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The Pittsburgh Steelers will begin their 2018 regular season Sunday with a road match against the Cleveland Browns. We can probably assume that Le'Veon Bell will not be in the backfield. The return of two All-Pro still has not ended a hold-up, and it now seems certain that it will continue in the season.
Bell has chosen not to appear on Wednesday, some of his teammates have enough. Offensive linemen Ramon Foster and Maurkice Pouncey had a lot to say about Bell's decision to be absent.
Why Bell is still missing
A year ago, Bell was in a similar situation. After the Steelers had used the franchise mark for the second leg and the two teams failed to reach a long-term deal, Bell skipped the entire training camp and pre-season. He showed up at the facility and signed his call for tenders on September 1, nine days before the start of the 2017 season against the Browns.
The off-season of 2018 was held in the same way for Bell. He was a franchisee, did not agree to a long-term contract with the Steelers, and skipped the entire training camp and pre-season. The big difference is that this year is definitely his last in Pittsburgh.
It would be unrealistic to go through a third step with Bell and pay him $ 17.45 million in 2019. After unsuccessful attempts to lock up Bell, who were not as close or equitable as the Steelers tried to do believe, it will be a free agent award next March.
So, Bell has good reason to sit down this time.
Last year he introduced himself and said "I want as many races as I need to win games." This time, he thinks twice.
The Steelers have no reason to worry about Bell's future now. In 2017, he had 406 hits in the league, but Pittsburgh could get closer to 500 players this time. Why not? If they burn the tread of the tires, it only means that Bell will not be as dangerous if he is an opponent in the future.
That's why Bell's agent, Adisa Bakari, said the situation was still there.
"You are Kevin Colbert, you are Mike Tomlin, and you may have a generation player for one more season, what would be your plan?"
Bakari later said "[Bell’s] The intention is to make this season the best statistical season of his career.
Bell has every reason to fear that the Steelers will misuse it in 2018 and that it is playing a delicate balance in an attempt to maximize its value in March.
But Steelers' offensive linemen are clearly pissed off
After training on Wednesday, most Steelers were asked to question about Bell's absence. Many expected the running back to end his time in time to train for the opening game of the season, but he was rather nil. Some players seemed particularly frustrated by the fact that Bell proved his predictions of his return.
Steelers All-Pro G David DeCastro in the absence of Bell: "I think we are all disappointed. What is the expression? We are stuck with our foot in the mouth. We all thought that it would be here. "
– Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) September 5, 2018
Some stars of the team like Ben Roethlisberger and Cameron Heyward answered diplomatically when asked about Bell. But offensive linemen Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro have not held up well.
Steelers' teammates are not satisfied with the Le'Veon Bell show, led by veteran G Ramon Foster, representing them:
"What to do, it's a guy who does not care, I guess we'll treat it like that, I hate it."– Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) September 5, 2018
More Ramon Foster on Bell: "It's seven times what I'm doing twice as much as Al (Villanueva) is and we're the guys who do it for him."
– Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) September 5, 2018
Ramon Foster, of Bell, turned down nearly $ 1 million a week for not being there: "In team sport par excellence, we created a league of people.
– Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 5, 2018
Ramon Foster, banged on Bell: "My mother died, I went to the funeral and I came to camp the next day … Al (Villanueva) saw people dying and came and gave everything for this team . "
He adds: "It's a little tiring now, I'm fed up with antics." #Steelers @ 937 theFan
– Josh Rowntree (@ JRown32) September 5, 2018
Maurkice Pouncey on Le'Veon Bell's agent suggesting he would like to know #Steelers plan for the RB this year: "It's just stupid. You can not play football like that.
– Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) September 5, 2018
Maurkice Pouncey is clearly DONE with the absence of Le'Veon Bell. That's why he'd prefer Bell to say when he'll show up, even if it's week 10: "Why play hide-and-seek? Why let your agent say that? Miss yourself and tell us what you are going to do.
– Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) September 5, 2018
DeCastro on Bell – "Sit all year then."
– Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) September 5, 2018
Foster even went on Twitter earlier in the day with a message showing Bell dressed as Waldo.
It's a surprisingly tough position against a teammate you rarely see in the NFL. The frustration is not hard to explain – the Steelers have completed training camp and preseason and are gearing up for a Super Bowl race, but a player is doing what he can to get the most money possible.
The team has no choice but to gather around James Conner, a second year in a row that is rife with rave reviews for his work ethic, determination and growth.
But many of Pouncey and Foster's responses have highlighted the dispute over Bell's deal and it's not very smart.
Why the Steelers vs. Bell critics are counterproductive
It is understandable that the offensive linemen, the unsold bulldozers of a running back, are frustrated by the situation. But it's surprising that Pouncey and Foster are the two who have torn most of Bell, as they are two of three Steelers for the NFL Players Association.
The NFLPA is just a few years away from a labor dispute with the NFL when the current collective agreement will expire after the 2020 season. It makes no sense for two NFLPA representatives to support the management instead. to play a role in a contractual dispute.
The franchise tag is a frequently criticized tool that teams can use to prevent a player from securing long-term security or making money from the free agency market. It would make a lot more sense for Foster and Pouncey to criticize the Steelers for using the tag twice and doing their best not to give Bell the contract that another team would be willing to pay if the Agent had become free agent.
The goal of the NFLPA, like all unions, is to help players get as much as possible under the best possible working conditions.
So why are Foster and Pouncey complaining about his "tedious" and "stupid" antics instead of tearing Pittsburgh for giving Bell a deal? offered only $ 10 million in guarantees? What would they have said if Bell had been released by the Steelers in just two seasons in a five year contract?
Solidarity is not just a good idea for teammates who work together to win football matches. It will be crucial for the NFLPA and the NFL to embark on a controversial labor dispute. Players will have to present a unified front if they hope to do better in ABC negotiations than in 2011. Foster and Pouncey are not helping their cause.
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