Pittsburgh Steelers: Martavis Bryant still finding path to maturity

As Martavis Bryant prepares for Pittsburgh Steelers training camp following a yearlong suspension, battles of maturity still reside in the wide receiver.

Much like the Pittsburgh Steelers journey to reach their first Super Bowl appearance since the 2010 season, wide receiver Martavis Bryant has seen quite the highs and lows during his young career in the NFL. The most recent step on Bryant’s road back to the field finds him responding to criticism given earlier this off-season by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, with Roethlisberger expressing his disappointment with Bryant, mentioning he felt let down by his 25-year old wideout.

In an ESPN.com interview, Bryant did not seem pleased as he responded to his teammate:

"“We should have a man-to-man. Because some of the things he put out there about me, I kind of didn’t agree with how he did it. So I want to sit down and hear his own opinion, man-to-man, about why he did that.”"

Bryant’s latest comments have caused quite the stir with Pittsburgh media and many within the fanbase as well. After all, Bryant received a four-game suspension in 2015 before being suspended for all of 2016, both for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Throw in Bryant’s Twitter escapade during the 2017 NFL Draft and other defensive tweets, and you have Steelers fans asking the same question: Why exactly is Martavis Bryant wanting to hold others accountable when he hasn’t proved to hold himself accountable?

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It’s a fair question to pose. Bryant has an incredible skill set and is a difference maker when suiting up for Pittsburgh, proving to be a rare combination of size and speed and providing a deep ball presence that hasn’t truly been seen since Plaxico Burress. It’s when Bryant hasn’t been in uniform, however, that his impact (or lack thereof) is felt the most.

Before we point fingers, however, it’s important to take everything in context. Bryant was simply responding to a question being asked to him, and didn’t appear to take it personal. Although Roethlisberger had every right to call him out, Bryant suggesting a one on one talk rather than causing another scene is a sign of his growth as a player and a man. From the same ESPN interview:

"“Hopefully we’ll have it before the season starts. If not, that’s fine. I’m still going to go out and perform and do what I have to do to be the best teammate I can be.”"

The maturation process has indeed been shaky for Bryant since he arrived in the league in 2014. Has a year off from football straightened Bryant for the better? Time will be the only one who is capable of telling. While Bryant is still young, it’s important he realize how big of a role he plays in the long-term of the Steelers plans. It’s also important to note Bryant is scheduled to become a free agent in 2018, as other teams will be keeping an eye on his issues as well and could affect the potential money he earns.

The ball is in Bryant’s court. He knows exactly how crucial of a role he plays in getting the Steelers back to the Super Bowl, and should he have been on the field for Pittsburgh last season, the season may not have stopped at New England. The tools and support system are all in place for Bryant to succeed. Nobody is rooting for his demise.

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Yet, after two suspensions, a third one will likely put him down a path similar to the likes of Josh Gordon or Justin Blackmon. Bryant is far too talented to let his maturity cost him his dreams. To be a champion on the field, Martavis must first learn how to be one off the field.