The Steelers-Le’Veon Bell stalemate will take a significant divergent turn compared to last year’s impasse. Bell will not report to the team on Saturday and will forgo an $853K payment, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
Bell has until 4pm ET to show up, but Schefter adds that deadline will come and go with the two-time All-Pro away from the team. James Conner was already entrenched as the Steelers’ Week 1 starter against the Browns, but Bell being willing to skip a game check adds a layer to this situation.
This process will now carry over into Week 2, when the Steelers are set to host the two-time reigning AFC West champion Chiefs. And if Bell’s on board with bypassing a near-$1MM check this week, it’s obviously in play he’d do so again. Steelers offensive linemen unloaded on the running back this week for his seeming disinterest in his 2018 team’s status compared to his potential position on the 2019 free agent market. The situation plunges into stranger territory now that he’s refused to report before his team’s Cleveland trip.
The early part of the Steelers’ schedule is not as menacing as the back end. The Chiefs are the only 2017 playoff team on the Steelers’ September slate. But the Ravens, viewed by many as the top threat to the Steelers’ AFC North crown this season, are set to visit Pittsburgh in Week 4.
Pittsburgh will not trade Bell, rescind his franchise tag or add money to it. Bell’s agent cryptically voiced concerns about how the Steelers will use his client this season — on the heels of mammoth workloads in 2016 (on a per-game basis) and ’17 — and Bell’s side is showing it means business by extending the player’s absence into the regular season.
Mike Tomlin said earlier this week he won’t let an agent dictate his game plans, firing back at Adisa Bakari’s comments regarding his client’s high-volume usage rate. But until Bell’s side blinks, Conner will be the Steelers’ top running back.
Please come back. My fantasy team begs you
You drafted him? How long ago was your draft? That was kind of dumb if he was your first pick. It’s been obvious for a while now that he wasn’t gonna show and the Steelers weren’t gonna budge either. You’ll be lucky if he’s back by like week 10. Might have even completely wasted your pick, possibility he sits out all year is real.
He won’t sit out all year, he has to play by week 10 in order to be a free agent
What’s that about? Never heard anything like that
Yeah picking Bell in the first round never seemed like a good idea to me because I kinda felt like this would happen…good thing I picked Conner in the 16th round
I drafted Gurley as first overall pick simply because Bell always gets hurt. I’m honestly shocked Bell didn’t report this week
You can’t ever get that $853k back.
That’s not entirely true. If the Steelers are convinced he’d really sit out more games, they could panic and increase the franchise tender.
They won’t, though.
The hold out didn’t make any sense. Not reporting, at this point, is a straight dumbass move.
On July 16, Pittsburgh lost their ability to sign him to a long-term deal. At that point his money was essentially set at the franchise tag amount.
There was no leverage left for him. He simply didn’t want to go to camp. Now, he’s skipping games ONLY because he doesn’t want to get hurt.
Stay home and get stoned then, Bell. Don’t need ya.
He’s in the right, imo. The fact that he’s already rich makes it an easy decision for him. It’s true he’ll never get “That” $853k back but it helps safeguard the $50/$60/$70 million that realistically will come his way next season. It’s basically a sad but best decision for a bad situation. Imo, placing a Franchise Tag twice on someone is unfair. Yes their paid very well but it’s dangerous sport with a small window of opportunity to cash in. But I’m not losing any sleep over either sides problems.
Need to trade him to the worst possible team. U think Miami or Buffalo would take him? Jets?