Report: Former Steelers WR Martavis Bryant applies for reinstatement

It is being reported Martavis Bryant is again seeking reinstatement to the NFL following his indefinite suspension on December 14th, 2018 for repeated violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The report comes from Rudy Carpenter of Sirius XM NFL Radio.

The Steelers drafted Bryant with the 118th pick in the 2014 draft, and he made an impact that year with 549 yards and 8 TDs in 10 games on the active roster. Bryant would also face early trouble with the NFL’s stance on Marijuana. Bryant was suspended 4 games on August 27th, 2015 when he tested positive for Marijuana, as BTSC reported at the time, a 4-game suspension required 3 failed drug tests.

Martavis Bryant returned from suspension and had the best year of his career in 2015, with 765 yards and 6 TDs. He would follow the season with another failed test which would cost him all of the 2016 season. Bryant returned to Pittsburgh in 2017, but clashed with coaches over his usage and playing time as he lost snaps and targets to rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster.

The Steelers traded Martavis Bryant to the Oakland Raiders for a third-round draft pick which would later be the main Steelers pick used in a trade to move up three spots to select Mason Rudolph.

Bryant didn’t produce much for the Oakland Raiders in 2018, and in December of that year he was indefinitely suspended by the NFL for another violation of the substance abuse policy.

It was reported in July of 2019 Martavis Bryant had officially applied for reinstatement, although he was not reinstated.

With the recent changes to the NFL’s substance abuse policy, especially when it comes to Marijuana, Martavis Bryant could get a different result with his application this time.

No matter what the outcome for Bryant, his application for reinstatement will shine a light on how the NFL plans to deal with substance abuse under the new policies.

Do you think Martavis Bryant should receive another opportunity to continue his NFL career?

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