Heralded as an offseason steal via trade from the Dolphins, receiver Davone Bess has had a good but not great first season in Cleveland. On Friday, he made his biggest headline of the year in a way unrelated to his performance.
Absent from the team for personal reasons, Bess posted a photo on Instagram that shows him lighting a cigarette (which may or may not contain tobacco) near a photo of Bob Marley and wearing around his neck a Rastafari flag. After appearing Friday morning, the image was quickly deleted.
Per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Bess has spent most of the season dealing with a serious issue involving a family member. Bess was excused from practice on Thursday and Friday. The Browns are due to travel to New York on Saturday. If Bess doesn’t make the trip, he’ll be replaced by Josh Cooper.
For the year, Bess has 42 catches for 362 yards and two touchdowns. His catches, yards, and average (8.6) are the lowest of his six-year career.
