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When the Pittsburgh Steelers made a trade with the Cleveland Browns for cornerback, and former first round pick, Justin Gilbert, Steelers fans thought it was a tremendous deal. Pittsburgh was getting a talented, although unmotivated, player, and they only shipped a late round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to the Browns.
While in the Steel City, Gilbert didn’t play much, and was often a healthy game day inactive for the Steelers. It was early in the offseason when the Steelers cut ties with Gilbert.
With the Steelers’ secondary anything but a lock, it made fans wonder why they wouldn’t keep Gilbert and see what he can do with a second year in Pittsburgh, but there might have been a reason the Steelers said goodbye and took their medicine with the trade.
Source: Free Agent DB Justin Gilbert has been suspended by the Commissioner for the first 4 weeks of the 2017 season. Former 1st rd pick.
— Courtney Fallon (@CourtneyFallon_) May 25, 2017
4 games for violating the @NFL Substances of Abuse policy. https://t.co/WmrOBoepJd
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 26, 2017
As fans, we will never know if the Steelers knew about the impending suspension, being the reason behind his release, or if they were just fed up with him and decided enough was enough.
Nonetheless, Gilbert is still a free agent, and could be looking at the end of his career with the news of his suspension surfacing.