Bell carrying Steelers offense in Roethlisberger's absence

By WILL GRAVES (AP Sports Writer)
AP - Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Le'Veon Bell didn't grow up as the fastest kid on the field, the kind who turns into a vapor trail the instant the ball touches his hands.

The speed of Bell's brain, however, was never in doubt. The Pittsburgh Steelers running back had a way of figuring out where to go and how to get there.

If that meant cutting back, he'd cut back. If that meant putting his hand on the rear of one of his linemen, guiding them like a human shopping cart, so be it.

''I do it to let them know I'm behind them and they can kind of hurry up, or I push them in the direction I want to go,'' Bell said.

And make no mistake, that direction is always whichever way the end zone happens to be. Bell produced the signature play of his burgeoning career in last Monday's 24-20 victory over San Diego, stretching across the goal line for the winning score as time expired, taking the direct snap, then placing his right hand on pulling guard David DeCastro as if to say ''I'm following you, big fella.''

Even with 5 seconds remaining, Bell wasn't in a rush. He trusted the call, trusted his line and trusted the instincts that have made him one of the league's most versatile and dynamic players - even if it went against injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's sage advice not to waste any time.

''Ben was telling me 'Don't dance around in case we need another play and that's what I had in my mind,''' Bell said. ''I'm just going to hurry it up and get in. But as the play went and I got in the end zone and scored, he was like, 'You're still dancing around.' I guess it's just the way I run.''

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