Wednesday open thread: Should the Detroit Lions cut Armonty Bryant?

Tuesday afternoon the NFL announced they were suspending Detroit Lions defensive end Armonty Bryant for the first four games of the 2017 season. This is Bryant’s third suspension in two years, and his second for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Earlier in the offseason, Lions defensive tackle Khyri Thornton was given a six-game suspension for substance abuse violations.

The two suspensions have left Detroit’s defensive line in rough shape for the first month of the 2017 season, yet the Lions have not done anything about it. In the case of Bryant, one has to wonder if Detroit is nearing their breaking point.

So today’s Question of the Day is:

After his third suspension in two years, should the Lions cut Armonty Bryant?

My answer: While we don’t know exactly what caused Bryant to violate the league’s substance abuse policy, this is his second violation of that rule in two years. He has had enough warnings at this point, and he has shown himself to be unreliable.

As desperate as Detroit’s defensive end situation is—and believe me, it’s bad—there’s no point in keeping a player like Bryant around. He has now been given second and third chances and has squandered them both. Bryant can’t be the rotational player the Lions desperately need if he can’t keep himself out of trouble.

If the Lions cut ties, they’ll have an additional $655,000 in cap space to look for a replacement or simply add someone to the roster who can follow league rules. It may end up leaving the team a little less talented, but what’s the use in talent if it can’t take the field?

Bryant needs a wakeup call, and it’s clear suspensions aren’t going to do the trick. So for both Bryant’s and the Lions’ sake, it’s best for Detroit to release him.

Your turn.