Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant is suspended for at least a year by NFL

Martavis Bryant’s blossoming NFL career took another significant hit Monday when the NFL suspended the talented but troubled Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver for at least one year following another violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

This is the second league-mandated discipline for Bryant. The 24-year-old sat out the first four games last season following a violation during the off-season.

Bryant caught 50 passes for 765 yards and six touchdowns after he returned in Week 6 and was dynamic in the playoffs. He made an acrobatic touchdown grab in a wild-card win over Cincinnati and accounted for more than 200 yards of total offense in a loss to Denver in the divisional round, a game the Steelers played without All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown.

The Steelers pointed to Bryant’s development heading into 2016 as key for the franchise getting back to the Super Bowl. Now they’ll make that journey without the 6-foot-4 speedster who is among the most physically gifted players at his position.

General Manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement the team was “disappointed” in Bryant for putting himself at risk, adding Bryant is at a “crossroads” in his professional life.”

“He needs to understand significant changes need to occur in his personal life if he wants to regain his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Colbert said. “We are hopeful Martavis will take the necessary stops to develop the discipline in his personal life to become a successful player and good teammate.”

Etc.

The Baltimore Ravens and safety Eric Weddle agreed to terms on a four-year contract. An All-Pro in 2011 and 2014, Weddle has spent his entire nine-year career with the San Diego Chargers. But that ended in an ugly manner last season.

One of the longest-tenured Chargers, Weddle, 31, started in 13 games in 2015, and missed three with a groin injury. He felt disrespected that the team didn’t offer him a contract extension. The relationship flamed out when the Chargers fined Weddle $10,000 for staying on the sideline at halftime of the Dec. 20 home finale to watch his daughter perform in a show sponsored by the team’s cheerleaders.

Weddle was placed on injured reserve a week later, against his wishes, and told he couldn’t travel to Denver for the finale. “I guess I’ll never know why since I probably won’t speak to them again,” Weddle said. “I’m excited for the future.”

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Defensive tackle B.J. Raji said he was taking a hiatus from the NFL and would not play in 2016 following seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He did not rule out a return to the field, but said that he “will definitely not be playing during the 2016 season.”

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The Minnesota Vikings signed free-agent safety Michael Griffin, who spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans.

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Veteran kicker Phil Dawson signed a one-year contract to stay with the San Francisco 49ers.