Word broke over the weekend that Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant had been suspended for at least one year and there wasn’t much doubt that the report was acccurate once Bryant’s agent started talking about his client going to rehab.
There was consideration given to an appeal, but multiple reports indicate that Bryant, who was suspended four games for a substance abuse policy violation last season, opted against going that route and the suspension will go into effect immediately per the league’s official announcement of Bryant’s penalty.
“Martavis Bryant of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been suspended without pay for a minimum of one year for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse,” the league said in a statement. “Bryant’s suspension begins immediately.”
Bryant will be eligible to apply for reinstatement within 60 days of the date the suspension was put in place and the league would have the same window to rule on his application. He will not be eligible to play, practice or otherwise engage in team activities until he is reinstated.