Ladarius Green In Concussion Protocol
Steelers tight end Ladarius Green is in the league’s concussion protocol, the team announced. He has not been formally ruled out for Week 16, but this isn’t a good sign for Green considering his history with head injuries. 
[RELATED: Steelers Expected To Franchise Le’Veon Bell]
Green suffered two apparent concussions in two weeks in 2015, but he later claimed that his headaches around that time stemmed from sinus issues. He also had a concussion in 2014. There were reports this year that he was considering retirement because of the concussions, but he denied those claims.
Green, 26, has appeared in only six games for the Steelers after inking a four-year, $20MM deal in free agency. He has tremendous potential, but one has to wonder what this latest concussion means for him in the long term.
On the season, Green has caught 18 of 34 targets for 304 yards and one touchdown.
Le'Veon Bell "Not Worried" About Contract
While it appears the Steelers will retain impending free agent running back Le’Veon Bell beyond this season, whether via the franchise tag or a long-term deal, the 24-year-old said Friday that his contract isn’t a concern at the moment. “I haven’t even been paying attention to that. I’m just playing football,” Bell stated regarding his future (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com). Led by Bell’s 298 total yards (262 rushing, 36 receiving) and three touchdowns, the Steelers knocked off Buffalo, 27-20, last Sunday to improve to an AFC North-leading 8-5.
Steelers Expected To Franchise Le’Veon Bell
No surprise here, but sources “around the league” expect the Steelers to use the $12.377MM franchise tag on running back Le’Veon Bell, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. From there, the Steelers will try and hammer out a long-term extension with him. 
[RELATED: Adam Schefter On Bills GM Doug Whaley’s Job Security]
Despite Bell’s off-the-field missteps, he is one of the very best running backs in the NFL and the Steelers do not want to let him get away. Despite playing in only ten games so far this year, Bell is fourth in total rushing yards with 1,053 and that’s not factoring in the damage he has done as a receiver. He has averaged 105.3 yards per game this year, making him a close second behind Ezekiel Elliott. No other running back is averaging more than 88 yards per contest this year.
Schefter says a long-term deal is “likely” and that pact should put him among the highest-paid running backs in the NFL. Currently, Adrian Peterson has the most lucrative deal of any RB with a six-year, $85.28MM deal signed in 2011. Bell may not top Peterson’s $14MM/year average, but I would wager that he’d net five figures per year on a multi-year contract. LeSean McCoy of the Bills is currently second in AAV with $8MM+/year and Bell should easily surpass that.
Steelers Audition Davis Tull
- Before signing Shaquille Riddick to their practice squad earlier today, the Steelers also worked out fellow linebacker Davis Tull, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Tull was waived from Atlanta’s practice squad in early November.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Blaine Clausell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Mario Alford
Indianpolis Colts
- Signed: T Pierce Burton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Kyle Carter, T Marquis Lucas
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Justin Zimmer
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Adam Gettis
- Cut: OL Laurence Gibson, RB George Winn
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Anthony Denham
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Shaquille Riddick
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OT Mitchell Van Dyk
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB David Fluellen
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DL A.J. Francis, DB Shakiel Randolph
- Cut: DL Trevon Coley, DB Lee Hightower
Steelers Cut Randy Bullock
- The Steelers promoted wide receiver Demarcus Ayers to the 53-man roster, as Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette tweets. To make room, kicker Randy Bullock has been cut. Ayers was a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft.
Saints Sign LB Travis Feeney
Yoink. The Saints have plucked linebacker Travis Feeney off of the Steelers’ practice squad, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal will be finalized upon completion of a physical exam. 
The linebacker exploded as a senior at Washington, tallying career highs in tackles for a loss (17.5), sacks (8.0), and forced fumbles (3) to go along with 56 total tackles. In the spring, the Steelers selected him in the sixth-round. Feeney just missed the Steelers’ 53-man cut in September, but he signed on with the practice squad soon after. After patiently waiting to see NFL action in Pittsburgh, he’ll instead get his chance with the Saints, a team that was eyeing him heading into the draft.
Feeney is expected to provide depth and special teams help for New Orleans. If active, he may make his NFL debut against the Bucs on Sunday.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/7/2016
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Charles Gaines
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Justin Currie
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Stefan McClure
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE E.J. Bibbs
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OT Rob Crisp
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Brandon Dixon
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: CB Randall Evans
NFL Spending By Team Over Last Four Seasons
The NFLPA has released the official data on team spending over the last four seasons. The Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates that each team must utilize 89% of the salary cap over two four-year periods, 2013-16 and 2017-20. As previously reported, the Raiders are the only team that has yet to satisfy that requirement for the closing period. The CBA also requires the league, as a whole, to spend 95% of the cap, in cash, for the same period. That requirement has been easily met.
Here is the full rundown of every team’s spending in declining order:
Philadelphia Eagles – $613,928,134
Denver Broncos – $587,712,791
Seattle Seahawks – $584,305,975
Green Bay Packers – $583,138,740
Miami Dolphins – $577,975,260
Kansas City Chiefs – $575,541,332
Buffalo Bills – $573,647,850
Chicago Bears – $568,301,610
Cincinnati Bengals – $567,289,411
Baltimore Ravens – $562,425,698
San Diego Chargers – $562,232,116
Indianapolis Colts – $556,335,689
Atlanta Falcons – $550,614,572
New York Giants – $543,787,033
Arizona Cardinals – $543,327,538
Los Angeles Rams – $541,957,711
New Orleans Saints – $539,836,498
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $539,736,102
Minnesota Vikings – $539,162,454
New York Jets – $533,151,519
Washington Redskins – $532,545,662
Pittsburgh Steelers – $530,698,171
Detroit Lions – $530,210,549
Tennessee Titans – $524,505,256
Dallas Cowboys – $523,033,036
Houston Texans – $517,212,166
Jacksonville Jaguars – $516,908,734
Cleveland Browns – $516,158,864
San Francisco 49ers – $514,488,198
New England Patriots – $500,083,836
Carolina Panthers – $495,149,346
Oakland Raiders – $491,433,408
Texans Waive Charles James II
The Texans have waived cornerback Charles James, as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets. To take his spot, the Texans have claimed cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz off waivers from the Steelers. Moments ago, James took to Instagram to bid farewell to Houston (sic): 
“My time in Houston is up I gave y’all everything I had. All I have is good memories about this place. I’m truly sorry I couldn’t be better in the most precious moments but I’m only human and life happens I’ve learned to take the Good with the Bad the Ups with the Downs. God is the center and head of my life so I got trust in the man upstairs that my life will pan out the way it should. To the people who know my story, my journey, my testimony you’ll know it’s just a detour in the road. Imma miss y’all boys in the locker room especially my boys in the DB room we had special times man. Later for now H town.”
On Sunday, James slipped in the snow and gave up a long touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson. Slipping in the snow is forgivable, to many, but the Texans apparently did not see it that way. James, 26, first gained some fans when he was featured on Hard Knocks while with the Ravens. He did not make the active roster in Baltimore, but he saw some in-game action when he joined the Texans last season.
Shabazz, an undrafted rookie out of West Chester in 2015, bounced between the Steelers’ active roster and practice squad this season. Over the weekend, he was dropped by Pittsburgh. In five career games, the cornerback has collected one tackle.