Conspiracy theory: Can Bell be drug tested before he signs?

If not, any chance he knows he wouldn't pass a drug test and is going to sit out until he can? It makes as much sense to me as sitting out and forgoing almost $900,000 a week when there is no way to apply pressure to the Steelers since they cannot do anything but sign him to the tag. Not saying I think it is likely but it is something that occurred to me. Really depends on whether he can still be tested right now though.

 

• Jeremy FowlerESPN Staff Writer

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers players are livid over Le'Veon Bell's extended absence, which might last months.

"He f---ed us," one veteran told ESPN as he walked out of the locker room on Wednesday.

Barring an unforeseen development, the All-Pro running back is not expected to play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, according to a source, and agent Adisa Bakari hinted that Bell might be willing to wait it out longer to preserve his long-term health.


Big Ben on absent Bell: We're more than one guy
Ben Roethlisberger says the Steelers' offense will be just fine if Le'Veon Bell continues his holdout and James Conner starts in the backfield.

Bell hasn't signed his $14.5 million franchise tag and can become a free agent in 2019 as long as he signs it by Week 11.

"If you don't want to be here, it is what it is. Hold out 10 weeks," center Maurkice Pouncey said.

On Monday, Pouncey told ESPN that Bell would show up to work on Wednesday, and to "count on it."

"I just felt confident that he was gonna come," Pouncey said Wednesday, "But now that he didn't, obviously it's Le'Veon over the Steelers, and we're the Steelers and we're going to play as the Steelers. ... Now when it's game time and you that you have $14 million looming out there, and you're still not here and your team really wants you here? At this point, we got [James] Conner."

Conner will start in Bell's place in Week 1 against the Browns.

Ramon Fostersaid. "I know the league is all about get your money, get paid, I love it. ... But at least let us know [you weren't coming].

"Right now, we're just dealing with the aspect of, 'Are you going to do it for us or are you really going to wait it out?' Because this is one of those things where we as an offensive line, as a team -- Pounce urged him to come in and now nothing. There are so many guys [here] who are sacrificing everything."

• Bell touched the ball a league-high 406 times while playing on a $12.12 million franchise tag last season, and he told ESPN in January that he wouldn't touch the ball another 400 times without a contract that matches his worth as a player.

The Steelers and Bell have failed to reach a long-term agreement in each of the past two summers. Each week Bell skips, he forfeits $852,941.

"Le'Veon has several years ahead of him in football. We know right now his days in Pittsburgh are precarious at best. We also know how he's been utilized in the past by the Steelers organization," Bakari told NFL Live.


"That's nothing to say negative about the Steelers. They had one of the best players to have ever played this position and they rely on him heavily for the production he can provide, but in doing so, you take away from his future years."

If Bell returns well into the season, Pouncey said he will tell him what's up and ask if he's ready.

Meanwhile, he wants Conner to excel.

"Stars are made every year, so hopefully it aligns for him," Pouncey said.

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook made no changes to the line or total in response to the news of Bell's no-show Wednesday. The Steelers are 3.5-point favorites at Cleveland in Week 1 (opened at -6.5) and remain 10-1 to win the Super Bowl.

ESPN's Ben Fawkes contributed to this report.

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I hate to say I told you so..But I stated months ago that he would hold out ..As I stated then is all the Teams are looking at RB touches firmly when it comes to giving out contracts ...I knew Bell was selfish and not a Team player the only way he can get a big contract is to limit his touches ... He will also look to avoid injury and hard hits when he shows up ...

The best move the Steelers can make is just pull the tag and let him go ...

 

I agree ,let him solidify his legacy as a single player (probably on a non playoff team rest of his career) who only played for the pay day ,not for team,not for love ,not for rings,but for MONEY!

 

Yes...They are still drug tested

 

give that money to DHB lol

 

Damn. I was really enjoying my conspiracy theory. Oh well...

 

No. Then he becomes a free agent, which he wants, and the Steelers lose the compensatory pick when he signs elsewhere, which is likely to be a 3rd rounder.

 

Now you have Maurice Jones Drew and Ike Taylor coming to Bell's aid saying Don't count another man's check lol.

 

Wouldn't Bell's tag money no longer count against the cap if they cut him, or is that only if he sits out? If so, that's worth more than a 3rd round pick.

"Bell forfeits $852,941 for every week he misses. That money returns to the Steelers' salary cap."

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ittsburgh-steelers-not-handcuffed-leveon-bell

 

Pretty sure they can roll over the cap savings to next year.

 

Thanks. I haven't been paying much attention to the small print on this whole deal. Bell lost me after the second drug suspension and I'm amazed the front office has let him hold them hostage for this long. An older DeAngelo Williams filled in for him just fine a couple seasons ago. Bell is not the be all and end all, and he's one roll up from Burfict or one roll up of weed from being on the outside looking in.

 

Every former or current player I've seen that's a non steeler has been on Bell's side.

 

Were they on his side during the 2 drug suspensions that the front office stood by him thru? They probably had no comment then.

 

What team had cut an elite HOF talent because of that. Josh gordon has been the absolute worse of all and cle is still standing behind him. Tolerance always is high when then production is.

 

At one time that's what separated the Steelers from teams like Cleveland.
I like longevity out of my hall of famers, and model citizenship. The hall of fame is going to need several new wings and additions with today's standards.

 

I mean look at Dallas in the 90s who were a dynasty. Their leader had all types of off the field problems but he was the playmaker when it counted. Lawrence taylor may be the greatest football player ever and we know he was a coke head. Moss had off the field problems and he was first ballot. Sometimes when you are that great stuff gets overlooked. Let's look at the giants. Odell has major problems and they gave him 46 more million gurnateed than AB just got. And they are one of those nfl stories franchise. Times are changing man.

 

Again, that's what separated the Steelers from the rest. Buying into the changing times hasn't put them any further ahead, and now it's putting them behind. Look at what the Santonio Holmes trade turned into. Sometimes, these things work out for the best.

 

Santonio wasnt half the player leveon is. He got paid of one good year and his big playoff/SB mvp run. And how is it putting them behind. Please elaborate on that.

 

I brought up Holmes because of his pending drug suspension at the time of the trade. I don't think talent level should dictate your punishment for breaking the rules (from the front office's point of view).
This whole Bell fiasco puts them behind (in my eyes) because it shows that the Steelers don't hold the same standard they once did. If they had been able to get passed NE in the playoffs last season I might have been able to become a hypocrite, but they didn't even get a chance to try, so I can't.
I don't play fantasy football or collect trading cards, so stats mean absolutely nothing to me.

 

he should be tested for STDs after touching that azz.

 

At some point the pain has to be too great. For example, if he sits out too many games, say the difference he was offered vs what he could get now is $2 million/year. If he sits out most of the year, net difference he loses out potential gain. Steeler should stay with playing hard ball. Bell loses if he sits out a long time.

 

So, if Conner lights it up in Cleveland, will Bell suddenly report on Monday?
Am I saying Conner is the same caliber of back as Bell? No. But he's a decent back who can still get good yards behind this offensive line. If Bell was playing for say Indy, he wouldn't have nearly the success he's had. He needs to realize that. He can want all the guaranteed money in the world. Unless he's convinced this is his final contract, he's going to realize that he's shot himself in the foot because the teams that would sign him, don't really have the caliber of OL that the Steelers do. He's going to be trading potential production/next contract earning potential for the here and now when he eventually signs elsewhere.

 

They are holding the same standard. A new standard would have been either facing to the contract he wants or trading him/not tagging him.

 

Careful, I heard that is his main squeeze and they are getting married in a couple of weeks.