Bell still a no-show for rolling Steelers

PITTSBURGH — Le’Veon

Bell’s stall inside the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room has been untouched for months. The Pittsburgh Penguins jersey. The black-and-yellow Jordans. Sweatpants. Cleats. His shoulder pads. Everything remains the same as it was when Bell walked out of the team’s facility in January to begin his standoff with the club.

The only thing that’s been disturbed is the chair. Some days a teammate’s workout clothes dangle from the back of it. On others — like Monday — a Steeler uses the seat as a spot to throw his lunch plate.

When Bell returns to reclaim his spot is uncertain. The first day of the team’s bye week came and went without Bell coming in to sign his oneyear franchise tender. What’s becoming increasingly clear, however, is that the Steelers are just fine moving on with Bell, or without him.

The anger over Bell’s decision to not report in time for the regular-season opener has subsided. In its place is something akin to exasperation and resolve. One of coach Mike Tomlin’s favourite metaphors is to describe each season as a train that’s on the move.

Pittsburgh (3-2-1) appears to be picking up steam. Bell is standing still. If he’ll ever be able to catch up in time to have any impact on Pittsburgh’s season is anyone’s guess. The past six weeks have been so eventful beyond Bell’s absence — from a sluggish start by the defence to wide receiver

Antonio Brown’s weekly histrionics — the players aren’t even getting hit up for inside information on Bell’s plans when they get home from work.

SEAHAWKS OWNER DIES

SEATTLE — Paul G. Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with his childhood friend Bill Gates before becoming a billionaire philanthropist who invested in conservation, space travel and professional sports, died Monday. He was 65.

He died in Seattle from complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, his company Vulcan Inc. announced.

Allen, an avid sports fan, owned the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Seahawks.

BILLS’ ALLEN WEEK TO WEEK

Bills rookie Josh Allen is out indefinitely after hurting his right throwing arm and leaving Buffalo in a quandary at quarterback.

Without providing many details, coach Sean McDermott would only list Allen as being “week to week” on Monday, a day after Allen hurt his elbow in the third quarter of a 20-13 loss at Houston. McDermott said he will know more about the nature of Allen’s injury after meeting with team doctors.