The Facts: About two months ago, Steelers president Art Rooney II was upbeat about the progress Bryant made following a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. On Friday, less than a week after the NFL suspended Bryant for at least one season for violating the policy again, Rooney said he was hoping to assist Bryant in getting help. "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 said.
Diehards Line:
The NFL announced a “minimum” one-year suspension for Bryant without pay after he violated the drug policy for reportedly the fifth and sixth times in littler more than 24 months. Bryant's suspension began immediately, and he was placed on the Reserved/Suspended by the Commissioner list. Rooney's comments were the first he's made since Bryant's suspension was handed down Monday. “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 said. Bryant's representatives told USA Today last Saturday that Bryant suffers from depression and that they were looking into entering Bryant into a rehab facility. It is unknown whether Bryant has entered rehab. But the Steelers will stick by Bryant unless there are other developments, Rooney said. Bryant can apply for reinstatement Jan. 13, 2017.