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Since the public found out about Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant being suspended for one year, everyone but General Manager Kevin Colbert has been silent. Besides Colbert's released statement, team President Art Rooney II and Head Coach Mike Tomlin have remained quiet -- until now.
Team President Art Rooney II met with a select group of local reporters to talk about a myriad of topics surrounding the black and gold. One which certainly got a great deal of coverage was Bryant's 5th failed drug test which resulted in a one-year ban from the NFL. Rooney's message was both supportive and strict.
"It is very disappointing. At the same time, we hope, to the extent where it is allowable, we will try to get him help, make sure he gets rehab and those kinds of things, but it is a disappointing situation to say the least," Rooney told reportersas the annual owners meeting is set for next week in Florida.
"There is not much to say other than we're disappointed and hope that he can deal with the situation and have the discipline that is necessary to be a player in the National Football League," Rooney added.
There isn't much else to say in regards to Bryant's situation, but Rooney, just as Colbert said when the situation occurred, seem to be at the end of their rope with the troubled receiver from Clemson. Bryant was suspended 4 games at the beginning of the 2015 season, and the next suspension per the substance abuse policy is a 10-game suspension. However, Bryant either failed or missed two drug tests which sent him to the one-year ban.
Rooney's comments might seem like he is simply toeing the company line, but Rooney wanting to get Bryant help might be the most important verbiage in his comments. While fans might still be disappointed in the fact Bryant won't be on the field for the 2016 season, the personal demons Bryant has to deal with should be the most important thing for both the Steelers and Bryant.
In the meantime, the team will focus on Markus Wheaton, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Sammie Coates to accompany Antonio Brown in 2016 to be the same dynamic offense the team had in 2015.