Bell Tweets

[K_C_]

So, you dudes honestly believe....let me get this straight, that after Bell has a few weeks to round himself into game shape......

that Tomlin and company are going to let him rot on the bench.

Is that honestly the belief here?

[LakecrestSteeler]

KC, yeah, Bell has been lined up in the slot and out wide at times at WR, so what?? The Steelers have started to do that with James Conner too. What does that prove??

Bell averaged 7.7 yards per catch last season, Conner is at 10.0 yards a catch at the half way point now, Conner is on pace for 76 catches.

I know Shannon Sharpe and Michael Irvin like to still point out that Bell is a much better pass catcher than Conner but I just don't see it. What is one of the most important things in terms of catching the ball? Would it be getting first downs?? It is 3rd down, you need 3 yards, 5 yards, 8 yards for that first down, so who is more productive at getting first downs on their catches???

Bell last season had 85 catches and produced just 31 first downs for a 36% first down rate.

Conner?? He has 38 catches at the halfway point good for 17 first downs for a 45% catch rate. Just another example of how Conner is BETTER than Bell, how Conner is more EFFECTIVE then Bell. It isn't even close and Conner is getting better and improving weekly.

And for Irvin to keep talking about how Bell is like Gurley, please stop you are embarrassing yourself. Gurley is an elite RB that can do it all AND score touchdowns, have seasons of 20+ TDs, 25 etc. Bell never did that, the most he could ever produce is just 11 TDs in a season, and Conner at 10 TDs already, at the halfway point, is going to smash that and probably threaten 20+ TDs if he were left as the starter.

Oh it proves one simple thing:

Bell, right now, will be a better and more reliable WR than any of our current 3rd WR options.

...and it isn't close.

With Conner in the backfield and unlikely to be benched anytime soon, once Bell is back to game speed we will see if the great Justin Hunter or the struggling rookie James Washington keep Bell off the field.

We will see.

KC I think you are both right and wrong in your argument. Your examples of him splitting out are not examples of him being a dedicated defensively gameplanned for WR3. I do not think he would make a good WR3 if he is boxed into that classical role.

But there is nothing written that says you have to have a classical WR3 who takes the top of the field off, or who has to be 6’5” burner. You have to be a football player first and a position player second. Hines Ward is the quintessential example of that. Bell could do what Hines did. I would take Hines as a WR3. All we need is someone who catch’s everything, check. Ben trusts him, check. Can block, check. Is a baller, check.

The moment PS thumb our noses at Bell, a damned karma injury will land on Connor and this board will erupt with the James Harrison Tomlin fucked up arguments.

I think Tomlin needs to have a long chat and do some sort of blood brother handshake to ensure Bell doesn’t harm the team statistically, disrupt the chemistry, and/or disrupt the rhythm.

[W&M_Steeler]

Well, I guess there's the possibility he's pouting or not putting in the work. Then he won't play.

If Bell is engaged, they'll get him on the field.

That's the big "if". Bell's proven that he's stubborn enough to give up $8 million+ to prove a point. Wouldn't shock me if it was his goal to be on the field as little as possible if he decides to report back.

Now THAT is a possibility. I will not deny that.

If Bell is a dick though, his teammates might give him a blanket party.

I'm not sure he would bother showing his face back in Pittsburgh this season if he was going to show up and dog it.

The Steelers aren't the Browns. He might get attacked and beaten to death.

I expect Bell is going to surprise us and shine.

I hope so. It would be great for him to come back in good faith and with a great attitude, patch up his relationship with his teammates, and serve as an extra weapon for a playoff run. But I think it's just as likely he and his agent are scouring the rules for what Bell can get away with while still technically accruing his year for franchise tag purposes. Would he still get his year if he comes back and gets suspended for conduct detrimental to the team?

[Orangesteel]

So, you dudes honestly believe....let me get this straight, that after Bell has a few weeks to round himself into game shape......

that Tomlin and company are going to let him rot on the bench.

Is that honestly the belief here?

I don’t even know what to think anymore. But I get the sense that the players who have been busting their asses for two months are more sick of this story than the fans. Bell being benched after coming back would not surprise me at this point. I wonder how good he is going to be anyways.

[Steelafan77]

As a fan of the game I think it would be stupid and unprofessional to sit Bell. I understand allowing him time to acclimate himself to the game speed and after that full throttle. I can imagine the one two punch ability that would keep defensive coordinators and their defenses up at night. It would not surprise me at all to see Bell lined up at the LOS as a potential WR either.

[bradshaw2ben]

Well, I guess there's the possibility he's pouting or not putting in the work. Then he won't play.

If Bell is engaged, they'll get him on the field.

That's the big "if". Bell's proven that he's stubborn enough to give up $8 million+ to prove a point. Wouldn't shock me if it was his goal to be on the field as little as possible if he decides to report back.

The only reasons I don't rescind the tag:
1. so no one else (read: NE) gets to sign him for the stretch run
and
2. so that if there's an injury to Conner, I can use him to rotate with Samuels and Ridley

[Ice]

Unless he can run deep outs and go routes and get open against NFL boundary corners, he's not really what we need.

The myth of him being a 2nd WR/RB hybrid of some type has been statistically debunked here plenty, and he's not, at 4.6 or 4.7 in a 40, at age 27, getting caught from behind by defensive linemen and linebackers, going to convert to WR.

Bell will see a bunch of time at WR going forward.

If we need a field stretcher in there with him, Bell will be a 4th WR, but zero doubt he'll be on the field.

Well, I guess there's the possibility he's pouting or not putting in the work. Then he won't play.

If Bell is engaged, they'll get him on the field.

Zero doubt about that. Look, I get you guys are mad at Bell. I'm pissed too, but get fucking real.

He's gonna play.

You mean once he signs, then serves his two game suspension?

And B2B, I'm in complete agreement with that post.

[Legacy User]

I do not envy Tomlin right now.

I say he sits, and sits, and sits.

He has no honor, none. It's a business, I get it. Get all that you can. If that's the plan, shut the fuck up and don't promise, tweet, say, speculate, use an agent to message for you, your arrival date(s) and not make any of them. "Best season ever!" Remember?

Pay him not to play, so there's no crazy crap that comes back on us with another team.

Sorry, I hope he never takes a snap again as a Steeler...ever!

and it's FAREWELL!!!

[LakecrestSteeler]

I do not envy Tomlin right now.

I say he sits, and sits, and sits.

He has no honor, none. It's a business, I get it. Get all that you can. If that's the plan, shut the fuck up and don't promise, tweet, say, speculate, use an agent to message for you, your arrival date(s) and not make any of them. "Best season ever!" Remember?

Pay him not to play, so there's no crazy crap that comes back on us with another team.

Sorry, I hope he never takes a snap again as a Steeler...ever!

and it's FAREWELL!!!

I think we are probably over complicating the matter. Bell has run his play. He probably feels a bit foolish and a bit duped.

Tomlin just needs to follow the golden rule with him. Ask him his intentions and be magnanimous to avoid the guaranteed injury to Connor if Bell gets told to piss off. I think he would be honest behind closed doors. He has to rebuild his stock. And we could use the luxury of an insurance policy.

[Gonzo]

I don't think they will take away the lead spot from Conner but I alos think bell will get plenty of time.
The with not cut off their nose to spite their face and just piss away the money
There is loads of great things they can add with him there and one of them isn't bell as the slot WR

[Legacy User]

I do not envy Tomlin right now.

I say he sits, and sits, and sits.

He has no honor, none. It's a business, I get it. Get all that you can. If that's the plan, shut the fuck up and don't promise, tweet, say, speculate, use an agent to message for you, your arrival date(s) and not make any of them. "Best season ever!" Remember?

Pay him not to play, so there's no crazy crap that comes back on us with another team.

Sorry, I hope he never takes a snap again as a Steeler...ever!

and it's FAREWELL!!!

I think we are probably over complicating the matter. Bell has run his play. He probably feels a bit foolish and a bit duped.

Tomlin just needs to follow the golden rule with him. Ask him his intentions and be magnanimous to avoid the guaranteed injury to Connor if Bell gets told to piss off. I think he would be honest behind closed doors. He has to rebuild his stock. And we could use the luxury of an insurance policy.

Nope, pretty sure the team has dealt with non-stop Bell questions and the tone of the responses tell you to listen very carefully. IF there's any hope this team makes a run at the Superbowl, it should not include Bell. Injuries can happen on the first snap or never. Bell has lost the trust of his former teammates. Two games minimum to get to game capable. Steelers likely to ask for two-week roster waiver. So somehow the last four games he puts on a cape and becomes our hero. I would cheer for the Patriots before I see that ass hat have a Steelers Superbowl ring. Sorry, probably a bit much there and is ass hat one or two words?

[Legacy User]

A bunch of people on his twitter feed are wishing he tears his acl at the airport and gets cte. It's kind of bad.

I would never know this because M.C. Bell blocked me on Twitter.

[Stallworth16]

No Thanks to Bell. We don’t need him. James Conner at age 23 is better than Bell at age 26-27.
We have a winning steak going. Don’t mess with it.
It took Bell 4 games to get the rust off last season.
Does smoking weed in Florida get you in football shape?
Steelers backup RBs are better than people think.

Conner has more 20+ yard runs this season than Bell could even dream of. And Conner is great at receiving.

[Legacy User]

No Thanks to Bell. We don’t need him. James Conner at age 23 is better than Bell at age 26-27.
We have a winning steak going. Don’t mess with it.
It took Bell 4 games to get the rust off last season.
Does smoking weed in Florida get you in football shape?
Steelers backup RBs are better than people think.

Conner has more 20+ yard runs this season than Bell could even dream of. And Conner is great at receiving.

I endorse this post

Paid for by the Fuck LeVeon Bell campaign.

[Steelperch]

WTF?

Here's several examples of Bell lined up at WR.

Both outside and in the slot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPTKa-lPgoc

I mean....am I in some kind of alternate world?

He's split out for us A SHITLOAD.

Bells advantage as a receiver is when he motions out of the backfield and gets matched up with a 250 lb LB that can’t run with him. If you put him in the game as a #3 WR and the defense matches him up with a nickel corner, he isn’t getting open much... Not as much as an actual receiver. Catching the ball wide open in the flats out of the backfield and being matched 1 on 1 with a LB are one thing, actually playing WR in the NFL against top cover corners is a whole other world that Bell can’t do.

[stairway 2 seven]

I can see Bell deciding that he doesn't want to risk injury or look ineffective in the limited amount of time he would play this season and taking Harrison's advice to fake injury. It's all about that next contract for him screw everything else.

[LakecrestSteeler]

I do not envy Tomlin right now.

I say he sits, and sits, and sits.

He has no honor, none. It's a business, I get it. Get all that you can. If that's the plan, shut the fuck up and don't promise, tweet, say, speculate, use an agent to message for you, your arrival date(s) and not make any of them. "Best season ever!" Remember?

Pay him not to play, so there's no crazy crap that comes back on us with another team.

Sorry, I hope he never takes a snap again as a Steeler...ever!

and it's FAREWELL!!!

I think we are probably over complicating the matter. Bell has run his play. He probably feels a bit foolish and a bit duped.

Tomlin just needs to follow the golden rule with him. Ask him his intentions and be magnanimous to avoid the guaranteed injury to Connor if Bell gets told to piss off. I think he would be honest behind closed doors. He has to rebuild his stock. And we could use the luxury of an insurance policy.

Nope, pretty sure the team has dealt with non-stop Bell questions and the tone of the responses tell you to listen very carefully. IF there's any hope this team makes a run at the Superbowl, it should not include Bell. Injuries can happen on the first snap or never. Bell has lost the trust of his former teammates. Two games minimum to get to game capable. Steelers likely to ask for two-week roster waiver. So somehow the last four games he puts on a cape and becomes our hero. I would cheer for the Patriots before I see that ass hat have a Steelers Superbowl ring. Sorry, probably a bit much there and is ass hat one or two words?

You make good points. You are saying you have to risk the injuries for the ethos of the team and stick to that ethos Super Bowl be damned.

I will be fine with whatever the Steelers FO and Mike Tomlin do. He has proven himself adept at handling and assuaging the big personalities and egos.

If they choose you method, I think I would prefer that, but I suppose you have to be in the locker room to know for sure.

I think the rules for 1 word or 2 words went out the window when internet addresses started as actual brick and mortars.

[Louis Lipps Service]

Maybe he's registered to vote in Pittsburgh and is just coming up to do his civic duty?

[alancac98]

I can see Bell deciding that he doesn't want to risk injury or look ineffective in the limited amount of time he would play this season and taking Harrison's advice to fake injury. It's all about that next contract for him screw everything else.

For the FO, if nothing shows up in an MRI or on an xray, he plays his ass off or I let the OLine know he's dogging it, leave the room for 5 minutes, and let the Oline sort his shit out for him! It's amazing what a huge whoop ass can do for someone's work ethic, particularly when he knows it can be a daily ritual!

[Legacy User]

I ain't the player eval officianado types like you guys. But I know I've seen enough of ridley and Samuels to know bell's an upgrade as a backup running back and change-up. I've seen enough of hunter/washington to know Bell won't be any worse than either as a 3rd wr option.

I've seen enough of bell to know he's a special talent so u don't just hide him on the inactive list because he hurt your feelings by doing what he did (and you have right to be pissed).

And this is just gut....but I find it hard to believe, if he's in shape, that the guy won't be able to run some solid routes and find a way to get open against 3rd cb's.

[blu]

Can we still retract the offer to Bell?

[K_C_]

WTF?

Here's several examples of Bell lined up at WR.

Both outside and in the slot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPTKa-lPgoc

I mean....am I in some kind of alternate world?

He's split out for us A SHITLOAD.

Bells advantage as a receiver is when he motions out of the backfield and gets matched up with a 250 lb LB that can’t run with him. If you put him in the game as a #3 WR and the defense matches him up with a nickel corner, he isn’t getting open much... Not as much as an actual receiver. Catching the ball wide open in the flats out of the backfield and being matched 1 on 1 with a LB are one thing, actually playing WR in the NFL against top cover corners is a whole other world that Bell can’t do.

He might have been covered by safeties and linebackers, but in that video, Bell wasn't in motion one single time.

He was split out.

Sometimes wide, sometimes in the slot.

...and he'll be doing plenty of that in a few weeks again.

[K_C_]

Can we still retract the offer to Bell?

Yes, because if Conner goes down (and with our luck he will - remember there is an entire second half of the season to go. Plus the playoffs hopefully) who wouldn't want Steven Ridley and Jaylen Samuels over Le'Veon Bell.

ANYBODY and I mean ANYBODY that wants those two dudes running the ball before Bell needs to have their fucking heads examined.

People are pissed at Bell. I get it.

There were people wanting Lagarette Blount cut too.....so we cut him.

Later that year we saw him hosting the Lombardi.

We cut Bell loose and he'll help the Pats win another one.

[Legacy User]

We don't know if Bell will actually be a drop in production behind this line AFTER he is in game shape. But will that happen in two weeks? I don't see how it can. He's been out too long. And he won't (read: shouldn't) get enough touches supplanting Conner to get into game shape quickly. So four weeks? Maybe?

And I'm not as worried about the team accepting him back as long as he comes in and works. It isn't about attitude or contract or anything like that. It's about sweat equity now. It's about showing his teammates that he's PHYSICALLY invested in helping the team. Want the O-line to bust their asses for you? Hit the fucking holes and break tackles. Move the chains. Nothing else really matters.

But what about the fans in the stands? He's a head case already. What happens when the boo's reign down on him? What happens when he gets stuffed and the crowd reacts. What happens if he fumbles? Things can/will turn south REAL quick. And back to the performance issue, he has a LOT more to lose than gain. When he's running behind the same line as James, he will HAVE to put up better numbers. There is no way his value doesn't drop if he can't outshine James. I don't see how he comes back and rushes for 10+ yards a carry. And if he starts faking injuries, tell me how his value increases. There is really no scenario that him stepping on the field benefits him....or us. And the fans are going to let him know it. Pretty sure it's going to get ugly.

[K_C_]

We don't know if Bell will actually be a drop in production behind this line AFTER he is in game shape. But will that happen in two weeks? I don't see how it can. He's been out too long. And he won't (read: shouldn't) get enough touches supplanting Conner to get into game shape quickly. So four weeks? Maybe?

And I'm not as worried about the team accepting him back as long as he comes in and works. It isn't about attitude or contract or anything like that. It's about sweat equity now. It's about showing his teammates that he's PHYSICALLY invested in helping the team. Want the O-line to bust their asses for you? Hit the fucking holes and break tackles. Move the chains. Nothing else really matters.

But what about the fans in the stands? He's a head case already. What happens when the boo's reign down on him? What happens when he gets stuffed and the crowd reacts. What happens if he fumbles? Things can/will turn south REAL quick. And back to the performance issue, he has a LOT more to lose than gain. When he's running behind the same line as James, he will HAVE to put up better numbers. There is no way his value doesn't drop if he can't outshine James. I don't see how he comes back and rushes for 10+ yards a carry. And if he starts faking injuries, tell me how his value increases. There is really no scenario that him stepping on the field benefits him....or us. And the fans are going to let him know it. Pretty sure it's going to get ugly.

Bell likely won't be a productive football player for a few weeks.

That's okay, we've played most of this season without him anyway. We'll survive.

But Bell has plenty to lose the rest of this season if he doesn't absolutely BALL OUT when he has the chance.

Prospective suitors will be watching him closely. They'll be watching how he does in comparison with James Conner.

Is he the product of a system? Bell cannot afford to dog it or look like shit on the field and I'm 100% sure he knows this.

Bell is one helluva football player. Make no mistake about that.

[steelmann58]

Screw Bell and hope the steelers use the two weeks exemption maybe KC should go on jet ski tour when an if bell returns

[Legacy User]

What's that mean....
He is heading North to the burgh?
Or did he wear out his welcome in Miami and his LB'18 tour is hitting the road.

it means -- HE'S FUCKING ILLITERATE!!! HAHAHAHAHA

[Legacy User]

We don't know if Bell will actually be a drop in production behind this line AFTER he is in game shape. But will that happen in two weeks? I don't see how it can. He's been out too long. And he won't (read: shouldn't) get enough touches supplanting Conner to get into game shape quickly. So four weeks? Maybe?

And I'm not as worried about the team accepting him back as long as he comes in and works. It isn't about attitude or contract or anything like that. It's about sweat equity now. It's about showing his teammates that he's PHYSICALLY invested in helping the team. Want the O-line to bust their asses for you? Hit the fucking holes and break tackles. Move the chains. Nothing else really matters.

But what about the fans in the stands? He's a head case already. What happens when the boo's reign down on him? What happens when he gets stuffed and the crowd reacts. What happens if he fumbles? Things can/will turn south REAL quick. And back to the performance issue, he has a LOT more to lose than gain. When he's running behind the same line as James, he will HAVE to put up better numbers. There is no way his value doesn't drop if he can't outshine James. I don't see how he comes back and rushes for 10+ yards a carry. And if he starts faking injuries, tell me how his value increases. There is really no scenario that him stepping on the field benefits him....or us. And the fans are going to let him know it. Pretty sure it's going to get ugly.

Bell likely won't be a productive football player for a few weeks.

That's okay, we've played most of this season without him anyway. We'll survive.

But Bell has plenty to lose the rest of this season if he doesn't absolutely BALL OUT when he has the chance.

Prospective suitors will be watching him closely. They'll be watching how he does in comparison with James Conner.

Is he the product of a system? Bell cannot afford to dog it or look like shit on the field and I'm 100% sure he knows this.

Bell is one helluva football player. Make no mistake about that.

I think it is now EXTREMELY CLEAR that Connor's running style suits our offensive blocking schemes and overall approach better than Bell. This is supported by all the data as well, not opinion.

As for opinion as to "why", i think Bell's dancing around style is less suited for gaining the chunk yardage that JC gains when he hits the hole full speed and goes downhill. I haven't seen this many 20+ yard runs in ALL the years that Bell has been starting. I much prefer JC's running style over Bell.

But I agree - backup RB is definitely a weak spot on the roster, and having Bell back again to back up James will be an upgrade for sure. I hope that Mikey T. doesn't out-think himself and start splitting the carries between the 2. JC is the clear starter/ Bell is the backup giving JC a rest. Keep it simple.

[Legacy User]

A bunch of people on his twitter feed are wishing he tears his acl at the airport and gets cte. It's kind of bad.

I would never know this because M.C. Bell blocked me on Twitter.

Did he really block you? Im always dogging him on Twitter. So those guys really do read our comments. You must have said some nasty shit. Lol

[bradshaw2ben]

Fing SteelersDepot Dave blocked me for calling him out for being petty and rude with Missi Matthews or AK... basically, he cut and pasted a deleted tweet... something she realized was wrong and deleted... just so that he could call her stupid. I suggested that he'd better prepare himself for the inevitable deluge of tweets the next time he posts something at odds with the facts.

Big Ben 7 blocked me-- ME, of all people... the internet's leading supporter of Ben, who has taken it as a personal crusade to set the record straight and be his advocate... they blocked me for god-knows-what.

If a Ben Roethlisberger twitter account and the guy who copied my show (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery) can block me, anybody can block anybody.