Small wonder players appeal suspensions. There doesn't seem to be much difficulty in getting them overturned (Tom Brady, at least for a while) or reduced. LeVeon Bell is the latest NFL player in the latter category.
Bell's suspension was reduced from 4 games to 3, and he also remains in Stage 2 of the NFL's substance abuse program. That's significant because if Bell has another misstep (But what are the odds of that?), he'd only be suspended for 4 games, rather than potentially a full season.
Our update on Monday morning will give the statistical breakdown of how Bell climbs in the rankings due to missing 3 games rather than 4. Ian builds games played into the projection, so we'll see exactly what this change means for him.
To me, personally, it makes it a little more appealing to draft him in the first round. You get him back a week earlier. Just as important, DeAngelo Williams will be available a round or two later (probably).
It's still a little difficult to see myself drafting Bell and knowing I won't have him for three games. But if I'm sitting there and want to draft a running back at 1.12 and it's Bell or Eddie Lacy, I'm probably willing to take the hit. There just aren't many running backs who stand to be as productive as Bell, once he's in the lineup. I can still take an elite wide receiver, and protect the Bell pick with DeAngelo.
That part is key. I can see somebody drafting DeAngelo even if they don't have Bell to get four games out of him. But three? How early are you really going to take a back with such an early pull date?
So we'll see what the rankings say, but for me, I think Bell moves up to about 7th among running backs, and maybe 12th or 13th overall. Gotta hope you can win a couple of games without your first round pick -- maybe I make extra sure to get DeAngelo. But from Week 4 on, you're looking pretty strong with Bell in the lineup.
--Andy Richardson