Steelers/NFL
Le’Veon Bell’s lack of commitment on display in lead-up to Jags game
Among the pressing off-season questions for the Steelers is whether Le’Veon Bell is worth all the trouble and should the Steelers strongly consider allocating the $14-$15 million next season it will cost to tag Bell again and put that money elsewhere?
Finding a long-term replacement for Ryan Shazier and adding another legitimate starting cornerback opposite Joe Haden are bigger priorities than anything with the Steelers current window open on the tail-end of Ben Roethlisberger’s career. You can also put an upgrade at free safety being a top priority.
To fill some of those holes, the Steelers are likely going to have to spend and maybe big to make this a more complete roster.
If the end of the season showed anything, it’s that Vince Williams is nothing more than a backup player when Shazier isn’t out there to cover things up as the Steelers enter the off-season with major holes at inside linebacker that have to be addressed and banking on the draft would be risky.
As great as Bell is, you can always find good running backs whether it’s early in a draft or late. A productive running back is also always out there in free agency.
With the quarterback the Steelers have, receiver group and offensive line in-tact, this would still be a scary good offense with a couple average running backs sharing the load like the Patriots often have at their disposal.
It what was a wild Steelers season filled with drama each, it had even more drama in the 24 hours leading up to the loss to the Jaguars.
Ed Bouchette of the Post-Gazette reported Friday Le’Veon Bell not only blew off the Steelers final walk-through, he also showed up late to the stadium on Sunday.
Defend Bell all you want, but that is unacceptable and those are things that have to start changing.
From Bouchette’s Article:
“[Tomlin never lost the locker room, he had it under control and his players respect him. However, there were many instances in which he could have taken better control, including the fiasco for the national anthem in Chicago.
As another example, Tomlin wants players and coaches to report to the locker room two hours before kickoff for games. That was continually ignored by both players and a coach or two. Not only did Bell arrive much later than that for the playoff game against Jacksonville (as well as one coach), he missed practically the entire Saturday walk-through the day before, showing up about five minutes before practice ended.]”
This further backs the belief that the Steelers have too many individuals with personal agendas in that room who don’t have the drive to do what it takes to win in January.
The coach in the organization who was notoriously late for meetings is gone To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!
No, you can’t run from one of the best in the current era. What you need to do is TEACH THEM NOT TO BE ASSHATS!!! You need to lead the Franchise and stop being a friend. Or fire Tomlin and bring in a Coach that can.
Bell is going nowhere. Especially as long as frat boy Tomlin is the coach.
Tomlin having control of his players is a joke. There is no discipline whatsoever. You have guys facebooking live, rapping and talking shitt about teammates, celebrating after a nice play even though they are getting dominated, etc… I dislike Mark Madden but he has hit the nail on the head with this team having a bunch of “look at me” players.
I liked this article more when DeCourcy wrote it.
D, once again, you know nobody with information about a Pittsburgh sports team. The Steelers are ok with Burns and view Sutton as a starting CB. Hilton is their Gay replacement and also like the upside of Bryan Allen and don’t see Haden leaving. They have 0 need at cb. They do have a need a Safety, mitchell replacement and depth. Vince Williams is a starter, but he is not a shazier replacement like he was asked to be. He’s a 2 down player, which is also shown by how Butler played 7 db’s towards the end of the year… Read more »
Move on from Bell. That’s unacceptable to act this way before a playoff game. How can his teammates not be pissed?
Because he plays hard when he’s on the field. I’m sure they’re not happy about it, but they realize that their best opportunity to win is with him in black and gold. It’s a ME first society anymore. Look at some of the things that have become socially acceptebale in tbis day and age. People turn themselves into human billboards with tatoos to show everybody their personality. Parade after parade for gays to show they are gay and proud. We don’t live in a society where you just are who you are, we live in a society where you are… Read more »