PITTSBURGH -- Excuse Le'Veon Bell if he's savoring the moments of practicing in the May humidity in shorts on a Tuesday.

Practice is his only football outlet until he's cleared to play NFL games, which, as it stands, won't be until Week 4. Bell has not heard back on his appeal of a three-game suspension for marijuana. He hasn't heard from his agent with a ruling. It could be a while.

For now, he's still part of the team. Eventually, he'll have to root for DeAngelo Williams, his backup.

But Bell has been contrite and open about the issue that got him suspended, telling ESPN's Josina Anderson earlier this month that 'marijuana is not an important thing for me,' placing the onus on himself to avoid trouble.

After Tuesday's OTA session, I asked Bell why he felt compelled to speak so strongly.

"Because it is my fault," Bell said. "I learned my lesson and it made me a better man and person. It's going to make me a better player."

Bell the player isn't a concern after 1,361 rushing yards along with 85 receptions a year ago. Bell wants the perception of character to match his play, but he knows that takes time and is something he can't control.

"Everybody has their own opinions about me, but that's fine," Bell said. "I can't make everybody like me and I can't make everybody hate me. I just have to continue to move forward and continue to be me. I know I'm a great person and a great football player, so I have to continue to be on and off the field."

Bell's knee injury that caused him to miss the playoff loss to the Ravens is now close to 100 percent, Bell said. The injury was barely 50 percent in January, he said.

The knee had to heal, but quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has seen some personal healing in Bell, too.

"He has really grown up and matured in football as well as a person," Roethlisberger said. "I think we've all seen that. The sky is the limit for him. He's the best all-around back in the game."