Bell Plans On Returning Now?

[BFritz21]

Well, not now, but in week 7 (Steelers bye week)?

Quote:PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell told ESPN he is playing football in 2018 and does not expect to be traded.

In fact, he's still holding out hope the team will re-sign him to a long-term contract once his franchise tag is up. Bell is staying away from the team to preserve his body, but a source says Bell is expected to report Week 7, the Steelers' bye week.

Bell said he's in prime physical condition and could play football "tomorrow" if he needed.

"It sucks having to sit out football," said Bell by telephone from South Florida on Monday. "I want to play. I want to win games and the playoffs.

But I've gotta take this stand. Knowing my worth and knowing I can tear a ligament or get surgery at any time, I knew I couldn't play 16 games with 400 or more touches."

The Steelers are exploring trade options for Bell, who does not expect to be traded. The Steelers told Bell during franchise tag negotiations that they would transition tag him in 2019, which would set the stage for Bell to negotiate with other teams while the team hold his rights at more than $17 million.

Bell said he doesn't see a "logical team giving up (a high pick and a player) potentially for someone who could play six games with no guarantee of a long-term deal."

Bell still wants to retire a Steeler, despite a hectic last month. He believes the team will re-negotiate with him, either in the offseason or if they were to rescind the tag, which he doesn't expect.

"I could be naïve or hopeful, but at the end of the day I feel like that's what's going to happen," said Bell about re-signing with the team.

Bell knows he's taken a PR hit, and he understands why teammates were not happy with him. But he hopes they can respect their business and plans to talk with the team upon his arrival.

The primary reason he's sitting: Bell's $70-million offer from Pittsburgh over the summer contained $17 million in guarantees. That wasn't enough when Todd Gurley and David Johnson received at least twice that in guarantees.

"It's costing me some fans," said Bell of his decision to sit out. "A lot of people call me selfish but I'm really not. I'm dong it for guys behind me or guys who don't understand what's going on in the business of football. The 22 years I've been playing football, I've always brought value. I don't think the Steelers valued me as much. Knowing my worth and know I can tear a ligament, get surgery at any time, I knew I can't play 16 games with 400 or more touches."

Looks like the Steelers made a smart move by setting the trade requirements at a high pick and a player because no team will offer that when Bell could just leave after this year.

Maybe he is just planning on doing the James Harrison idea of just faking an injury come game day because why else would he risk injury?

If he's just folding to the pressure, he's a *****.

Say he does return and plays hard, will the Steelers already be out of playoff contention? Will his teammates welcome him back? Will the bandwagon fans of Pittsburgh forget how they all hated him and badmouthed him and cheer like no other because their meaning in life rests on the Steelers winning?