Steelers News: Landry Jones, Le’Veon Bell, James Harrison

The Steelers are halfway through the preseason so that means we’re that much closer to the real action.

While the Steelers get back to work on the rest of the preseason we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Saturday, Aug. 20^th.

If you have to blame somebody

Steelers Digest’s Bob Labriola broke down the Steelers 17-0 preseason loss to the Eagles as best he could for it being really a three hour example of why preseason football is just unwatchable. The blame for the loss is going to immediately point towards backup quarterback Landry Jones.

It was Jones, after all, who threw four interceptions; one for a pick-six and two in the endzone in drives that surely should have ended up as Steelers touchdowns. We can break apart receiver route running and tight ends not blocking or we can just roast Landry for being awful.

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Labriola contends that it’s just convenient to blame Jones but it isn’t that simple and shouldn’t be necessary because preseason doesn’t count anyway. But, as coach Tomlin numerously pointed out last preseason, no one has played more preseason games than Landry Jones. He shouldn’t suck this bad.

Suspension reduced

ESPN reports that Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell had his four-game suspension for missing league-mandated drug tests will be reduced from four games to three, a “win” of his appeal. If Bell really thought his “I got a new phone” story was that solid he was sorely mistaken.

This should answer any doubts for coach Tomlin to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the preseason. DeAngelo Williams should be held out as well. No use in risking either of their health’s when one has to sit and the other has to start.

Also, this puts Bell and the Steelers in a very interesting spot, contract-wise considering Bell can become a free agent after this season. Given what he has contributed and the potential for what else he can contribute the Steelers have to figure out the value of that plus him being one strike away from a year-long ban like Martavis Bryant. One strike.

Let’s put it on TV

Steelers linebacker James Harrison was obviously asked about his impending interview with NFL investigators over unfounded PED allegations after Thursday night’s preseason loss. PFT’s Mike Florio suggests that Harrison’s recommendation that the interview be televised might not be so crazy.

"“I wouldn’t have a problem with it being filmed live. I’ve been prosecuted and persecuted, you know, publicly in the media by them for something I didn’t do. So I don’t see why we couldn’t have the media there and do a live interview. They can ask whatever questions they want and I can answer them. You all can see whatever evidence they say they got.” – James Harrison"

The crazy part is that James is onto something here. Goodell used the Ray Rice interview for his reasoning behind changing his two-game suspension to an indefinite one citing that he believed Rice misled him in the interview.

Next: Steelers get blanked in preseason loss

Those claims that Rice provided false information to the NFL in their investigation were later determined to be untrue when Rice’s suspension was overturned. Goodell doesn’t like to look bad and he’s proven that he’ll lash out when he does. Harrison should protect himself with a camera on this one.