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PITTSBURGH – Steelers players are discouraged by the prolonged absence of The Vein Bell that could last for months.
"He sent us back," said a veteran exiting the locker room.
The running back should not play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, unless unexpected development, according to a source, and agent Adisa Bakari hinted that Bell may be willing to wait longer to preserve its health in the long run.
Bell has not signed his $ 14.5 million franchise agreement and can become a free agent in 2019 as long as he signs it at week 11.
"If you do not want to be there, that's it and wait 10 weeks," said Maurkice Pouncey's center. "It's obvious that it's the Veon on the Steelers, and we're the Steelers and we're going to play like the Steelers.Now, when it's time to play and you have $ 14 million coming , and you're still not there the team really wants you here?
"At this point, we had [James] Conner. "
Conner will start at Bell in Week 1 against the Browns.
The team was hoping that Bell would come to work this week, but Bakari told NFL Live that Bell would "do the things necessary to protect its value in the long run."
A source told ESPN that the Steelers had no intention of canceling Bell's offer, and that league sources believe that an exchange would be very difficult to execute because of Bell's position and the reluctance of teams to inherit a player.
General Manager Kevin Colbert – who said Monday that the team was "disappointed" that Bell did not sign the offer – will not be available for comment, but the team issued a statement by the director of communications Burt Lauten.
"We will not discuss conversations through the media," Lauten said. "If Adisa [Bakari] would like to speak further, he has the phone number at our offices. "
But the players – especially those who block for Bell – have no problem to discuss.
"In the ultimate team sport, we created a league of individuals," said goalkeeper Ramon Foster. "I know the league aims to get your money, to get paid, I love it, but at least let us know [you weren’t coming].
"Right now, we are only dealing with the aspect" are you going to do it for us or are you really going to wait? "Because it's one of those things where we, as an offensive line, as a team – Pounce urged him to come in and now nothing. [here] who sacrifice everything. "
– Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) September 5, 2018
On Monday, Pouncey told ESPN that Bell would show up Wednesday and "count on her". He said that because he felt that Bell trusted him.
Bell touched the ball 406 times at the top of the league last season and Bell told ESPN in January that he would not touch the ball more than 400 times without a contract consistent with his reputation as a player.
The Steelers and Bell have failed to reach a long-term deal over the past two summers. Every week, Bell jumps, he loses $ 852,941.
"There are many years of football left in Le Veon, we know his days in Pittsburgh are at best precarious, and we know how he was used by the Steelers organization," Bakari told NFL Live. .
"This is nothing to say negative about the Steelers.They have had one of the best players to play the position and they have used it a lot for production that it can provide. but in doing so you lose his future years. "
If Bell returns well in the season, Pouncey said that he would tell him what's going on and ask him if he's ready.
In the meantime, he wants Conner to shine.
"The stars are made every year, so I hope it fits for him," Pouncey said.
The Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas did not make any changes to the line or the total in response to the announcement of Wednesday's defection of Bell. The Steelers are favorites at 3.5 points in Cleveland in the first week (opening at -6.5) and remain 10 to 1 to win the Super Bowl.
Ben Fawkes of ESPN contributed to this report.
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