The clock is ticking on Le’Veon Bell. The Pittsburgh Steelers running back has until 4 PM ET on Tuesday to report in order to play this season. But while Steelers owner Art Rooney II said recently that the team expects him to report, it doesn’t appear as if the Steelers believe he’s going to show up now.
Despite Le'Veon Bell's extended presence in Pittsburgh, nothing has changed, and the Steelers do not expect him to show by today's 4 p.m. deadline to play this season. This marriage feels over.
At this point, Bell basically has no incentive to return to the field this season and risk injury. He’ll only be making $6 million by playing the rest of the way, and after already giving up $8 million after sitting out with first 10 weeks, it’s hard to see him returning for that amount.
Bell will be a free agent in March and would get quarterback-level money if the Steelers decide to franchise tag him again. And even if the Steelers use the transition tag on him, he'll likely get paid by another team anyway.
So barring any unforeseen change of heart from Bell, he will not play this season. Moreover, there’s also a good chance he will not play again for the Steelers.
It would be an odd way to end his career in Pittsburgh. But he’s made up his mind about preserving himself for a big payday in free agency and looks set to stick it out to the end.
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