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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant will be facing a year-long suspension from the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, but it seems that’s the least of his problems.
Bryant’s agent Brian Fettner told USA Today that the Steelers’ young breakout star has been suffering from depression which is the root of his substance abuse. Unlike others such as Johnny Manziel, who previously entered rehab because of his constant need to party, Bryant is facing a much deeper problem.
“We’re all stunned, me included,” Fettner said regarding Bryant’s off-the-field problems. “We clearly miscalculated the issue. His isn’t a party issue. It’s a coping issue and a depression issue, and he’s got to take care of it.”
Fettner went on to say that Bryant has a long road ahead to earn people’s trust back, namely his employers’. But for the time being, football should be the last thing on his mind. He needs to focus on getting healthy and fixing things in his personal life.
From a football standpoint, it’s potentially a huge blow for the Steelers. They had formed one of the most impressive offenses in the league and Bryant was a key part of that. He’s played in 21 games over the past two seasons, catching 76 passes for 1,314 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s deceptively fast with his long stride and quickly became Ben Roethlisberger‘s No. 2 guy after being activated for the first time in Week 7 of 2014.
Bryant also missed the first four games of 2015 after violating the league’s substance abuse policy, so his future with the Steelers is very much up in the air. They’ve cut ties with other star players, most notably Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes, due to off-the-field problems. Bryant will have to work hard to straighten himself out and convince the Steelers that upon potential reinstatement in 2017, he’s worth one more chance.
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