An NFL free agent made a big admission on their pre-game activities recently on the Steel Here podcast. Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back La’Veon Bell was on the Steelers-focused program and talked about some of the big stories and controversies in his career.
The All-Pro running back is listed as a free agent, but he has not signed with a team since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2021 season. Bell is a former second-round pick by the Steelers in the 2013 NFL Draft. He stayed with the team through 2018 (sitting out the final year after refusing to sign the team’s franchise tag.) until signing with the New York Jets in 2019. Man, does Bell have a story about his glory days.
Free Agent Le’Veon Bell smoked before games
According to the translation of the podcast by ESPN, Bell said he used to smoke marijuana before games:
“Looking back on this, that’s what I did,” Bell said. “When I was playing football, I smoked, bro. Even before the games, I’d smoke and I’d go out there and run for 150, two [touchdowns].”
Bell was highly productive on the field, but his habits off the field did cause him some problems for gamedays. Bell was suspended in 2015 after an arrest in 2014 for DUI and marijuana possession. He was suspended in 2016 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
The NFL has relaxed its policy on marijuana since the 2021 NFLPA bargaining agreement. Players are only tested for it once a year, and the test happens during training camp, so players know the timeline of the test. No suspensions are given for failing the drug test, but players can receive a fine.
Unfortunately for Bell, he came into the league a few years too early.
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