- Earlier Sunday, a report surfaced regarding Ryan Shazier‘s progress. While Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported Shazier has a regular walking routine, the Steelers linebacker wanted to clarify that. Michele Tafoya of NBC Sports tweets Shazier is not walking on his own and needs the assistance of others or a walker at this juncture of his rehab process.
- Steelers LB Ryan Shazier has regained movement in his legs and is engaging in a regular walking routine, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. One source familiar with Shazier’s recovery said that Shazier is making “incredible progress.”
Le’Veon Bell sounds confident that he will remain in Pittsburgh. The impending free agent sat down with NFL Network’s Super Bowl LIVE yesterday and discussed his contract situation. Notably, Bell told the hosts that he believes his contract is a priority for the organization, and he noted that the two sides are closer to a deal than last year.
“Yeah, a lot of it is about the guarantees,” he said (via Kevin Patra NFL.com). “That’s what a long-term deal really is, you know? You want that security. That’s why I said I’ll play on the tag. All that’s going to be guaranteed. You want to tag me again, OK, all that’s going to be guaranteed. That’s how I kind of look at it because I don’t want sign a long-term deal and everybody says I signed for $70 million but only the first year is guaranteed. So the first $17 million that you make in that year that’s the only year that’s guaranteed…”
Specifically, Bell said he’d “absolutely” accept a contract that included $50MM in guaranteed money, but he didn’t commit when asked about $30MM. As Patra points out, Bell previously turned down an offer that would have guaranteed him $30MM through the first two seasons of the contract.
The Steelers could slap Bell with another franchise tag, which would pay him $14.5MM next season. Bell sat out training camp and preseason this past season after being tagged, but he noted that he’s not planning on another holdout.
The 25-year-old had another productive season in 2017. He ultimately compiled 1,291 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on a career-high 321 carries. He also added another 85 receptions for 655 yards and two scores.
- Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier was officially released from the rehabilitation clinic two months after having spinal stabilization surgery, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) details. Shazier will now begin outpatient rehabilitation and still has a long road ahead of him, but it’s a very positive step forward for the 25-year-old.
The Steelers and Jordan Berry have agreed to an extension. The new deal will keep the punter in place through the 2018 season. 
[RELATED: Le’Veon Bell Not Interested In Jets?]
“It’s pretty exciting to get it all finished, get it all sorted out, and get it done early,” said Berry in a press release. “I love being in Pittsburgh so I am excited to have it done. I don’t have to think about it. I can just focus on training and getting ready for next season, which is the most important part of everything.”
Last year, Berry averaged 43.2 yards per punt, with a net of 39.8 yards. He also had 26 punts inside of the 20-yard line. It was a solid showing for Berry, who credits special teams coordinator Danny Smith for his continued improvement.
“It’s a combination of him being on top of me, making sure I am putting the work in, as well as me having a few years of experience under my belt,” said Berry. “The combination has helped me improve in the time I have been here. Danny is there daily making sure we are doing the small things we need to do to get better. He has been coaching for a long time, so to have that experience helping us, myself, Kameron (Canaday) and (Chris Boswell), it’s beneficial.”
Re-signing Berry wasn’t necessarily priority No. 1 for Pittsburgh, but it does take an item off of the Steelers’ checklist this offseason.
Le’Veon Bell, technically, is scheduled for free agency. Should he reach the open market without any restrictions, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be joining the Jets. When asked by a fan on Twitter if he would sign with the Jets for $60MM “cash,” the running back replied, “That ain’t enough to come run with the Jets.” 
Of course, it’s considered unlikely that Bell will be an unrestricted free agent in March. The Steelers have the ability to franchise tag him for a second consecutive season and they are expected to do so if they cannot sign him to a long-term deal. Even if he is allowed to test the open waters, the Jets have bigger fish to fry than finding a running back (though we did list RB as one of the team’s top three needs this offseason).
If the Jets make a major expenditure in free agency, they are much more likely to push those funds in the direction of Kirk Cousins. Signing both may be possible in the literal sense, but it wouldn’t show great cap management on the part of GM Mike Maccagnan to dedicate upwards of $44M to two players.
For what it’s worth, the Steelers and Bell are closer in long-term contract negotiations than they were last year, according to the running back.
According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time cumulatively during that period.
If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s lowest restricted free agent tender — that figure should be around $1.908MM in 2018. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.
Here are the players who will see their salary rise in 2018 courtesy of the proven performance escalator:
49ers: Trent Brown, T; Eli Harold, LB
Bears: Adrian Amos, S
Bengals: Tyler Kroft, TE; Josh Shaw, DB
Bills: John Miller, G
Broncos: Max Garcia, G; Trevor Siemian, QB
Browns: Duke Johnson, RB
Buccaneers: Kwon Alexander, LB
Cardinals: David Johnson, RB; J.J. Nelson, WR
Chargers: Kyle Emanuel, LB
Chiefs: Chris Conley, WR; Steven Nelson, CB
Colts: Henry Anderson, DE; Mark Glowinski, G; Denzelle Good, OL
Dolphins: Bobby McCain, CB
Eagles: Jay Ajayi, RB; Jordan Hicks, LB
Falcons: Grady Jarrett, DT
Jaguars: A.J. Cann, OL
Lions: Quandre Diggs, CB
Packers: Jake Ryan, LB
Panthers: Daryl Williams, T
Patriots: Trey Flowers, DE; Shaq Mason, G
Raiders: Clive Walford, TE
Rams: Jamon Brown, G
Ravens: Za’Darius Smith, LB
Redskins: T.J. Clemmings, OL; Jamison Crowder, WR
Saints: Tyeler Davison, DT
Seahawks: Tyler Lockett, WR
Steelers: Jesse James, TE
Vikings: Stefon Diggs, WR; Danielle Hunter, DE
OverTheCap.com was essential in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
- The Patriots signed linebacker James Harrison in late December after he was released by the Steelers, and the veteran edge rusher today offered more details about his departure from Pittsburgh, as Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes. Per Harrsison, the Steelers promised him 20-25% playtime, but he ended up seeing action on only 40 defensive plays, which amounts to roughly four percent. Fed up with his lack of a defined role, Harrison says he asked Pittsburgh three times to be traded before he was ultimately cut. The 39-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year has racked up two sacks in four games with New England.
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Pittsburgh Steelers
- WR Tevin Jones
- RB James Summers