Watch CBS News

Colin Dunlap: To Put It Bluntly, These Two Steelers Were Incredibly Dumb

What could these two have been thinking?

Honestly.

What could these two have been thinking?

I know McKnight Road can be a stressful place, but the arrest on Wednesday afternoon of Steelers running backs Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount by Ross Township Police has to be one of the most boneheaded exhibitions by professional athletes in our city in quite some time.

No other way to put it.

The two brainiacs of the backfield were expected to be charged --- along with an unidentified female --- with possession of marijuana after being stopped by a motorcycle officer at about 1:30 p.m. In addition, Bell, who was operating the vehicle, is expected to be charged with driving under the influence. Ross Township Police told The Fan --- who broke the story --- that all three were released from custody and will be sent a summons to appear in court on misdemeanor charges.

No one knows how this will all play out in the end.

Lord knows Bell and Blount can afford good lawyers.

But, Lord knows that 20 grams of marijuana a Ross Township Police officer found in Bell's Chevy Camaro most likely is the real stuff, too.

I do know some undeniably things, however (or at least in my opinion) …

My first takeaway: Man those guys were planning on being high on that plane to Philadelphia. Thirty-five-thousand feet was obviously not enough en route to a preseason game on Thursday night in the City of Brotherly Love.

My second takeaway: If they felt the need to burn a blunt – or however it was they were getting high – why in the world did they deem it necessary to do it on the McKnight Road corridor, one of the busiest, stop-and-go stretches of roads in the greater Pittsburgh area? Can't they do it in the confines of their own place? Wouldn't that be a much wiser plan of attack?

My third takeaway: Perhaps former Steelers safety Ryan Clark was dead-on when he said back in February that guys who dot the roster of Pittsburgh Steelers enjoy a toke of herb here and there to relieve stress and/or pain.

My strongest takeaway: Anyone who makes a claim that Bell and Blount aren't too bright would look to be right on the mark. Actually, they might be the most boneheaded Steelers in recent memory --- and I'm not saying that with one bit of my tongue in my cheek.

Think about all it is these two have to lose for allegedly smoking – or at the very least possessing -- marijuana so brazenly. Blount's troubles – from way back in college when he socked a Boise State player in the mug whilst playing for Oregon – have been much-publicized while Bell is on the cusp of being a young feature back for these Steelers at just 22.

Yet, even with roster spots solidified and a path paved for the 2014 season --- and probably beyond --- in front of them, they needed to play Cheech & Chong in the North Hills presumably not long before boarding a plane full of teammates, staff and administrators.

Again, dumb is the foremost adjective that pretty much comes to mind.

Many have their opinions on marijuana and the potential legalization of it in Pennsylvania, which would fall in line with a few other states. That said, it hasn't happened and, the truth is it is illegal in this Commonwealth.

Bell and Blount can't be so naïve as to not know as such.

They also can't be so naïve as to not know all they have to lose with allegedly partaking in such shenanigans on a traditionally busy roadway that is more often congested than it is free and clear.

And that gets us back to right where we all started.

What could these two have been thinking?

Honestly.

Colin Dunlap is a featured columnist at CBSPittsburgh.com. He can also be heard weeknights from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sports Radio 93-7 "The Fan." You can e-mail him atcolin.dunlap@cbsradio.com. Check out his bio here.

You May Also Be Interested In These Latest Columns From Colin Dunlap

Like The Fan On Facebook

Follow The Fan On Twitter

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.