It looks like the Steelers will be down a Killer B.
The Steelers have begun putting in their game plan for their regular season opener Sunday in Cleveland. And they are doing so with the guys currently on their 53-man roster in mind.
That means the 54th guy, the one with an asterisk next to his name on his roster, still isn't here.
Le'Veon Bell failed to report to the team again on Wednesday, meaning the Steelers will not have their All-Pro running back available when they face the Browns. The team is preparing James Conner for his first career start.
"You have to, right," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said when asked about moving forward if Bell won't be available.
The Steelers don't have much choice. With Bell balking at reporting and signing his one-year, franchise tag-deal of $14.5 million, the Steelers will open the season with the triumvirate of James Conner, Stevan Ridley and Jaylen Samuels as their ball carriers against the Browns.
And when Bell finally does report, he's going to have some explaining to do.
"Honestly it's a little selfish. I'm kinda pissed right now," center Maurkice Pouncey said. "It sucks that he's not here. We'll move on as a team. It doesn't look like he'll be in the game plan at this point. Conner looks great. We'll worry about him in week 2."
Where things go from there remains to be seen. But it all depends on Bell finally showing up -- something he wouldn't be required to do until Week 10 if he wants to accrue a full season and become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.
"I want to root for him. I am rooting for him," said guard Ramon Foster. "But my perspective is different now. I'm in year 10. I want to win a Super Bowl. The ultimate team sport has become a very selfish game now.
"It's just that you sacrifice so much in this damn sport. My mom died and I went to her funeral and went to camp the next day. I've got torn ligaments in my thumb; almost torn ligaments in my knee. For everybody not to be fully in on a team who is one of the best players in the world, that's where it ... Pouncey almost lost a leg. Everybody has their issues to where he should at least have the courtesy, at least say something. I guess it is a little different now. I'm tired of the questions. Tired of the answers."
At the root of the problem is that the Steelers would like to have a player considered one of the best players in the league on the field. An NFL player poll and one on ESPN.com both listed Bell as a top-10 player in the league and the best player at his position.
"He’s one of the best in the business," Roethlisberger said. "Any time you have a guy like that, you want him on the field with you."
Bell rushed for 1,291 yards last season and added another 655 on 85 receptions, the second-most on the team behind Antonio Brown.
The Steelers are confident they can replace Bell as a runner. They've done so in the past, going 11-7 in the 18 games Bell has missed because of injury, suspension or coach's decision since he joined the team as a second-round draft pick in 2013.
Conner is looking forward to being that guy.
But, they're also 42-20 in that span when Bell plays, largely because his 128.9 total yards per game average is the best of any player in NFL history.
While Bell is a dangerous runner, he does a healthy portion of his damage in the passing game. That's where the team hopes Conner can meet the challenge.
They split him wide, as they do with Bell, throughout the preseason, but particularly did so in the third preseason game. And the results were good. Conner had six receptions for 52 yards in that game despite being limited to 18 rushing yards on 10 carries.
"I think James has done a good job of it so far. I think he gets to his spot really quick, which is awesome for a quarterback," Roethlisberger said of Conner's work in the passing game. "He’s a guy who gets to his spot and checks. I think he’s worked a lot on his hands, catching the ball. I’m excited for James, probably as excited as he is for himself to get out there."
Because of that, Roethlisberger remains confident the offense can hold up even without Bell.
"I think we’re a very good offense," Roethlisberger said. "Football is the ultimate team sport. One player isn’t going to make you or break you. I like to say that the linemen are more important than any skill position player, including myself, on this team. This offense is more than just one guy.
"We did pretty good then, too," he added, referencing the times the team has played without Bell in the past. "James is a different player than he was last year at this time, so I think we’re all pretty excited for what he can bring to this offense and this team. We have a lot of weapons. We’d like to have him out there, but we have guys who can make plays."
When Bell finally shows up is the question.
As David DeCastro told me earlier this week, it would be "weird" if Bell starts missing games.
Now, with that looking much more likely, it could cause some hard feelings in the locker room.
"I’ve never been in his situation," Roethlisberger said. "I’ve never been in the franchise tag. I’ve never not had a contract, so I can’t relate. I know the guys are here, busting their butts. So we’re going to prepare for a really good defense and good team."
Since Bell is not under contract, the Steelers are not liable for the $850,000 per week that he would be paid. And even if he reports later this week, the team will ask for a roster exemption from the league in which to judge his readiness for play. The team is not required to pay Bell during that exemption period.
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Steelers practice, UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Sept. 5, 2018. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS