Pittsburgh Steelers holdout running back Le’Veon Bell has made it clear he wants a lucrative long-term extension. It’s also rather apparent that Bell might be entering his final season with the team.
This won’t keep Bell from being on the field Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Bell has told his Steelers teammates that he plans to report on Monday.
“Le’Veon Bell has told some of his teammates he will report to the Steelers on Labor Day, in time for their first day of practice for the regular season opener in Cleveland,” the report read.
According to the very same report, the Steelers are working under the assumption that the All-Pro back will be there for the first practice of the regular season.
This has long been the likely outcome. Even with that two sides at a major impasse, previous suggestions were that Bell wouldn’t miss a regular season game.
Though, that doesn’t change the long-term issues here. Fresh off Todd Gurley resetting the running back market with the Rams, it appears there’s a world of difference between Bell’s asking price and what the Steelers are willing to pay him. The performance of second-year running back James Conner in Bell’s absence during the preseason magnifies this further.
At the very least, Bell will be on hand for Pittsburgh’s Week 1 game against the up-and-coming Browns.