball ?? ) or the league has " misplaced " or never received the paperwork ???
at the end of the day all WE have is more questions than answers as none of this is clear and this is the FIRST case of its kind by the league as before they laid down punishment and things to do to get reinstated but NEVER anything once you have jumped through those hoops ...
as a side note I am surprised a bigger stink wasn't made by the NFLPA on the terms of reinstatement .... in the end it is probably a good thing for Bryant as a person
a huge problem here is the league is now looking into potential use of weed as treatment , how does that look to players suspended for its use ??
This week the league claimed it may start looking into marijuana as a pain relief option
The NFL’s new chief medical officer admits that the league needs to take a serious look at how marijuana could potentially be used as a pain-management tool for players
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...uana-for-pain/
IMO that is PR bullshit by the league (like wanting to get to the bottom of the relationship between CTE and repeatedly getting hit in the head while playing football) but at least they are not as doctrinaire about the topic
No worries -
No hypocrisy in saying you cannot use until the rules change - if the league ever does amend the CBA and allow marijuana as pain relief remedy then it will be like "medical marijuana" in States like California before California cut the crap and simply legalized recreational use - any player who wants to use will be able to get a doctor's note saying it is for medically necessary pain relief - until then players have to stay clean just as employees in States where pot is legal still cannot use if their employer drug tests and bans use as condition of employment
Maybe Bryant is responsible for setting up his own treatment/ counseling in Pittsburgh. It's a medical issue and I'm pretty sure law requires first person action when it comes to that kinda stuff. It makes me wonder how much Bryant is being responsible for himself and pressuring the NFL to get his reinstatement. If I was in his position I would be hounding them day and night. I did my part now follow through on your end NFL.
Martavis has been punished enough ...
FreeMartavis
The NFL office made it clear that there is something he hasn't fulfilled. They went out of their way to do so. At this point, MB has no credibility with me. I'm taking the NFL's side on this one. It'd be great to have him back... but, I didn't get everything I wanted for Christmas either. I wanted a new set of golf clubs and got a watch instead.
I am getting tired of all of the political and marijuana bullshit. They are just as bad as the cheap shots players take on each other. Stop it already.
All Defense!
LOL - the only thing I would trust Bryant to handle on his own is to buy more drugs
It would seem to be the agent's job - but there have to be qualified professionals in this field that Bryant could find through either talking to John Lucas (assuming Lucas still trusts him after Bryant worked with Lucas during his 2015 suspension), the Steelers or the NFLPA
Just get this crap cleared up and squared away so we can put an end to this. Sheesh. Incompetence is everywhere, including immature Martavis Bryant and his peanut-sized brain that allowed him to get into this mess in the first place
****
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It become a circus this story....
Blitzburgh @Steel_Curtain4
Bryant was coming off the bus with his pads and Kevin Colbert stopped him and pads were taken away. #Steelers
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I do believe the league is pissing with him at this point .....
Which part of Bryant's history instills confidence in you that he has actually met all the conditions for reinstatement?
If Martavis played for the Patriots, he would be on the field and practicing by now.
I think Goodell lightly spanked Kraft & Brady to make himself and his shield look good. This is what he should have acted on.
https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.co...dence-cover-up
Compared to this debacle where there was no proof and trumped up charges. What they got was a walk in the park.
https://deadspin.com/5941442/saints-...rned-on-appeal
Where was the year suspension for belicheat? What about his coaching staff being torn apart? Bigger question why was something that they had concreate evidence treated so lightly while throwing the book at something that was never proven? Why did they refer to bob kraft as the assistant commissioner at the NFL offices a few short years ago?
I'm starting to think this has something to do with the Steelers front office not wanting him out there. I remember how quickly they ran off Santonio Holmes and he was a Super Bowl MVP. I'm really starting to wonder if Kevin Colbert isn't partly to blame for all this hold up. It's beginning to appear like he has some kind of vendetta with Bryant.
For me, the deflategate is nothing major and it is a shame for the league....There had no evidence.For the spygate, it's another story, Belichick would have deserved to be suspended for the season in 2007.
For the bountygate, Gregg Williams would have deserved to be suspended longer and the suspension of Sean Payton and other players were a joke.
Too much incompetence in this league since Goodell is the commissioner.