Steelers' RB Bell has suspension eased

On the same day that saw the NFL bring and keep the hammer down on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension for the "more probable than not" saga of DeflateGate, they took a somewhat kinder stance with another one of their own.

The NFL reduced Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell's former three-game ban down to two for his violation of their substance abuse policy following his arrest last summer for possession of marijuana.

Bell was suspended in April for that episode and placed on a 15-month probation. Running back LaGarrette Blount was with Bell at the scene when the two were teammates in Pittsburgh. Now with the Patriots, his one-game suspension still stands.

Bell had a banner year in 2014 out of the Steelers' backfield, rushing for 1,361 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 starts, including a 200 yard performance at the Titans in a Monday night clash.

Pittsburgh travels to New England to face the Brady-less Patriots on the NFL's opening night Sept. 10.

@MrJamesParks