Steelers bash Bell’s absence
Le’Veon Bell’s teammates spent the offseason and all of training camp brushing off his absence, confident in their belief that the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro running back would eventually let the business side of things play out, sign his franchise tender and be at work when things start to get real.
He’s one NFL of the best in the league and earned the right to take his time, they said. He’ll show up when it starts to matter, they said. We’re not worried, they said.
Time to worry. And vent. Bell’s chair remained tucked neatly into his locker yesterday, meaning he will almost certainly not be available when the Steelers open the season in Cleveland this weekend.
And while his agent took to the airwaves to vaguely explain Bell’s reasoning for staying away, the men Bell has played alongside for the past five years are starting to run out of patience.
“Honestly it’s a little selfish,” said center Maurkice Pouncey, a captain who had predicted Bell would arrive by yesterday. “I’m kind of (ticked) right now. It sucks that he’s not here. We’ll move on as a team. It doesn’t look like he’ll be in the game plan at this point.”
Veteran offensive guard Ramon Foster poked a little fun at Bell on social media, tweeting out a picture of Bell’s head attached to the body of the character from the “Where’s Waldo” line of children’s books .
“What do you do?” Foster said. “Here’s a guy who doesn’t give a damn, so I guess we’ll treat it as such. I just hate it came to this.”
Bell and the Steelers spent each of the past two springs failing to come to terms on a new contract. Pittsburgh placed the franchise tag on Bell each time. The 26-year-old made over $12 million last season and is due $14.5 million this season if he signs his one-year tender by the weekend and the Steelers opt not to ask for a two-week roster exemption. He will lose about $850,000 for each game he misses.
Thomas ends holdout
Seahawks safety Earl Thomas ended his lengthy holdout in time for the start of the regular season, even without the long-term contract he was seeking.
Thomas showed up at the Seahawks facility and was welcomed back by his teammates. Coach Pete Carroll said he met briefly with Thomas, but wouldn’t commit to whether he would play in the opener Sunday against Denver.
Thomas posted to Instagram announcing his return, saying he’s never let his “teammates, city or fans down as long as I have lived and don’t plan to start this weekend.”
In other Seahawks news, rookie Shaquem Griffin will start at weakside linebacker Sunday. Starter K.J. Wright is still recovering from minor knee surgery and Carroll said the earliest he would return is Week 2 against Chicago.
Griffin, who had his left hand amputated as a child, became one of the big stories of the NFL offseason with his performance at the scouting combine. The former UCF star was drafted in the fifth round by the Seahawks.
Berry day-to-day
Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry is day-to-day with a heel injury that has kept him out most of training camp, and his status for Sunday’s opener against the Chargers remains in question.
The exact nature of the injury has never been disclosed, but Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said the fivetime Pro Bowl selection is “getting better every day.” . . .
The Detroit Lions have claimed defensive end Romeo Okwara off waivers from the New York Giants and cut defensive end Anthony Zettel ....
The New Orleans Saints have waived rookie running back Boston Scott and signed offensive lineman Michael Ola.