The Pittsburgh Steelers have remained in the same waiting pattern with star running back Le'Veon Bell deciding to avoid showing up to training camp for the second straight year due to his unhappiness with his contract situation.
This has created some sense of uncertainty around the franchise in terms of when Bell will, in fact, be back in the fold ahead of the 2018 season. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, this is something that veteran center Maurkice Pouncey voiced as the 26-year-old has kept to himself in this process.
“I wish I knew,” Pouncey said. “He's kind of kept to himself about it.”
It is quite evident that Bell wasn't happy about how things unfolded with him concerning his contract as he's set to play under the franchise tag for the second straight year due to the inability for both sides to work out a new lucrative long-term deal to his preference.
This has also led to much chatter that the 2018 season could be his final year with the team given how things have gone in contract extension talks in the last two offseasons. It has made this a bit of an awkward situation once he does eventually return to the team at some point in the next couple of weeks.
Bell has could operate in the same manner as last year by showing up just days before the season opener as he inked the franchise tag on the Monday of that week. He will more than likely do that once again in order to be back prior to the start of the regular season.
Despite how this matter has played out once again, Bell is expected to take on a significant role in the offense once again. He has established himself as arguably the best all-around running back in the league as he's coming off yet another highly productive campaign posting 1,291 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns as well as a career-best 85 catches for 655 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. This has marked his third year with more than 1,200 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards.
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