Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant is facing a suspension from the NFL for violations of the league’s substance abuse policy after serving a four-game suspension last year, which his agent Brian Fettner says stems from multiple missed drug tests.
Fettner also said that his client plans to appeal the ban, although it doesn’t sound like there’s much hope that he’s going to prevail on that front. If it does stand, Bryant will have to wait a year before applying for reinstatement and Fettner says Bryant will be spending some of that time in a rehab facility.
“We’re all stunned, me included,” Fettner said to USA Today. “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. ... This is a long road to earn people’s trust back, but honestly, we can’t even worry about that right now. You’ve got to get him healthy.”
If Bryant doesn’t get healthy, discussing what’s next for him in football is moot because he’s put himself in a situation where he won’t have a future in the league.