Steelers appear ready to start James Conner this week even if Le’Veon Bell reports

[Shoes]

Le'Veon Bell ended his 2017 holdout in time to practice with the Steelers the first week of the season. He started the season opener but had only 32 yards on 10 carries against the Browns followed by 87 yards on 27 carries against the Vikings in Week Two.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-bell-reports/

[polamalubeast]

[Shoes]

It seems like Bell could drop nearly 2mil, even if he shows up tomorrow.

[Dwinsgames]

It seems like Bell could drop nearly 2mil, even if he shows up tomorrow.

Have I ever mentioned I love Karma....

[Fire Goodell]

New offense + Conner has been putting in work. He deserves it, and honestly at this point I'd feel better about our chances if Conner STARTS

[86WARD]

Not sure how Chris Warren isn’t on that list...

[Fire Goodell]

Alright it's decided, I'm buying a James Conner jersey. It's hard to not root for this kid, seriously. He beats cancer, then now he's about to beat the locker room cancer.

[steelreserve]

Alright it's decided, I'm buying a James Conner jersey. It's hard to not root for this kid, seriously. He beats cancer, then now he's about to beat the locker room cancer.

Seriously. At this rate, next year he'll beat feminism.

[smokin3000gt]

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[Cyphon25]

Even if Bell had reported on Monday I think Conner deserved the start and full load. He put in all the work and effort throughout camp and preseason while Bell was making it rain on ugly strippers. It should have been and should be Conners job to lose at this point. Whether Bell reports later today or 5 weeks from now the job should belong to Conner until he shows he can't handle it (which I don't believe will happen).

If I am the Steelers I am shopping Bell now to see what is out there and if I get an offer I like I talk to Bells agent and say we have a team who is willing to trade for you and offer you the contract you are looking for, we just need you to sign the tag so we can make it happen. I am not sure how feasible that is but it is my dream scenario right now. Get him on the tag and get rid of him.

A month or 2 ago I would have been against that. Even if I am no Bell fan I respect his talent and knew we couldn't go into a season with questions around our RB group. However, Conner, Samuels, Toussaint, and Ridley all made me very comfortable to face life without Bell. Toussaint is obviously gone now but the other 3 remain.

[GBMelBlount]

I think this drama with Bell could light a fire under this team which may, in fact, IMPROVE their play.

Ben plays best with a chip on his shoulder.

[polamalubeast]

[DesertSteel]

This is the first year I've played fantasy football (my son wanted to play) and yesterday I picked up Conner and I am starting him on Sunday. I expect big things with a fired up OL and a motivated Conner with the physical tools to make it happen.

[steelreserve]

If I am the Steelers I am shopping Bell now to see what is out there and if I get an offer I like I talk to Bells agent and say we have a team who is willing to trade for you and offer you the contract you are looking for, we just need you to sign the tag so we can make it happen. I am not sure how feasible that is but it is my dream scenario right now. Get him on the tag and get rid of him.

The biggest problem with that is, the same rule that prevented us from offering him a new contract until after the season also prevents any team he is traded to from doing that. So after the season they will have to get into the same free-agent competition and hear the same ridiculous demands as they would if they had not made the trade simply waited for his contract with the Steelers to expire. I don't think anyone is going to give up very much for that, certainly not more than the third-rounder we'd likely get as a comp pick.

[polamalubeast]