The Pittsburgh Steelers don’t want Le’Veon Bell to show up

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 14: Le'Veon Bell
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 14: Le'Veon Bell

At this point, the Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping star running back, Le’Veon Bell, doesn’t show up before Week 1.

Week 1, win or lose, isn’t saying much about the end of the season. Maybe it determines home-field advantage, but within the division, losing a game to the Cleveland Browns doesn’t mean much for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On a more realistic note – no matter who’s in the backfield isn’t going to cost this team the game. Their offense has much more than Le’Veon Bell, and their defense is looking better than they have in years.

Which means this team should be hoping their star running back doesn’t show up until after Week 1.

Bell will play this season, we hope. His initial return date was yesterday, Monday, September 4. He didn’t show up. Now, the team is left question whether or not he plans to play this season, and at what point will he return.

Him not playing in Week 1 leaves them with room to see the future. It allows them to play James Conner as the starter without any controversy. Which gives them one full week to see how he plays as the starting running back for a full four-quarter game.

It helps them prepare for the future. Conner can come out and impress. Right now, everyone seems to agree that he’s the future of the position, but we’re yet to see him play an entire NFL game.

He can also show he isn’t an every down back. This doesn’t remove him as the next starter, but it does help the team gain an understanding that they need to add someone behind him.

It’s just a preview for the future. Of course, a lot can change in a year, but this provides an early example of what to expect from their 2019 starting running back.

This can only happen if Bell doesn’t show. At least by Wednesday. If he plans to return and is using this as the last attempt to push them towards a contract, he needs to do so before the team no longer allows him to play in their regular season opener.

They don’t want him to. They want to see James Conner. The fans want to see James Conner. Then, bring back Le’Veon Bell. Unless Conner proves otherwise.

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