National Football League

Steelers RB Bell: 'Marijuana is not an important thing for me'

Published May. 14, 2015 8:34 p.m. ET

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Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell spoke Thursday for the first time since being hit with a three-game suspension on April 9 stemming from his August 2014 arrest on marijuana possession charges and subsequent plea deal.

Speaking with ESPN’s Josina Anderson for a reported hour, Bell referred to the entire ordeal as an “embarrassment” and said he hopes satisfying the conditions contained in his plea deal in December could possibly reduce the punishment assessed by the NFL.

Bell was sentenced to 15 months of probation as a first-time offender in the February deal. He was ordered to pay a $100 fee and court costs, and is required to remain drug and alcohol free. He also was ordered to complete a safe-driving class and any treatment as recommended.

Bell insisted to Anderson that marijuana is not a significant aspect of his life, despite the incident that led to his arrest. (Bell and then-teammate LeGarrette Blount were arrested together in Ross Township, Pa., after police found marijuana in the car they were in following a stop.)

"Marijuana is not an important thing for me," he said. "It’s something I easily can set by. If I wanted to do it later on down my life, I’ll enjoy it later on. It’s something that got me in trouble. Football is what I love. I love the game of football and nothing will come to jeopardize that."

The fact that Bell adds openly that he will return to smoking pot after his playing days are over is a curious decision. Given some details of his arrest, though, perhaps it shouldn’t be taken as such.

Bell made some odd — and perhaps a bit too candid — comments to police during his arrest about his confusion over DUI laws.

"I didn’t know you could get a DUI for being high. I smoked two hours ago," he said, according to the criminal complaint. "I am not high anymore. I am perfectly fine. Why would I be getting high if I had to make it to my game?"

Bell and Blount were en route to an airport to board the team flight to a preseason game.

All that aside, losing Bell for three games would be a huge blow to the Steelers offense heading into the 2015 campaign. He rushed for 1,361 yards (second in the NFL) for eight touchdowns, and added 83 receptions for 854 yards and three more TDs last season. His 2,215 yards from scrimmage were second to DeMarco Murray in the NFL and the most in Steelers history.

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