Rumor: Leveon Bell skipped a drug test? (1 Viewer)

[massraider]

Good question, lets walk through it:

Bell won't be doing anything during camp, he's physically not ready yet.

Remember, he had a severe knee injury (ACL/PCL) late in the season.

Ok, then he LEAVES the facility and has NO contact with the team for the first 4 weeks.

So when is he going to get reps and get into game shape?

He comes back the start of week 5 and has done NOTHING football since last season.

You are going to draft him like he's going to hit the ground in week 5 in mid season form?

Weeks 5,6 and7 will be his Pre Season, then they have a week 8 bye.

So you get Lev Bell 100% for weeks 9-16, IF he stays healthy, and IF they decide to feed him the same as last year.

Bell is in a contract year, will Pitt go all in a guy one toke away from a long Vacay? Or will they structure their offense around something else?

Yeah, I'm sure it'll take him 3 weeks to be ready. 

Soon as he's healthy, I'll start him.

 

[Bayhawks]

Good question, lets walk through it:

Bell won't be doing anything during camp, he's physically not ready yet.

This is your opinion & it appears to be wrong; he was doing individual drills in minicamp, and was reported as being on track to be "full-go" for training camp:

Le'Veon Bell (knee) is participating in individual drills at minicamp.
As he did in OTAs. Bell has said he will be full-go for training camp, something that certainly seems realistic based on his offseason progress. Despite his injury risk, Bell is a no-brainer, top-three RB1.

 
Source: Jeremy Fowler on Twitter
Jun 14 - 4:13 PM

Remember, he had a severe knee injury (ACL/PCL) late in the season.

No, he didn't; he injured his MCL and PCL; there was no damage to his ACL.

Ok, then he LEAVES the facility and has NO contact with the team for the first 4 weeks.

So when is he going to get reps and get into game shape?

During TC, when he will be able to practice and play pre-season games with the team.

He comes back the start of week 5 and has done NOTHING football since last season.

As shown, not true; he's already done individual drills & is expected to be "full-go" for TC.  I'm sure the Steelers won't push him too much, but he should have ample opportunity to get football ready.

You are going to draft him like he's going to hit the ground in week 5 in mid season form?

During his rookie season, he missed most of pre-season and the 1st 3 weeks with an injury, returned in week 4, got 20 touches and 20.4 ff points (standard scoring); last year he missed the 1st 2 weeks, returned in week 3, got 27 touches and 19.2 ff points. 

Based on his past history, yes, I'd draft him like he's going to hit the ground in mid-season form.

Weeks 5,6 and7 will be his Pre Season, then they have a week 8 bye.

As noted above, based on his past-history, this is inaccurate.  BTW-during his rookie year, the Steelers had a bye in week 4 & could easily have "rested" him for 1 more week to get the bye, but chose not to do so.  No reason to think they'd do that now.

So you get Lev Bell 100% for weeks 9-16, IF he stays healthy, and IF they decide to feed him the same as last year.

So you get Bell 100% for weeks 5-16.  Can't predict health, & if you want to discount him for that, that's your prerogative.  There's no reason to suspect they won't feed him like last year, as they've been consistent in how they feed him over his career.

Bell is in a contract year, will Pitt go all in a guy one toke away from a long Vacay? Or will they structure their offense around something else?

They aren't going to change their offense, especially not this late in the summer.  If you wanted to argue that long-term they will move away from him, that's another point.  But they won't change it for this year, not this late.  It's silly to think otherwise.

Okay, let's walk through the mistakes you made (in red).

Your premise is flawed, and so is your conclusion.  If you draft Bell, he will have all TC to get "football-ready,"  & based on his past returns, the Steelers will give him full workloads immediately.  

Anyone who drafts him will get a top-3 RB for 69% of the season, not 50%.  Plus, they will have the opportunity to draft D Williams for the 1st 4 weeks who showed last year that he can also be a top RB in Pitt's offense.  So, while you only get Bell for 69% of the season, you can get (the chance at) ga top RB for 100% of the season with a 2nd round and mid round pick.

 

[Ojaays]

Bell is coming off a pretty bad injury.It seems as though everyone is expecting him to be 100% as soon as camp opens. Truth is, he is not 100% and he wasn't on schedule to be until right around week 1, maybe.

Now he will not get any reps in camp or practice until week 5 and nobody thinks that drops his chance to be The Lev Bell at the start of the week 5 game?

 

[Ojaays]

Bay

i thought I remember reading a quote from Bell , or may have been a recent podcast, that he wasn't going to participate until he could cut fully and it was going to be closer to week 1?

 

[Bayhawks]

Bell got his last suspension reduced from 4 to 2. I doubt he gets that same treatment again. 

He got it reduced from 3 to 2, but it was also not (technically) a substance-abuse suspension.  He was suspended for the DWI, which happened to be for weed, not alcohol.  While the weed possession placed him in the testing program, the suspension, IIRC, was for the DWI.

I don't think Goodell gets to hear the appeal for this, either.  Under the new substance abuse policy, appeals are heard by a neutral arbitrator. 

That being said, I doubt he gets it reduced.  It either gets thrown out on a technicality (unlikely) or is upheld at 4 games, IMO.

 

[Ojaays]

If Bell is a "full go" day 1 of camp, that's different, but that's not what I was reading.

 

[Bayhawks]

Bell is coming off a pretty bad injury.It seems as though everyone is expecting him to be 100% as soon as camp opens. Truth is, he is not 100% and he wasn't on schedule to be until right around week 1, maybe.

Now he will not get any reps in camp or practice until week 5 and nobody thinks that drops his chance to be The Lev Bell at the start of the week 5 game?

Again, all reports about his rehab/recovery are positive.  You, alone, are saying he isn't or won't be 100%.

You can keep saying he won't get any reps in camp or practice until week 5; it will continue to be false unless something changes.

 

[Bayhawks]

Bay

i thought I remember reading a quote from Bell , or may have been a recent podcast, that he wasn't going to participate until he could cut fully a dig washing to be closer to week 1?

You must be confusing/combining things.

Bell said he won't renegotiate his contract until he's 100%, he said he wants to be able to cut & run freely before reporting to camp (that's a goal statement, not a negative statement-you seem to be construing it to mean he won't be able to do so, which isn't what it says), and on 7/9, he said he was going to be ready for the start of TC, although he didn't think he'd play until the week 3 pre-season game.

None of those things say "he won't do any football stuff during TC, which means he won't do any football stuff until week 5," which is what you keep posting.  You are free to believe that, but to post it as if it were an incontrovertible fact is inaccurate.

 

[Bayhawks]

If Bell is a "full go" day 1 of camp, that's different, but that's not what I was reading.

Then share what you were reading.  It's be helpful to actually read news/reports/quotes, rather than just some random guy on a message board stating it.  That's what this board is about: sharing information, not spreading false rumors.

Most of our drafts aren't until well after TC starts, but for those who have to draft before then, that news could be helpful.

 

[BigTex]

Then share what you were reading.  It's be helpful to actually read news/reports/quotes, rather than just some random guy on a message board stating it.  That's what this board is about: sharing information, not spreading false rumors.

Most of our drafts aren't until well after TC starts, but for those who have to draft before then, that news could be helpful.

I've read something similar somewhere. IIRC Bell said that IF he wasn't ready he wouldn't push it but he'll be there when he's 100%.

I will see if I can find it. 

Tex

 

[Bayhawks]

I've read something similar somewhere. IIRC Bell said that IF he wasn't ready he wouldn't push it but he'll be there when he's 100%.

I will see if I can find it. 

Tex

This is from 7/9; it's the most recent quote about his knee I can find from Bell:

MIAMI -- Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Le'Veon Bell says he's on schedule for training camp and that his leg is "probably stronger than it ever was" after rehabbing a right knee injury that knocked him out of last season.

In a sit-down interview with ESPN on Saturday, Bell said he's beyond all the physical hurdles he faced, and right on time for him to report to the Steelers on July 28. But it will be up to the team to decide his workload in training camp and the preseason.

Bell suffered a torn MCL and PCL in Week 8 and had surgery last November. He played five games last year and rushed for 556 yards with three touchdowns.

Le'Veon Bell is recovering from knee injury sustained last season against the Bengals. Bell says he'll be ready for training camp, and is stronger than before. Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
"I'm going to be ready," Bell said of training camp, while attending a business retreat Saturday organized by his agent, Adisa Bakari. "The biggest thing for me is getting mentally ready for getting hit and things like that, and I don't think I'll really get tackled until a preseason game or maybe in the regular season. I don't think I'll actually hit the ground or get tackled. But when that does happen, I'll be ready for it. But cutting, running routes, picking them and putting them on my feet, everything is back to normal." Bell said overall the rehab process went "great." But there were tough times, particularly early on.

Unless there is something more recent that I haven't found, Bell is saying he will be ready for TC, that he's cutting etc now & the only limits he'll have will be placed on him by the team.  The biggest hurdle (as it always is in these situations) will be the mental side.

 

[Ojaays]

Since we're going on what Bell says as Gospel, 

Bell also said this in June:

 'I haven't missed any drug tests, failed any drug tests. I am fine,' Bell said Tuesday, June 14.

 

[Ojaays]

There's one more aspect here. Will Bell get all the same reps in TC he would have gotten pre suspension news?

Williams needs to be ready week 1, not Bell.

 

[Bayhawks]

So you've gone from "that's not what I've been reading" (referring to Bell being ready for TC) to "we can't believe Bell," & "will Bell get the same reps in TC?"

Seems like you are determined to be down on Bell, and when you don't have anything substantial to back it up, you make stuff up.  Thanks for clearing that up, though.

 

[Bayhawks]

For the record, DWill does need to be ready for week 1, but the Steelers also must know they need to make sure Bell is ready for week 5.  I'm sure they will give him enough work to get him football-ready.  Beyond that, the offensive system & personnel are almost exactly the same, so it's not like Bell won't be familiar with the scheme, plays, and other players on offense.

Again, for those of us who don't draft in the short term, most of this will sort itself out during TC.  For those of us who do have early drafts, are down on Bell (Ojaays) or are trying to drive down Bell's trade value (Ojaays?) & get him cheaper, we can only go on the FACTS we have, which are: Bell said he's 100%, he will be ready for TC, and Pitt has ALWAYS given him a full load as soon as he returns from injury/suspension.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Bell's upside is obvious, but the concerns about him cannot be ignored. 

1) He is still one failed drug test away from a long suspension.

2) His injury history. He has been hurt in all three of his NFL seasons and has played in 35 of a possible 51 games to date (counting playoff games).  I know the old adage is "someone is injury-prone until they aren't," but three years in a row of injuries is concerning. 

3) The presence of DeAngelo Williams. Some will laugh at this, but Williams proved last year that he could more than carry the load after Bell went done. The drop-off from Bell to Williams wasn't that much, and the Steelers would be smart to utilize Williams a lot this year, instead of overworking their stud RB who does have a history of getting hurt. I am not suggesting it will be a 50/50 split, and I am sure there will be weeks where Williams' touches are very limited, but I see weeks where Williams gets a lot of touches, too, driving Bell owner nuts. 

Don't get me wrong, Williams or not, if Bell stays healthy, I see him having a big season...but the concerns cannot be ignored. 

When I posted this earlier this month, I sure didn't expect to be proven right this quickly.  

 

[Bayhawks]

When I posted this earlier this month, I sure didn't expect to be proven right this quickly.  

How were you "proven right?" He got a 4 game suspension (not even a "long" suspension).  The other 2 points haven't been proven or disproven.  He may re-injure his knee, but than again, he may not.  As far as your 3rd point; after Bell returns, if/when Bell is healthy, I'd be shocked if DWill has more than 1 game with double-digit carries.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Because my concerns were written in the context of him being a dangerous top pick.  I didn't say that all three of those thing would happen, just that they were real concerns and that if any of them happened, he'd be overvalued as the first RB off the board and/or a top 5 pick, and now here we are, with him facing a 4-game suspension. 

4 games might not be a year long suspension, but considering that it is 1/4 of the season, I'd say that is a long suspension in football terms. 

 

[Bayhawks]

Because my concerns were written in the context of him being a dangerous top pick.  I didn't say that all three of those thing would happen, just that they were real concerns and that if any of them happened, he'd be overvalued as the first RB off the board and/or a top 5 pick, and now here we are, with him facing a 4-game suspension. 

4 games might not be a year long suspension, but considering that it is 1/4 of the season, I'd say that is a long suspension in football terms. 

All right, fair enough.  When you bumped your own post from 3 weeks ago, none of that context was included.  That post contained 3 points, only 1 of which could be remotely considered "proven right" at this point.  Hopefully you can understand that your context wasn't conveyed by the post you bumped.

With regards to him being a dangerous top pick, that's no longer the case.  If the drafts were before yesterday, then you absolutely were correct, though.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Very true.  People who grab Bell in drafts now though need to be careful about not waiting too long to get DeAngelo.  Auctions are different because you can simply not let yourself get outbid, assuming you have the funds to do so, but in a draft, once someone else nabs him, you'll be kicking yourself. 

 

[menobrown]

When I posted this earlier this month, I sure didn't expect to be proven right this quickly.  

Don't worry, I don't think you did.

 

[menobrown]

Unless there is something more recent that I haven't found, Bell is saying he will be ready for TC, that he's cutting etc now & the only limits he'll have will be placed on him by the team.  The biggest hurdle (as it always is in these situations) will be the mental side.

I think it's fair to point out that you are taking Bells' word and this is the same guy who point blank said he did not fail or miss a drug test. In general I've always been advocate of  the saying "don't trust the player when it comes to injury news".

I do put stock in Dr. Chao however for a few reasons and one of which he was reporting how difficult the Bell injury was to recover from well before anyone else I knew, when most media outlets just mentioned how he avoided an ACL. This is what Chao had to say, or I guess tweet, yesterday.

David J. Chao, MD ‏@ProFootballDoc Jul 22

No real penalty, likely #LeVeonBell knee would not have been ready anyways. PCL/MCL worse than ACL tear.

 

[Ilov80s]

Do players ever say anything about their injuries other than "recovery is going well, I'll be ready for (insert earliest possible date)." ?

 

[Kwai Chang Caine]

For what it's worth guys I took Bell at 2.4 of a 12 team PPR re draft, I highly doubt I'll be selecting Williams. Someone wants to nab him round 5 or 6--be my guest. I'm already risking one pick but that's a second round for a potential top 5 player for 2/3rds of a season. You want to pass up a starter for a guy most likely to be relevant for 4 games than go for it. It is possible that Williams could be a steal and be relavant all year but the likely scenario is he fades afte September and Bell's return to bell cow status.

 

[Ojaays]

I think it's fair to point out that you are taking Bells' word and this is the same guy who point blank said he did not fail or miss a drug test. In general I've always been advocate of  the saying "don't trust the player when it comes to injury news".

I do put stock in Dr. Chao however for a few reasons and one of which he was reporting how difficult the Bell injury was to recover from well before anyone else I knew, when most media outlets just mentioned how he avoided an ACL. This is what Chao had to say, or I guess tweet, yesterday.

David J. Chao, MD ‏@ProFootballDoc Jul 22

No real penalty, likely #LeVeonBell knee would not have been ready anyways. PCL/MCL worse than ACL tear.

This was the narrative I was referring to earlier. I believe Sigmond Bloom was bemoaning the PCL injury as real question based on what he had heard about the injury.

My whole point is, it seems as though many are simply dismissing the injury like it never happened. Last year Victor Cruz was saying he would be back better than ever for 2015, that didn't work out so well, yeah, I know, different injury, but instead of believing players what they say about their injury, I will believe what they do on the field instead.

 

[Bayhawks]

I think it's fair to point out that you are taking Bells' word and this is the same guy who point blank said he did not fail or miss a drug test. In general I've always been advocate of  the saying "don't trust the player when it comes to injury news".

I do put stock in Dr. Chao however for a few reasons and one of which he was reporting how difficult the Bell injury was to recover from well before anyone else I knew, when most media outlets just mentioned how he avoided an ACL. This is what Chao had to say, or I guess tweet, yesterday.

David J. Chao, MD ‏@ProFootballDoc Jul 22

No real penalty, likely #LeVeonBell knee would not have been ready anyways. PCL/MCL worse than ACL tear.

I think it's fair to point out that there have been NO reports of setbacks or delays in Bell's recovery.  I also think it's fair to point out that he has posted videos of himself dunking a basketball, that he was running pass routes in OTAs, that he did drills in mini-camp, and that he posted video of himself cutting at full-speed in June.

Since Dr. Chao has not examined Bell's knee, he is speculating.  Dr. Jene Bramel, who also has not examined Bell, has also speculated that, based on all reports, accounts, and VIDEO (not just Bell's word), that he expected Bell to start camp on the active roster.

So, no, I'm not just taking Bell's word that he's OK; the videos that are available and the lack of ANY negative reports support that belief.  And just as you have 1 Dr. who has not examined Bell who thinks he may not have been ready, there's at least 1 Dr. who has not examined Bell who thinks he may have been ready.

 

[Bayhawks]

This was the narrative I was referring to earlier. I believe Sigmond Bloom was bemoaning the PCL injury as real question based on what he had heard about the injury.

My whole point is, it seems as though many are simply dismissing the injury like it never happened. Last year Victor Cruz was saying he would be back better than ever for 2015, that didn't work out so well, yeah, I know, different injury, but instead of believing players what they say about their injury, I will believe what they do on the field instead.

Then why aren't you doing just that?

You mention Bloom-when did he bemoan the PCL injury?  Was it before or after the videos of him dunking a basketball (not on the field), running routes (on the field), doing drills (on the field), or cutting at full speed (on the field)?

You say you will believe what players do on the field, but you ignore what Bell has done on the field this off-season, and instead are taking quotes made by a non-Dr, who hasn't examined Bell, that may have been made months ago?

When he was first injured, and had surgery, there was speculation that he wouldn't be able to do anything in OTA's.  Since then, he has done nothing but beat all estimates about his recovery.  Yet you insist on using speculation that is months old, by people who have no 1st hand knowledge of the situation, while disregarding all else.  Doesn't sound like you are willing to believe what Bell does on the field, but are determined to assume the worst.

 

[Ojaays]

Bay, 

I believe my eyes, Bell's injury was gruesome.

Until I see him play, He won't be on any of my teams. The weed thing is the least of my worries, if it was just that, I'd be drafting him. I never understood Bell going in the 1st round coming off such serious injury, in the same way I never understood folks drafting Charles in the 1st round coming off of injury.

If he's a full go at the start of camp, and he falls to me late 2nd early 3rd, I'd be very interested. Lets see it.

 

[JetMaxx]

Madden's a giant hack.  Not very reliable at all.  Take it with a grain of salt.  

Be more worried if we see it being reported by Ed Bouchette or Dale Lolley.

Nice call clown

 

[Rhythmdoctor]

Nice call clown

 

[Run It Up]

Serious question, sorry for not reading through the thread. If he failed (missed) multiple tests wouldn't each failed test register as an escalator in the substance abuse policy?

Thats what happened to Bryant, went from 0 to 6 during one offseason.

 

[Bayhawks]

Bay, 

I believe my eyes, Bell's injury was gruesome.

Until I see him play, He won't be on any of my teams. The weed thing is the least of my worries, if it was just that, I'd be drafting him. I never understood Bell going in the 1st round coming off such serious injury, in the same way I never understood folks drafting Charles in the 1st round coming off of injury.

If he's a full go at the start of camp, and he falls to me late 2nd early 3rd, I'd be very interested. Lets see it.

Unless you draft/drafted early, that shouldn't be an issue.  My points were (as I stated in an earlier post) more relevant for those who had early drafts.  If you had to draft tonight, there's no reason to believe he won't be ready & given a full workload week 5.  There has been ZERO evidence/reports that he won't be, and numerous positive reports/signs that he will.

I'm sure many people said similar things about Adrian Peterson after his injury, especially since he didn't play at all (IIRC) in the pre-season after his injury.  His 2300 YFS and 13 TDs probably made a 1st round draft pick look like a bargain, in hindsight.

 

[Bayhawks]

Serious question, sorry for not reading through the thread. If he failed (missed) multiple tests wouldn't each failed test register as an escalator in the substance abuse policy?

Thats what happened to Bryant, went from 0 to 6 during one offseason.

From what I've read/heard, when you miss a test, the NFL gives you the chance to "make it up."  It sounds like Bell missed a scheduled test, then missed 1 (or more) "make up" tests.  I would assume the "make up" tests are pretty immediate, so if Bell did have something in his system & skipped the 1st test, he likely would have skipped the subsequent test(s) as well.

I can't find this anywhere in the NFL policy, but that seems to be the gist of what I've heard on the radio & read locally.  It's being mis-reported to sound like he missed multiple separate tests, not 1 test, then more "make-up" tests.  This is why I tend to believe Bell will be unlikely to win his appeal (that & the fact that it seems like hardly anyone wins substance-abuse appeals).

 

[Run It Up]

If its one incident that makes sense. I hadn't heard of that before, being given a chance to make it up that is, thought it was a zero tolerance thing.

If it was separate instances, I believe that means hes facing like an 8 game+ ban.

 

[Hankmoody]

If Bell is a "full go" day 1 of camp, that's different, but that's not what I was reading.

Bell is coming off a pretty bad injury.It seems as though everyone is expecting him to be 100% as soon as camp opens. Truth is, he is not 100% and he wasn't on schedule to be until right around week 1, maybe.

Now he will not get any reps in camp or practice until week 5 and nobody thinks that drops his chance to be The Lev Bell at the start of the week 5 game?

Bay

i thought I remember reading a quote from Bell , or may have been a recent podcast, that he wasn't going to participate until he could cut fully and it was going to be closer to week 1?

Not sure why you're taking such a definitive stance on Bell's health before camp even opens, there is zero way to know anything definitive until we see some pre-season reports and games.

 

[Hankmoody]

Serious question, sorry for not reading through the thread. If he failed (missed) multiple tests wouldn't each failed test register as an escalator in the substance abuse policy?

Thats what happened to Bryant, went from 0 to 6 during one offseason.

Not sure what this means.  The NFL doesn't announce most of the initial violations - they are just warnings and fines.  Until the 4th violation, which is a 4 game suspension, we wouldn't really even know.  He hit that threshold last year, being suspended the first 4 games of 2015.  So all he "skipped" was the 10-game suspension, which is easy to believe is due to two missed/failed tests this time.

 

[BoltBacker]

It's being mis-reported to sound like he missed multiple separate tests, not 1 test, then more "make-up" tests.  

I know you are a stickler for definitions. He was supposed to show up for more than one test and did not. 

What is your definition of multiple? Separate?

 

[Bayhawks]

If its one incident that makes sense. I hadn't heard of that before, being given a chance to make it up that is, thought it was a zero tolerance thing.

If it was separate instances, I believe that means hes facing like an 8 game+ ban.

Just to be clear, I'm not 100% certain.  I heard several comments on talk radio around here this week & that was what it sounded like.  Plus, as you've noted, if he missed multiple separate scheduled tests; I'd assume EACH would be counted as a miss & he'd be facing more than just 4 games.  So, it seems (to me) like he missed a test, then missed a make up test.  As I've said, though, I can't find anything in the NFL's drug policy to prove this, so there's a very real possibility that I'm off base.

 

[Bayhawks]

I know you are a stickler for definitions. He was supposed to show up for more than one test and did not. 

What is your definition of multiple? Separate?

If I give my students a test on Thursday & Johnny is sick, I give him a chance to make it up after school on Friday.  He still doesn't show up, so I give him another chance on Monday.  Still no-show.  He's missed one test, 3 different times.

That's what I was referring to with regards to Bell.  From what I've heard around here, I think that's what happened.  He missed an initial test & was given a "re-test," that he also missed (perhaps more than 1).  He missed multiple tests, but it wasn't like he would have had 2 (or more) tests if he hadn't missed the first one.  One of the reasons I think this (again, this is my theory) is b/c I believe if he had missed multiple tests (not 1 initial test & re-tests), I think he would be facing more than a 4 game suspension.

 

[Deamon]

Had he gone in for the test and tested positive, what would his suspension have been?

 

[FGITLOTR]

Had he gone in for the test and tested positive, what would his suspension have been?

This is exactly what I'm wondering

 

[menobrown]

I think it's fair to point out that there have been NO reports of setbacks or delays in Bell's recovery.  I also think it's fair to point out that he has posted videos of himself dunking a basketball, that he was running pass routes in OTAs, that he did drills in mini-camp, and that he posted video of himself cutting at full-speed in June.

Since Dr. Chao has not examined Bell's knee, he is speculating.  Dr. Jene Bramel, who also has not examined Bell, has also speculated that, based on all reports, accounts, and VIDEO (not just Bell's word), that he expected Bell to start camp on the active roster.

So, no, I'm not just taking Bell's word that he's OK; the videos that are available and the lack of ANY negative reports support that belief.  And just as you have 1 Dr. who has not examined Bell who thinks he may not have been ready, there's at least 1 Dr. who has not examined Bell who thinks he may have been ready.

Playing basketball and straight line running are not the issue.

It's neither a setback or a delay when you never got there in the first place, he's still recovering and it was expected to take this long.

With all due respect to Dr. Bramel let me know again what NFL team did he serve as team doctor? 

 

[whiskey7]

This is exactly what I'm wondering

I don't know the answer but I believe an unexcused missed test counts like a failed test. So if he's facing 4 game suspension now, I would think he'd be facing the same if he actually failed a test. Would be silly, IMO, to have the penalty be different. Otherwise, if a player knew he was dirty, he would just skip the test to get the lesser punishment, wouldn't he? 

 

[menobrown]

Had he gone in for the test and tested positive, what would his suspension have been?

Same suspension this time as missing a test or testing positive but going forward the suspension will be worse for a missed test than a failed test. In stage 3, which he should now find himself, a failed marijuana test gets you 10 games. A failed test for some other substances(not sure what that list comprises) or failure to comply (missing tests) gets  you the season.

 

[fridayfrenzy]

If Bell missed "several" tests likes reports are saying, is a 4 game suspension a best case scenario?

 

[Deamon]

Same suspension this time as missing a test or testing positive but going forward the suspension will be worse for a missed test than a failed test. In stage 3, which he should now find himself, a failed marijuana test gets you 10 games. A failed test for some other substances(not sure what that list comprises) or failure to comply (missing tests) gets  you the season.

So why did he skip the test?  It's probably a fairly safe assumption that he didn't skip the test because he had lunch plans that day.  So if the punishment is the same/worse for skipping it, why didn't he just go in even though he knew he would fail?

 

[menobrown]

So why did he skip the test?  It's probably a fairly safe assumption that he didn't skip the test because he had lunch plans that day.  So if the punishment is the same/worse for skipping it, why didn't he just go in even though he knew he would fail?

I don't know how that process works if you are on vacation, out of the country, that kind of thing. I don't know if the NFL sends someone wherever you might be or if you need to be where they say you need to be. So things I don't know and at the end of the day only Bell can answer those questions you ask but if reports are true he missed multiple tests it's hard to not think he was hiding something.

 

[Deamon]

I don't know how that process works if you are on vacation, out of the country, that kind of thing. I don't know if the NFL sends someone wherever you might be or if you need to be where they say you need to be. So things I don't know and at the end of the day only Bell can answer those questions you ask but if reports are true he missed multiple tests it's hard to not think he was hiding something.

Ya, as dumb as people say he is, I can't wrap my head around the possibility that he was just on vacation.  If you know there's a good chance you're missing 4 games if you don't show up for the test, and you have nothing to hide, you find a way to show up to the test(s). 

I'm interested to see if anyone asks him these questions and what he says, but surely seems like he's hiding something and knew he'd test positive.  In which if what you say is true, he would have been better off just failing it anyways. 

 

[tangfoot]

Could be he's protecting his endorsement deals?

Maybe he has language in one of those contracts that differentiates between a failed test and a missed test. 

 

[menobrown]

Ya, as dumb as people say he is, I can't wrap my head around the possibility that he was just on vacation.  If you know there's a good chance you're missing 4 games if you don't show up for the test, and you have nothing to hide, you find a way to show up to the test(s). 

I'm interested to see if anyone asks him these questions and what he says, but surely seems like he's hiding something and knew he'd test positive.  In which if what you say is true, he would have been better off just failing it anyways. 

Not better off, the same. It's only worse to now show when you hit stage 3. Also sounds from stuff I read that if you miss one test  you have a solid shot to not get suspended or appeal, it's missing multiple tests that's the problem.

As for other stuff and how smart he is and what he has to hide I"ll leave that speculation up to you and others. Personally I don't know how the testing appointments are set up. Don't have the social calendar, fame or money of a young NFL star football player for me to speculate on how they spend their off season and the inconveniences the drug testing protocol might put on them. Not saying he's not 100% just hiding something or making dumb decisions, just saying I don't care to speculate on a lifestyle of testing process I don't know enough about.