Martavis Bryant ends suspension, returns to Steelers practice

Mike Vick did not throw deep often in his first start with the Steelers, but that could change with Martavis Bryant back with the team.tmpplchld Bryant, who averaged 21.1 yards per catch as a rookie last season, practiced Monday with the Steelers after serving a four-game suspension for reportedly failing multiple tests for marijuana use. He is expected to play in San Diego next Monday night.tmpplchld Bryant said he spent three weeks in Houston, counseling with John Lucas and working out.tmpplchld “I learned a lot about myself, especially from the mistake I made,” Bryant said. “Now I just want to move forward and put everything in the past and work on becoming a better man and a better football player.”tmpplchld Bryant said he watched the Steelers games on television and exchanged text messages with Ben Roethlisberger every morning.tmpplchld “I’ve been through a lot these last few weeks. It feels good to be back around my family. I sought help outside the facility ... and now I’m back here focused and putting everything in the past and moving forward in my career.”tmpplchld Vick tried only two passes longer than 20 yards in the Steelers’ 23-20 overtime loss to Baltimore on Thursday at Heinz Field. One was 36-yarder in the end zone that Antonio Brown could not handle. Vick said he was preparing to throw deep a few more times when he was sacked, two of which he said he should not have taken.tmpplchld “Yeah, we could have done a little more,” Vick said of throwing deep, “but I think our game plan was to try to just run the football, get the ball into the hands of the guys at the appropriate time and not force it. We were getting a lot of double coverage down there. When you’re playing two high safeties, you can’t just force the ball downfield. You’ll be throwing into double coverage all day.”tmpplchld Bryant’s forte is running deep and Vick discovered that quickly after joining the Steelers on Aug. 25. His first pass with the Steelers was a 63-yarder to Bryant in the preseason at Buffalo Aug. 29. The two hooked up for three passes and 138 yards that day, not counting a pass interference penalty in the end zone Bryant drew.tmpplchld Vick said he liked what he saw in Bryant at practice Monday.tmpplchld “Martavis is motivated, he looks strong, he’s very impressive right now. He’s a great kid, wants to win and believes in himself.”tmpplchld Said Bryant, “We’ve got a lot of work this week in practice to get ready for Monday so we’ll keep developing our chemistry and get ready for Monday.tmpplchld “I think he has more confidence in me, knowing that I’ll be there for him, to have his back, just like I was for Ben.”tmpplchld ___tmpplchld (c)2015 Pittsburgh Post-Gazettetmpplchld Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.comtmpplchld Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.tmpplchld