Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is backtracking on comments he made about being unaware of skipping a drug test.
Bell is facing a four-game suspension by the NFL after he missed a drug test. Back in June, when reports suggested Bell missed a test, he told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the report was a rumor.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Bell said, referring to a radio report citing only “rumor” and accusing him of failing to show for an NFL drug test.
It appears Bell simply didn’t want to talk about the truth, as Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Bell was notified of his missed test in March.
Le'Veon Bell said he was notified by NFL of his failed drug test in March, even though in June he told media he did not miss any such test
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) July 28, 2016
Bell was caught in a lie, but I kind of understand his actions. Bell wasn’t going to admit to missing a test right away, as he would be incriminating himself and speeding up what wasn’t a certain suspension at that point. He had nothing to gain from admitting to the penalty, other than negative media attention. Would it be better for Bell now if he had copped up to the missed test before? Sure, but the pending suspension would have been news for months.
Bell obviously shouldn’t have skipped a drug test. Missing four games is going to hurt the Steelers. But he also fed the media a lie, which never plays well. Next time, Bell should just say no comment or plead the fifth, and let the process play itself out.