Le'Veon Bell insists he'll do everything in his power to make sure his latest run-in with the NFL's substance abuse policy is his last. Vontaze Burfict isn't so sure he can say the same about his reprimands from the league's disciplinary committee.
Either way, two of the NFL's most dynamic players head back to work this week after serving three-game suspensions to start the 2016 season. Bell sat for running afoul of the drug policy for the second time, Burfict as penance for a series of unhinged moments on the field that culminated in his helmet-to-helmet knockout blow of Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown in last year's wild-card round.
Their returns should give their teams - both expected to compete for a playoff spot in the hypercompetitive AFC North and both coming off one-sided losses last Sunday - a boost as October dawns, the front edge of a wave that will include other bold-faced names (including some dude in New England) that will come off the suspended list next week.
How their teams have survived in the absence of such vital parts is a mixed bag.
For all of Bell's talent, DeAngelo Williams led the NFL in rushing through two weeks before Pittsburgh's hot start came to a sudden and decisive halt in Philadelphia. The Bengals, however, have missed Burfict - the emotional touchstone of a defense that is among the NFL's best when it at its finest.
Their comebacks, however, come with a caveat. Any potential missteps going forward would carry far harsher penalties. Bell doesn't think that will be an issue. Read more...
For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com
Either way, two of the NFL's most dynamic players head back to work this week after serving three-game suspensions to start the 2016 season. Bell sat for running afoul of the drug policy for the second time, Burfict as penance for a series of unhinged moments on the field that culminated in his helmet-to-helmet knockout blow of Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown in last year's wild-card round.
Their returns should give their teams - both expected to compete for a playoff spot in the hypercompetitive AFC North and both coming off one-sided losses last Sunday - a boost as October dawns, the front edge of a wave that will include other bold-faced names (including some dude in New England) that will come off the suspended list next week.
How their teams have survived in the absence of such vital parts is a mixed bag.
For all of Bell's talent, DeAngelo Williams led the NFL in rushing through two weeks before Pittsburgh's hot start came to a sudden and decisive halt in Philadelphia. The Bengals, however, have missed Burfict - the emotional touchstone of a defense that is among the NFL's best when it at its finest.
Their comebacks, however, come with a caveat. Any potential missteps going forward would carry far harsher penalties. Bell doesn't think that will be an issue. Read more...
For NFL news, video highlights, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more only at feeltheaction.com
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