{"id":48768,"date":"2018-09-06T14:40:15","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T18:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=48768"},"modified":"2018-09-06T14:43:08","modified_gmt":"2018-09-06T18:43:08","slug":"pittsburgh-steelers-leveon-bell-part-ways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2018\/09\/06\/pittsburgh-steelers-leveon-bell-part-ways\/","title":{"rendered":"Time for Pittsburgh Steelers to Seriously Consider Parting Ways with Le’Veon Bell"},"content":{"rendered":"

So it continues. The 2018 season kicks off with a full slate of Sunday games in just a mere few days, and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell<\/a><\/strong> still hasn’t reported to the practice facility.<\/p>\n

With his absence on Wednesday, the team must plan to play without him in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns. And the Steelers should prepare for a lot longer absence than that.<\/p>\n

Bell’s agent, Adisa Bakari, suggested Wednesday that Bell might be willing to continue his holdout well into the season. At the very least, Bakari made it clear that their goal is to “preserve the long-term health”<\/a> of Bell. That could mean missing half the season<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After failing to come to terms on a contract extension, the Steelers were rightfully patient through the initial weeks of Le’Veon Bell’s holdout.\u00a0But with this week’s developments, it’s now time to explore more drastic measures.<\/p>\n

Le’Veon Bell’s Fractured Relationship with the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/h1>\n

Not only has the Steelers front office been patient, but so have the players. There’s an\u00a0unwritten code among NFL players that you avoid discussing paychecks as much as possible. They must understand that things are rarely personal; the game is unfortunately also a business.<\/p>\n

But the Steelers offensive line was so livid about Le’Veon Bell failing to show on Wednesday, they broke that written code.\u00a0Center Maurkice Pouncey<\/a><\/strong>, left guard David DeCastro,<\/a><\/strong> and right guard Ramon Foster<\/a><\/strong> all spoke very candidly to the media, not holding back any of their feelings toward Bell.<\/p>\n

\n

Steelers teammates not happy with Le\u2019Veon Bell no show, led by vet G Ramon Foster, their player rep:
\u201cWhat do you do? here\u2019s a guy who doesn\u2019t give a damn, I guess so we\u2019ll treatit as such. I just hate it came to this. \u201c<\/p>\n

— Ed Bouchette (@XRuleExecutive) September 5, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n