Would you bench LeVeon 1st game? Partially?? Fully???

It's not him we should be sending the message to. It's the guys working hard now that get screwed. The message to them for next year would be you don't have to do that and just show up on game day and you will start. A bad presidence is being sent to future players.

No the whole offense isn't going to be a lot different but all the no huddle calls have been changed and he will slow down that process that we are trying to implement in the first place using it. They have already talked about that part being different.

 

Not only should he not play the 1st. game he should have to earn his reps . If the rest of the RB'S are playing well and it's leading to Team wins then Bell should not become the automatic Bell Cow.

 

He would or will get some carries but he'd also have to play STs. Running down on kick and punt coverage will help get him in football shape.

 

Ben’s contract extension.

 

In a some what related note AB is championing Calvin Johnson's treatment in retirement by the Lions as an example of how the business of the NFL favors the owners more than the players. So even if he says show up and put in the work to Bell he is also saying he understands the holdout and working to get the best deal possible even if the manner in which Bell does it turns the fanbase's stomachs and makes us all want to jettison him or at least run him into the ground week 1.

 

The whole offense sucked at the beginning of last season, not just Bell.

 

Well said! It's not about punishing Bell. It's about sending a message that no one is above the team. I agree with PWP. Bell should have to earn reps back. Limiting Bells touches until he is back in shape seems like a wise thing to do.

 

Yeah, but Bell clearly wasn't game ready. Just watching him you could see he was off.

 

They have a new OC this season, maybe they won't be so reliant on Bell early on if he's struggling.

 

Agree, the general consensus from the majority of players is that they leave the contract negotiations out of the mix when a player is up for a contract. A guy's personal finances is his own business and the other players know and respect that..

if there's ever a problem its usually when a guy is signed but isn't honoring his contract.

 

Really? So if your a player in camp working your ass off, your not also trying to get paid? Some of these guys are working their tail off in camp TO get paid. What kind of message does it send that while these guys are icing up in the tub after a hot day in Latrobe, Leveon is drunk, rubbing down strippers. This is not about Leveon trying to get paid anymore. It's about his actions. The rest of the team needs to know that hard work still means something.

 

I would start the player or players that are best prepared for the game. If that’s someone other than bell so be it.

 

I think it's exactly the opposite. If you think these players aren't getting tired of Bells antics your fooling yourself. The players that will make this 53 man roster are a lot more worried about winning#7 than they are Bell's money. And if they are not then Tomlin should be fired immediately.

 

Off the field it's a business. On the field it's a team. The inner psychology of a locker room is not much different than high school or college. I have a hard time believing that a Ramon Foster or a Ben Roethlisberger give a rats ass about Bell's money.

 

You're saying school and a profession are the same thing, that's a big leap to those players. The guys sweating on the field are competing against those on the field not with Omar Kahn. They keep tabs on who's making what but it doesn't go past that imo. Especially after one game, when they see LB26 in the icebath after getting 27 carries week 1

 

Here is what AB thinks, the whole team better get on the same page to win it all this year before the window closes:

USA TODAY:

“Super Bowl, that’s it,” Brown said, when asked what would constitute a successful season. “And I feel like that window of opportunity is getting smaller and smaller. Every year we get close, right there, not quite getting over the hump. Now is the time. Absolutely, this moment has to be the moment. In regards to the situation we are in with the team and the organization this time will have to be the time.”

 

Bingo! These players, especially the veterans want to win. Bells antics are counter-productive to team success. I'm sure AB is not the only player that feels this way.

 

And the ORG and coaches need to pound this message into their heads and put this me first attitude to rest, rooney and tomlin need to let bell know this holdout game he is playing is detremental to the team and shame him into coming back at least 2 weeks before pre season games ends, he doesnt have to play in any games but he needs badly to get up to speed in this new offense.....

 

why would you bench him? He is doing what your supposed to be doing under franchise tag........... Makes zero sense....

 

Would any of you go to work when your boss tells you that you do not have to and still get paid?

 

I wish he was gone a long time ago but since he's a Steeler I have to root for him. If he's not game ready for week one other rb's will be. I go with who's ready not with somewhat ready.