Steelers WR Martavis Bryant reinstated by NFL on conditional basis
Martavis Bryant is on track to make his return to action for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The wide receiver was reinstated by the NFL on a conditional basis Tuesday after serving a ban of at least one year for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, the team announced.
"Martavis Bryant has followed the protocol and has been conditionally reinstated by the National Football League," Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement. "We appreciate that he has taken the necessary steps in an effort to get his personal life in order. We also understand this is just the beginning as he works to return to the team and meet all of the conditions of his reinstatement.
"We look forward to working with Martavis to ensure that he is mentally and physically prepared to contribute to our efforts on the field, while also maintaining the proper balance to keep his life in order off the field."
Bryant, 25, was emerging as a deep-threat complement to Antonio Brown in the Steelers' high-powered offense prior to his ban. He recorded 50 catches for 786 yards and six touchdowns in 2015.
It may take time for Bryant to rebuild trust – including with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who during training camp last year that he was frustrated Bryant didn’t initially admit he was running into problems again and facing another ban.
“Absolutely, it was frustrating, especially because of how close I felt to him and how much I tried to take him under my wing and work with him,” Roethlisberger told Paste BN Sports in July. “I talked to him every single day when he was gone the first year (serving a four-game suspension in 2015). And then for this to happen and just feel let down – I don’t want to just say he lied to me, but to feel like I ask you what’s going on and you tell me nothing, it kind of bothers you a little bit. And I think not just because of that, but because of how much I cared for him as a person and as a teammate. That kind of hurt me a little bit.”
Contributing: Tom Pelissero
Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.
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