nfl news & notes

Pittsburgh Steelers: Running back Le’Veon Bell isn’t granting interviews just yet, but he did take to social media over the weekend and suggested an NFL appeals board will overturn his four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. In the comments section of an Instagram post that poked fun at Bell, the running back responded from his verified account: “I’m not going to miss games, trust me.” The original post showed Bell in uniform with a bong superimposed on his head. ESPN reported Friday that Bell is facing a four-game suspension. Bell and his agent have not returned calls. A second response in the same comments section provided more confidence that he’d win his appeal. “I’m gonna win the appeal.ppl have no idea what happened, but don’t worry. let’em hate. When I end up missin no games at all, ppl for sure gonna try to love me again and I’m only ridin with my LOYAL fans.” Bell denied rumors in June that he had failed or missed a drug test. “I’m fine,” Bell told the Post-Gazette during minicamp. “I’ve missed no drug tests, I haven’t failed any drug tests. I’m completely fine.” The NFL suspended Bell for the first two games of last season after he pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and DUI during the preseason of 2014. That suspension placed Bell into Stage 2 of the NFL’s substance abuse program. Players in Stage 2 of the program go through more rigorous testing and can be tested up 10 times each month. Any failed or missed test in Stage 2 can lead to a four-game suspension.Bell’s appeal is expected to be heard before the regular season begins.

Peyton Manning: The NFL says it found no credible evidence that Peyton Manning was provided with human growth hormone or other prohibited substances as alleged in a documentary by Al-Jazeera America last year. The league said the quarterback and his wife, Ashley, fully cooperated in the seven-month investigation, providing interviews and access to all records sought by investigators. The NFL is continuing its investigation into allegations made against other NFL players in the documentary, which the league said involves “different lines of inquiry and witnesses.” Those other players — all of them linebackers — provided the league with sworn affidavits, but the NFL wants to interview them in person. HGH is banned by professional sports leagues and is only legal to prescribe in a few specific medical conditions.

Concussion protocol: The NFL and the players association have announced a new policy regarding game-day concussion protocol and discipline for clubs that violate the procedure. Under the new policy jointly announced Monday, the NFL and NFLPA “will follow a strict and fair process to investigate incidents and determine appropriate discipline, including club fines and possible forfeiture of draft picks.” The league and the players union will each designate a representative to monitor the implementation of the protocol and investigate potential violations. The probe won’t reach medical conclusions; it will only determine if the protocol was followed. An arbitrator will handle cases where the league and union disagree and report to the commissioner. Commissioner Roger Goodell retains sole discretion in determining penalties for violations of the game-day concussion protocol. A first breach will require club employees or medical team members involved to attend remedial education and/or result in a maximum $150,000 fine against the team. Clubs will be fined a minimum $100,000 for subsequent violations.

Combined dispatches