Le’Veon Bell Not At Steelers Facility

Le’Veon Bell is not at the Steelers facility today as he continues his holdout, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Bell had been expected to report to the Steelers during the club’s Week 7 bye, and there is still a possibility he could do so. As Kinkhabwala reports, Pittsburgh had meetings today, will practice Tuesday and Wednesday, and then is off until next Monday. Bell could conceivably report later this week, or wait until the Steelers begin preparations for Week 8.

If Bell does report this week and sign his franchise tag, he’d be entitled to his weekly salary of $855K. However, the Steelers could potentially use a roster exemption for Bell, which would allow the club to withhold his pay. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explained earlier this month, Bell and the Steelers would need to agree to a pay rate if and when Bell is placed on the exempt list.

At last check, Bell hasn’t informed the Steelers of his exact plans. However, when he does show up, the Steelers are expected to use a running back tandem of both Bell and incumbent James Conner, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently campaigned for Conner, who is currently second in the NFL in rushing touchdowns and fifth in rushing yards, to retain a role once Bell returns.

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