Le’Veon Bell has missed all of Steelers training camp this year, just as he did last year when they used the franchise tag on him. Last year, he reported to the team on Labor Day, just before the Week 1 game. This year, he still has not reported to the team and will not play Week 1 against the Browns.
It is not known when he will report to the team. He has still not signed his $14.5 million franchise tag. He could miss the first 10 games of the season and still become a free agent in 2019. As for money, he will forfeit $852,941 per game.
It appears that the Steelers organization and the players expected him here by now. Reaction by some players has been harsh:
#Steelers DE Cam Heyward, also a team captain, said this: "Either you get on the bus or not." And if Le'Veon Bell doesn't appear to want on that bus just yet? "That's his loss. We're trying to get wins."
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) September 5, 2018
Steelers teammates not happy with Le’Veon Bell no show, led by vet G Ramon Foster, their player rep:
“What do you do? here’s a guy who doesn’t give a damn, I guess so we’ll treatit as such. I just hate it came to this. “— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) September 5, 2018
One veteran Steeler told me players waited a day to criticize Bell to give him a chance to come in Wednesday but "he f—ed us."
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 5, 2018
DeCastro on Bell — "Just sit out the whole year then."
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) September 5, 2018
Pouncey on Bell–"Honestly it's a little selfish. I'm kinda pissed 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. Conner looks great. We'll worry about him in week 2."
— Tim Benz (@TimBenzPGH) September 5, 2018
Adisa Bakari, Bell’s agent, was on SiriusXM NFL Radio today.
He sounded worried that the Steelers would overuse Bell and hurt his long-term value.
LeVeon Bell agent paints the picture to @SiriusXMNFL that his client is out to preserve his body for next year’s free agency. Wouldn’t say when he’d show but did say (paraphrase) “he will be there when he gets there” @TheAthleticPGH
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) September 5, 2018
More from Bell's agent on @SiriusXMNFL "Le'Veon is concerned about the rest of his NFL career, LeVeon is concerned about his family, his livelihood." #Steelers
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) September 5, 2018
Per @LeVeonBell's agent @AdisaBakari via @SiriusXMNFL : "Again, if memory serves me, I said Le'eon had every intention to make this the best season of his career. That has not changed. That's his intention, to make this the best statistical seasons of his career." #Steelers
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) September 5, 2018
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