Le’Veon Bell Destined to Fall Short of Greatness?

Between the injuries and recurring off-the-field issues, the future of Le’Veon Bell suddenly appears to be in doubt.

There’s a stark difference between being great and achieving greatness.

You can be great for periods of time, maybe even be considered the best at what you do. But it’s those that consistently exemplify what it means to be great for years on end that attain true greatness.

Countless players throughout NFL history have fallen short of reaching said pinnacle of success, and it now seems as though Le’Veon Bell is bound to join the unenviable bunch.

Coming up on year four of his up-and-down career, the former Michigan State standout finds himself at an unexpected crossroads. Injuries have undercut promising seasons and other individual games. Additionally, off-the-field issues continue to put sizable dents into the young running back’s legacy.

Bell’s firmly stuck between a rock and a hard place, but he has the rare chance to essentially remove one of the two from his life altogether.

His problems away from football have been a major hindrance since he entered the pros. In August of 2014, Bell was arrested with then-teammate LeGarrette Blount and subsequently charged with a DUI and possession of marijuana.

He was slapped with a reduced suspension of two games to be served during the opening weeks of the 2015 season.

It wouldn’t take long for trouble to again find him, as Bell was handed another reduced suspension of three games on August 19, a result of reportedly missing multiple drug tests. For the second straight year, he’ll begin the season on the sidelines.

This has become somewhat of a disturbing trend for Bell. He can’t afford many more slip-ups, as the trust of the organization’s brass, his teammates, and fans are all on the line.

Although Bell hasn’t done himself much in the way of favors, there’s no denying that when he’s actually on the field, nobody at the position is better.

In the 22 contests Bell has played in over the past two seasons, he’s compiled 2,907 total offensive yards, 14 touchdowns, and a whopping 107 receptions.

No. 24’s best year came in 2014, when he was named a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler, not to mention the Steelers’ MVP.

There are some pretty talented backs in the league, yet it’s Bell’s ability to dance around defenders between the tackles and come out of the backfield as a receiving threat that’s unmatched.

When it comes down to it, if Bell wishes to be remembered as a really good tailback, he’s on the right track. There are a lot of those floating around the NFL these days.

But if the 24-year-old can erase the off-the-field antics and narrow his focus, then there’ll be little to slow him down.

While he can’t quite control what injuries may come his way, the Steelers’ star can at least rest easy knowing his legacy wasn’t hurt by incidents unrelated to football.

Bell doesn’t want to be one of the greatest players in league history to never reach greatness.

He’s just too great to let that happen.