Two immediate thoughts creep in when news of the alleged arrest of Steelers running backs Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount: 1. What were two professional athletes doing drinking to the point of intoxication on a Wednesday afternoon, and 2. If they're suspended, the Steelers are going to struggle just a bit in their running game.
Rookie Dri Archer and a group of guys who represent this week's stable of soon-to-be-released running backs comprise of what's behind Bell and Blount. There's Tauren Poole and Miguel Maysonet, who are probably more indicative of practice bodies than players legitimately expected to suit up in Week 1.
Before this incident, either of them may have been cut in the team's initial roster purge, expected sometime after Thursday's game against Philadelphia. If the team must sit Bell and Blount Thursday, which seems likely given the situation, they can expect a healthy dose of time with the 1s.
But simply to ensure the team fills out the requisite 11 players in correct spots. This team simply wouldn't run the ball if that was the case. And in the wacky world of discipline, ruled by Czar of Whatever He Wants, Roger Goodell, the Steelers very well may join the Ravens as AFC North teams starting the season without their top running back.
Who will be that top running back isn't perhaps the reasonable question to ask in wake of the incidents, but it's certainly an issue for the remainder of the Steelers - who will travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles in their third preseason game Thursday. Any suspension would have to be filed quickly if either of them were to miss that first game, but discipline can come quickly if Goodell feels the need to enforce it.
In the meantime, the Steelers are likely going to have to use a roster spot to keep a veteran running back on board in case both are suspended at the same time.