The redemption of Steelers WR Martavis Bryant begins
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Other than a few more tattoos on a body that has no shortage of them, a new gold nose ring that hung from one nostril and what he says is 10 more pounds of muscle, Martavis Bryant looked like, well, Martavis Bryant.
After serving a yearlong suspension for violating the NFL蘑菇视频 substance abuse policy, the uber-talented, 26-year-old wide receiver was back with the Steelers as OTAs began on the South Side. Outwardly at least, it was like nothing had changed.
When the offense took the field for the first play of team drills, there was Bryant lined up wide, opposite Antonio Brown with Eli Rogers in the slot. If everything goes according to plan, that trio should be the Steelers starting receivers in Week 1 at Cleveland some four months from now.
But if the Steelers have learned anything during Bryant蘑菇视频 first three roller coaster seasons, it蘑菇视频 that things rarely go according to plan. That, Bryant said, is about to change. He insisted he蘑菇视频 a totally different person, been clean for a year and can be counted on.
鈥淓verything is earned, not given,鈥� Bryant said. 鈥淎ll I can do is take care of my business, do what I have to to do off the field. And as long as I do that, they鈥檒l see the change and everything, how I鈥檝e changed my ways. As long as I continue to pass my tests, go to my meetings and maintain my sobriety, I鈥檒l be fine.鈥�
Sure, the size (6-foot-4) and speed was evident for all to see on the first day of spring practice, but what was most impressive was Bryant蘑菇视频 humility. He still has a long way to go to earn back the trust of his teammates, but Tuesday was an encouraging sign.
The player whose trust Bryant has to win back most is the man who throws him the ball. Clearly, Bryant蘑菇视频 relationship with Ben Roethlisberger is strained, but not irrevocably broken. Bryant said he hasn鈥檛 sat down and talked yet with his quarterback but he plans to.
鈥淲e know what (Bryant) can bring, but who am I to judge him? Only one man can judge: the man upstairs,鈥� said Roethlisberger. 鈥淲e鈥檒l accept him here with open arms, and just hope that he wants to be here and he蘑菇视频 happy to be here and gives everything that he has to this franchise and organization.鈥�
Even Sammie Coates, the target of some abuse on social media from Bryant during last month蘑菇视频 draft when the Steelers selected another receiver (second-rounder JuJu Smith-Schuster), has welcomed Bryant back to the fold. That feud between the two? All a joke, both said.
鈥淭hat蘑菇视频 how we are,鈥� Coates said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e good friends, he蘑菇视频 a great friend. We鈥檝e been like that. We were roommates. We always come at each other hard and give each other crap. That蘑菇视频 just how we do each other.鈥�
With likely just six receiver spots available on the 53-man roster, the Steelers should have a strong competition at training camp. Bryant and Coates, two players with similar deep-threat skills, should figure prominently in that camp battle.
While Bryant is coming off suspension, Coates is coming off a 2016 season which started in spectacular fashion 鈥� 421 yards and two TDs in the first five games 鈥� and ended with questions about his long-term viability.
Coates confirmed Tuesday that he underwent groin, not finger, surgery in the off-season. But he said he is healthy now and ready to compete against Bryant, Smith-Schuster or whomever.
鈥淚 love it, it brings out the best in everybody,鈥� said Coates, who was drafted in the second round of the 2015 draft as insurance against Bryant蘑菇视频 first suspension.
With Brown, Bryant, Rogers, Coates, Smith-Schuster and either Darrius Heyward-Bey, Justin Hunter, Cobi Hamilton or Demarcus Ayers to choose from, the Steelers鈥� receiving corps appears to be as deep and talented as any in the NFL in 2017. A lot of that, of course, will depend on Bryant staying on the field.
If Tuesday was any indication, Bryant looked like he蘑菇视频 ready.
鈥淟ooked like a monster,鈥� Coates said. 鈥淟ike always, he蘑菇视频 a beast. That蘑菇视频 what you expect from him. He didn鈥檛 lose nothing.鈥�