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| © Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports |
The gifted Pittsburgh Steelers wideout "has been suspended without pay for a minimum of one year for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. Bryant’s suspension begins immediately," read a statement from the league released Monday.
He cannot apply for reinstatement until 60 days prior to the one-year anniversary of his banishment.
Word of Bryant's suspension first surfaced over the weekend. He will check into rehab and undergo evaluation for depression issues, one of his agents, Brian Fettner, told USA TODAY Sports' Tom Pelissero.
“We’re all stunned, me included,” Fettner said, shortly after broke news of the ban Saturday. “We clearly miscalculated the issue. His isn’t a party issue. It’s a coping issue and a depression issue, and he’s got to take care of it.”
Bryant's suspension stems from multiple missed drug tests, Fettner said, while also acknowledging Bryant has a problem with marijuana.
The multiple missed tests – which count the same as failed tests – explains why Bryant faces banishment for at least one year, rather than a 10-game suspension for his latest violation after serving a four-game suspension to start last season.
“This is the biggest cry for help I’ve ever seen. And that hurts. It hurts us to see,” Fettner said. “He’s 24 years old and he’s got to get right, whatever it is.
“If you talk to anybody’s family that has depression, they will be talking about these same things – the (despondence), the withdrawal, the head-in-the-sand despair – just trying to cope.”
.One of the game’s electrifying young playmakers, Bryant has 76 catches for 1,314 yards and 14 touchdowns in 21 regular-season NFL games, plus another 19 catches for 244 yards and two TDs in three playoff games.
“This is a long road to earn people’s trust back, but honestly, we can’t even worry about that right now,” Fettner said. “You’ve got to get him healthy.”
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