Steelers Bell returns to work
Le’Veon Bell insists it was just business. All of it.
The eight-month sabbatical from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Instagram posts highlighting his workouts while he was away.
His refusal to sign his franchise tag until less than a week before the 2017 season opener.
Nothing personal. Bell just didn’t see the point in showing up for training camp and risking an injury that could jeopardize both his team’s championship aspirations and his own long-term fiscal future. So the Pro Bowl running back waited until Monday to put pen to paper.
“I didn’t want to get hurt in camp,” Bell said shortly after completing his first practice with his teammates since January. “My rookie year I remember getting hurt in camp, so I didn’t even want to deal with it. I wanted to get here, get ready for Game 1, get ready for games that count.”
A couple of squiggles and Bell officially became the highest-paid running back in the NFL, though the one-year, $12.1-million contract he signed wasn’t the more lucrative long-term one he was seeking. Bell declined to get into specifics why he and the Steelers were unable to reach an agreement, and isn’t sure where a report that indicated he nixed a new contract came from.
“It was in a private room, I just want to leave it at that,” Bell said. “I don’t want to talk contract situation. I just want to keep it moving.”
So do the rest of the Steelers. Bell kept in contact with Pittsburgh’s offensive linemen during his “stay out” and centre Maurkice Pouncey couldn’t contain his glee at seeing Bell’s familiar No. 26 in the huddle.
“Happy as hell,” Pouncey said. “He looked like he was in shape. He looked like he didn’t miss a beat at all.”
That was kind of the point for Bell, who tried his best to mimic the conditioning program he uses during a typical training camp. While allowing it may take a practice or two to get truly into football shape, Bell figures he took his normal allotment of snaps with the starters. He’s hoping to play when Pittsburgh travels to Cleveland on Sunday. The only real question will be the workload.
Asked if he expected Bell to be limited against the Browns, Pouncey laughed and said, “I hope not.”
Neither does Bell. While his protracted absence proved problematic — he drew the ire of some fans on social media during his time away — he also understands what’s at stake. He’s only played a full 16-game schedule once in his four seasons, with the other three shortened by injury, suspension or both.
When he’s on the field, Bell is one of the most unique talents in the NFL. He averaged a league-leading 157 yards of total offence in 2016, with the Steelers relying heavily on him during a ninegame winning streak.