Le'Veon Bell back with the Steelers soon?

[polamalubeast]

The circus will begin

[Craic]

The circus will begin

I think this is a good thing. Imagine if Bell comes back anything close to his normal self. To have someone like Bell ready to go in the latter half of the season just may be what we need to push us over the top. I mean, how often in years past has losing a RB cost us a playoff game?

[polamalubeast]

[stillers4me]

He spelled "Farewell" wrong.

[Fire Goodell]

He spelled "Farewell" wrong.

Maybe it's just wordplay cause he's a rapper and all

I'm kind of mixed about him coming back. It's talent added to the roster, but several teammates AND Tomlin have made some unflattering comments toward him. I hope his return doesn't equal a rift in the locker room that eventually torpedoes the season. In that case nobody wins.

[vader29]

He spelled "Farewell" wrong.

[Dwinsgames]

He spelled "Farewell" wrong.

well we kinda sorta knew he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer

[pczach]

He spelled "Farewell" wrong.

Maybe he heard there was another hurricane coming Miami's way and he was just wishing the city good luck...…

[smokin3000gt]

He spelled "Farewell" wrong.

and he went 2 a gud skool

[polamalubeast]

[polamalubeast]

[AtlantaDan]

Well at least the Steelers now know what to buy Bell for a welcome back gift

[ALLD]

Maybe he is going to the Bahamas or Jamaica after leaving South Beach?

[tube517]

[steelreserve]

It would be funny if they rescinded the tag while his plane was in the air.

And then had a limo driver waiting for him with a sign that said "lol, FUCK YOU!!"

[polamalubeast]

[86WARD]

So there’s no reason they couldn’t do that if they so wished. They’d be stupid not to.

[polamalubeast]

[BlackAndGold]

Those two wearing down defenses in the playoffs...

[st33lersguy]

Don't want him, don't need him, he didn't show up. He can go rot on the bench for all I care and keep getting fat

[GoSlash27]

I will be happy to see him if he comes back. I have no doubt that he will be his normal professional self while he prepares and eventually plays, and he is another weapon in the arsenal. More weapons are a good thing, especially with the schedule we're facing.

[DesertSteel]

I will be happy to see him if he comes back. I have no doubt that he will be his normal professional self while he prepares and eventually plays, and he is another weapon in the arsenal. More weapons are a good thing, especially with the schedule we're facing.

For a guy who's been suspended twice and sat out for over half a season, I don't get all of the "professional" sentiment.

[Craic]

For a guy who's been suspended twice and sat out for over half a season, I don't get all of the "professional" sentiment.

No, he was young and stupid when it came to pot, but it seems he's learned. I don't hold that against him. As for sitting out half a season, that's business. The professional side is how he handles himself in the locker room and on the field, and I've never seen anything but his 110 percent regardless of the situation. That's professional. He's always come into camp or the team in shape. That's professional. Yes, he took four games to get his mind and body into game-shape, but that's not something you can do outside of literally being on the football field, and the business side of the game denied him that (that is, the business side became more important. it doesn't deny his professionalism when he's under contract).

- - - Updated - - -

Some need to realize we could have a HOF QB that can still sling it. Top 5 offense line in the league. Best RB Duo in the league and best WR Duo in the league. Bring it on!

Not to mention a top 5 defense in points allowed over the last 4 games.

[GoSlash27]

The professional side is how he handles himself in the locker room and on the field, and I've never seen anything but his 110 percent regardless of the situation.

^ This is what I'm talkin' about. Once he's in the locker room, he's a workaholic.

[AtlantaDan]

No, he was young and stupid when it came to pot, but it seems he's learned. I don't hold that against him. As for sitting out half a season, that's business. The professional side is how he handles himself in the locker room and on the field, and I've never seen anything but his 110 percent regardless of the situation. That's professional. He's always come into camp or the team in shape. That's professional. Yes, he took four games to get his mind and body into game-shape, but that's not something you can do outside of literally being on the football field, and the business side of the game denied him that (that is, the business side became more important. it doesn't deny his professionalism when he's under contract).

All true about pre-2018 Bell, particularly about getting along in the locker room.

Pretty clear those relationships have changed based on what DeCastro and Tomlin have said the past few days.

If Bell returns everyone will make the best of it - it’s a business, just as it has been for those of us who had to deal with co-workers for who we had mutual disdain.

But if the situation has caused Bell to deal differently with his teammates in a less professional manner than he has in the past (the OL clearly was chapped about how he handled not reporting in September), consider the possibility it also has caused him to change his approach to this season as just something to get past rather than be all in on.

Dogging it might be one of the few ways to convince the Steelers he is not worth the hassle of possibly bringing him back under the transition tag in 2019.

Of course if a team really wants volunteers and not hostages why tag him?

[DesertSteel]

No, he was young and stupid when it came to pot, but it seems he's learned.

Hanging out with rappers in strip clubs while his teammates are sweating it out at training camp is not learning his lesson in my book.

[AtlantaDan]

Hanging out with rappers in strip clubs while his teammates are sweating it out at training camp is not learning his lesson in my book.

It's just been one act of trolling after another (strip clubs, jet skis, tweeting emojis after Cleveland tie, agent giving interview that this is a social justice cause to advance the legacy of struggle, Fairwell Miami, going to the OSU-Mich State game rather than report) as the Steelers have not blinked and moved on.

In terms of advancing his financial interests with the thrashing around in seeking to gain a tactical advantage all the stunts have been as empty and productive as those of the swordsman when facing off against Indiana Jones

[Craic]

Hanging out with rappers in strip clubs while his teammates are sweating it out at training camp is not learning his lesson in my book.

One has nothing to do with the other. He learned that his career is in jeopardy if he touches pot, and that he has to make better decisions based on what is or is not illegal. That has absolutely nothing to do with how he spends his off time when not under contract with a team. And, making the choice not to come to camp is one of the few weapons the CBA provides for a tagged player. Again, you're confusing negotiating tactics with professionalism. His negotiation tactic this time is also a warning... don't tag me a third time. I WILL sit out, and you will lose out on having that money go to another player this year under the cap.

Had Bell been under contract, I'd be singing a very different tune. However, since he's not under contract, he has every right to exercise any and all options available to him. I think he's pretty stupid for doing it, but that doesn't take away from "professionalism." In fact, Throughout this holdout, he's conducted himself with quite a bit of professionalism. Where do you see him taking shots at players or coaches in the press? Where do you see him ripping teammates on social media? He hasn't. The biggest thing he did was send an emoji of open eyes after comments came out about him from teammates. That's it. So, no, there's nothing unprofessional about how he's handled his football self.

Now, if you want to talk about stupid personal decisions like going to a strip club or Jet Skiing or pictures of him and two women as though he has his own little harem, sure. I'm right there with you. But professional as it has anything to do with the team? Nope. Not at all. Heck, I'd say the least professional thing he's done is drop rap songs hinting at contract expectations. In this day-and-age, that's nothing.

[ShoeHorn]

Welp if his flight left at 3 he’d be in Pittsburgh by now, so we should be hearing something soon, IF that’s where he was flying to

[GBMelBlount]

He is fresh, can lighten the load and we have half a season to figure out how to use the best 1-2 running back combo in the NFL.

Bell could be the last piece we need to have an unstoppable offense...which we will need to compete with all of the other high octane offenses out there.