WR Martavis Bryant is facing a year-long suspension for substance-related relapse

[polamalubeast]

[AtlantaDan]

Too bad the Steelers do not have a GM who has a clue how to deal with high maintenance players

[Lady Steel]

Such a waste. *smh*

[ALLD]

He's done.

[86WARD]

He's done.

All you need to say.

[AtlantaDan]

Cannot figure out what is taking so long to resolve - this was first reported in June

But it is over for Bryant

Even if he somehow dodges the suspension who would sign him

[steelreserve]

Cannot figure out what is taking so long to resolve - this was first reported in June

But it is over for Bryant

Even if he somehow dodges the suspension who would sign him

He'd always fit right in on the Rai--

Oh. Never mind.

[Fire Goodell]

[86WARD]

Remember when he was drawing comparisons to Randy Moss...lol.

[Dwinsgames]

[43Hitman]

You got em' all in there didn't ya!

[polamalubeast]

[Fire Goodell]

how's he gonna be able to play if he's facing a suspension?

[polamalubeast]

[polamalubeast]

[AtlantaDan]

So if the Raiders didn't want to deal with the uncertainty surrounding Bryant just a week and a half ago, what has made Jon Gruden and Co. change their minds? Perhaps Oakland's lackluster showing in Monday's loss to the Rams made them reconsider a tantalizing talent such as Bryant.

The Raiders only mustered 13 points Monday night and saw the receiving duo of Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson combine for a paltry four catches for 32 yards as Derek Carr threw three interceptions to zero TDs.

Bryant certainly will give Carr a potential deep threat in the passing game, but plenty of question marks remain.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...akland-raiders

Probably resigned him for 4 year vet minimum of $690,000 (he was due $1.9 million until released) with incentives - only pay him per game if he is suspended (and I have no clue why that still is pending)

Raiders the most screwed up franchise in football at the moment

[Fire Goodell]

Yeah we've heard that story before.

Like I said before, Gruden sucks. His biggest accomplishment was riding the coat tails of the team Dungy built (who got screwed over by TB ownership)

[polamalubeast]

Jay Gruden > Jon Gruden

[86WARD]

So if the Raiders didn't want to deal with the uncertainty surrounding Bryant just a week and a half ago, what has made Jon Gruden and Co. change their minds? Perhaps Oakland's lackluster showing in Monday's loss to the Rams made them reconsider a tantalizing talent such as Bryant.

The Raiders only mustered 13 points Monday night and saw the receiving duo of Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson combine for a paltry four catches for 32 yards as Derek Carr threw three interceptions to zero TDs.

Bryant certainly will give Carr a potential deep threat in the passing game, but plenty of question marks remain.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...akland-raiders

Probably resigned him for 4 year vet minimum of $690,000 (he was due $1.9 million until released) with incentives - only pay him per game if he is suspended (and I have no clue why that still is pending)

Raiders the most screwed up franchise in football at the moment

It’s supposedly a one year deal.

[AtlantaDan]

It’s supposedly a one year deal.

Should have been more clear by writing minimum one year deal for vet with 4 years service, which under the CBA is $690,000 - even Gruden is not signing Bryant to a 4 year deal with a pending drug suspension after just releasing him

[86WARD]

Should have been more clear by writing minimum one year deal for vet with 4 years service, which under the CBA is $690,000 - even Gruden is not signing Bryant to a 4 year deal with a pending drug suspension after just releasing him

Lol...not something I would be willing to bet on tho.

[polamalubeast]

[Mojouw]

Anyone else feel it’s kinda crappy of the NFL to not be clear on a players status? Not to defend Bryant, but wouldn’t it just be helpful to all involved if they were transparent about the status?

What can they possibly be waiting for here? Either he peed clean or not. Either he violated his treatment plan or he didn't. What could there be to parse? Unless the tester did Bryant dirty liked popped him for a missed year while he was scheduled for something else, this should be pretty cut and dry.

[AtlantaDan]

Anyone else feel it’s kinda crappy of the NFL to not be clear on a players status? Not to defend Bryant, but wouldn’t it just be helpful to all involved if they were transparent about the status?

What can they possibly be waiting for here? Either he peed clean or not. Either he violated his treatment plan or he didn't. What could there be to parse? Unless the tester did Bryant dirty liked popped him for a missed year while he was scheduled for something else, this should be pretty cut and dry.

Agreed - my guess is this is not an issue with a positive test but either missing test(s) or alleged tampering with a sample. Bell got his last suspension knocked down from 4 to 3 games (which means his next potential suspension apparently will be 4 games rather than a season) for missing tests. Maybe the fight is over how to avoid a season’s suspension for Bryant that will effectively end his career when the CBA does not allow much discretion to avoid that?

This is where the NFLPA and the agent are supposed to assist a player, who usually is not skilled in running bureaucratic mazes, in getting the league office to make a decision.

Last season the problem was Bryant was delayed in practicing because a local addiction counselor had not been designated, which was the agent’s job.

Once again the player often is virtually on his own in dealing with the NFL league office

[Mojouw]

Agreed - my guess is this is not an issue with a positive test but either missing test(s) or alleged tampering with a sample. Bell got his last suspension knocked down from 4 to 3 games (which means his next potential suspension apparently will be 4 games rather than a season) for missing tests. Maybe the fight is over how to avoid a season’s suspension for Bryant that will effectively end his career when the CBA does not allow much discretion to avoid that?

This is where the NFLPA and the agent are supposed to assist a player, who usually is not skilled in running bureaucratic mazes, in getting the league office to make a decision.

Last season the problem was Bryant was delayed in practicing because a local addiction counselor had not been designated, which was the agent’s job.

Once again the player often is virtually on his own in dealing with the NFL league office

Really good points. I think situations of this type show that the current CBA was just a crap job of thinking through things by the NFLPA. They were so focused on how big a slice of the revenue pie they got that they gave away almost everything else.

I guess that is what happens when the league has an army of elite lawyers and the players have Troy Vincent...?

[silver & black]

I couldn't care less. The Raiders are NOT a good team. Neither Bryant nor Mack would make any difference in how this year will play out. Just my .02.

[Fire Goodell]

one year, vet minimum

we shoulda signed him back for a year for the cap room one Le'Veon Bell missed game we got back lol. We could use a #4 WR right now

[pczach]

Anyone else feel it’s kinda crappy of the NFL to not be clear on a players status? Not to defend Bryant, but wouldn’t it just be helpful to all involved if they were transparent about the status?

What can they possibly be waiting for here? Either he peed clean or not. Either he violated his treatment plan or he didn't. What could there be to parse? Unless the tester did Bryant dirty liked popped him for a missed year while he was scheduled for something else, this should be pretty cut and dry.

Everything with the NFL is shadow and fog. There is so much left to interpretation, and all decisions are made behind the scenes with sketchy details and a painfully slow process before a resolution is revealed.

It is all part of the disconnect between the league and the fans....who just want cut and dry rules that are easily understandable and fair.

No player or team should have to wait months to know what is going to happen to them. They seem to use it as a way to punish both the player, and the organization that they hold responsible for embarrassing the NFL. When, in fact, it is the NFL that embarrasses the NFL far too often.