Upon his return to the Steelers after a three-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy, running back Le’Veon Bell told reporters today the issues were “behind me.”
“There shouldn’t be any more off-the-field issues. I apologize to everybody for that,” Bell said, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. “I just want to move forward. I’m ready to get back on the field and show people what I’m able to do.”
Bell missed the first two games of last season after a DUI charge in which he admitted smoking marijuana on his way to the airport prior to a Steelers preseason game. The latest suspension was for missing tests, which he said was entirely his fault.
But he said his priority now was taking care of himself physically and “whatever it takes for me to be on the field.”
“I’m not a perfect person. I never will be. I’m not going to try to be,” Bell said. “I understand there are some things I can get better at, and I’m going to shoot to get better at them.”
The Steelers could use the jolt he could provide for the offense, after a listless 34-3 loss to the Eagles.
“Once they plug me in, I feel like I’ll go out there and help the guys move the football,” Bell said. “I just want to be a guy that’s reliable, make sure I take care of the football, make plays in situational downs, get in the end zone, help the offense move the ball and win games.”
He also said he had no problem sharing the ball with veteran backup DeAngelo Williams, though no one expects it to be anything near a job share.