Running back Le’Veon Bell did not report to Pittsburgh Steelers training camp leaving his status for the start of the 2017 season uncertain.
Bell will play under the $12.1 million tag. Since he has yet to sign the tender, Bell is not subject to fines for skipping training camp workouts.
“Obviously I would like him to be here,” said coach Mike Tomlin to reporters Thursday. “I’m going to focus my energies on the guys who are. It’s an unfortunate circumstance, one that we’ll deal with, one that he’ll deal. I’ve had good, clean communication with him. I’ll leave the nature of those conversations between us. But rest assured that he’ll be ready to play football. When he gets here, I don’t know. I’ll remain focused on the guys who are here and their overall development. When he gets here, he gets here.”
Steelers receiver Antonio Brown said on social media in a direct message to Bell: The first part of getting better is showing up.
“When trying to do something special, we would like all our guys here,” Brown said.
“The biggest thing with football, no matter who you are, this thing moves on without you,” guard David DeCastro said. “It’s kind of an unfortunate truth, but it is the way it is. If he’s not here, we’ve got to go.”
Other players took a softer approach, acknowledging they would like Bell in camp but understand the business side.
Bell, 25, averaged 105.7 rushing yards and 51.3 receiving yards per game last season after starting the year with a three-game suspension. That offseason was also hampered by recovery from a knee injury that ended his 2015 season, so it’s probably a safe bet that Bell won’t need many (or any) preseason reps to get back into top form.
For now, the Steelers are getting training camp started without Bell and can’t do anything except wait for him to show up when he feels ready to do so.
