Leaders: Staying focused is key
camp but might be one of the few players still looking ahead — to Labor Day, when he is expected to sign his franchise tag and report to the team, as he did last season.
No teammate begrudged Bell’s stance, perhaps because it is old hat and expected. As guard David DeCastro said: “We’ve been through it. I kind of called it, unfortunately. I wish we would have gotten something done, but it’s a business. You see both sides. No sense fretting about it, we just have to get to work.
“I would have been surprised if something happened. I kind of figured they were far apart.”
So Heyward, DeCastro and others vowed not to let the distractions overwhelm them the way they ultimately seemed to do in that 45-42 home playoff loss against Jacksonville in January, particularly after Mitchell, Bell and perhaps a few others looked past the Jaguars to what even Mike Tomlin publicly mentioned, an AFC championship rematch against the Patriots.
“I hope people realize it after last year and all the B.S.,” DeCastro said. “I hope guys just realize it’s one game at a time. Don’t let your head get too big.
“We have a big week, Week 1,” he said of the opener in Cleveland. “That’s all we should care about. Obviously, the big goal is in the back of your head as it should be, but don’t overlook anyone in the National Football League. It’s just ridiculous.”
DeCastro, immediately after the upset playoff loss, ripped teammates he did not name for disrespecting Jacksonville by looking ahead to playing the Patriots or, as Mitchell did, calling out the Jaguars in front of their locker room before the game.
“They were fired up,” DeCastro said of the Jaguars. “You don’t need to give anyone more. This league is pretty even as it is; you give a guy a reason to get even more mad and upset, you give him more reason to beat you. Everyone has good players in this league.”
Like others, Maurkice Pouncey said their loss to Jacksonville was yet another lesson from the past four postseasons that ended short of a Super Bowl visit. He believes the man who spoke most openly about playing the Patriots in the AFC championship will talk to them about holding focus this season.
“I’m sure coach Tomlin will have something to say about it in our first meeting.
This team has learned a lot over the years of losing like that. Hopefully, everyone went home and took it all in, and we’ll see how things work out this year.”
Pouncey, alluding to the slow start of Bell after his long absence last season, suggested he might urge the halfback to report a little sooner this summer. “Maybe I’ll text him and say come a week earlier so we’re not as rusty in the beginning.”
No teammate wanted to say Bell’s layoff might hurt them, but they do feel a sense of urgency this year because of all their talent, especially on offense. They do not know just how long they might have to do something with it other than bow out in the playoffs.
“Time is running out for everybody,” Pouncey declared. “I know it’s all fun and games at the beginning, but it’s time to win. It’s been too long.”
Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com and Twitter @EdBouchette.