NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made news on Tuesday when he said there was no timeline for his ruling in the appeal of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s suspension even though the appeal was heard four weeks ago and NFL rules mandate a ruling “as soon as practicable.”
Brady isn’t the only player currently suspended for the season-opening game between the Patriots and Steelers. Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount and Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell are both suspended for the game as well as a result of their arrests last preseason. Blount is suspended for just the opener for a marijuana possession charge while Bell is suspended for three games because he was charged with a DUI as well.
Bell said earlier this summer that he was appealing the league’s decision, but Goodell said Tuesday that he wasn’t aware of any appeal and that he wouldn’t have any information about it if he were because someone else is handling it.
“That appeal is not heard by me, I would have to get somebody else to get a timeline on that,” Goodell said, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Bell accepted a plea deal on the charges and the league’s drug policy calls for an automatic two-game ban for DUI infractions. That wouldn’t seem to leave Bell much room for success on appeal, which should mean a fair amount of work for DeAngelo Williams in the opener.