Le'Veon Bell doesn't report to Steelers by deadline; he's now ineligible to play at all this season

WEBVTT US THAT MEANS HE IS FORFEITING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. RYAN: NO MORE GUESSING, IT IS SURE THAT HE WILL NOT PLAY FOR THE STEELERS IN 2018 AND IS LIKELY HE WILL NEVER PLAY FOR THE STEELERS AGAIN. WHEN THE DEADLINE PASSED AT 4:00, HE PASSED ON THE REMAINDER OF HIS SALARY AND NOW INTERNAL HE WILL MISS OUT ON MAKING $14.5 MILLION THIS SEASON. BACK IN JULY, BELL AND THE STEELERS COULD NOT COME TO TERMS ON A LONGTERM CONTRACT EXTENSI FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR. AT THAT TIME BELL POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT EVEN THOUGH THE SIDES DIDN’T COME TO AN AGREEMENT. -- COME TO AN AGREEMENT, HE WANTED TO RETIRE AS A STEELER AND THAT 2018 WOULD BE HIS BEST SEASON TO DATE. THERE WERE ALSO SUBSEQUENT SIGNS THAT BELL WOULD SHOW UP AT SOME POINT BUT OBVIOUSLY HE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART. A SHORT TIME AGO, STEELERS GENERAL MANAGER KEVIN COLBERT RELEASED BRIEF A STATEMENT CONFIRMING THAT BELL NOT DID SIGN HIS FRANCHISE TAG TENDER, MEANING HE’S INELIGIBLE TO PLAY THIS SEASON. THAT’S THE ONLY REACTION FROM THE ORGANIZATION SINCE THE DEADLINE PASSED. THIS AFTERNOON, PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE PASSING, MIKE TOMLIN SAID HE HADN’T SPOKEN TO BELL AT ALL DURING THE SEASON. HE WAS ASKED IF HE THOUGHT IT WAS UNUSUAL NOT TO BE IN COMMUNCATION WITH ONE OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS. >> UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, NO. I UNDERSAND THIS IS AN ELEMENT OF THE GAME OF FOOTBALL. THERE ARE ELEMENTS TO THE GAME, RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE GAME, FOOTBALL RELATED RELATIONSHIPS WE ALL HOLD NEAR AND DEAR AND UNDERSTAND AND FOOTBALL AT THIS LEVEL IS THE BUSINESS ELEMENTS. EVEN WHEN WE DON’T UNDERSTAND IT, WE ARE SENSITIVE TO IT, SO WE ARE NOT SHOCKED FROM THE BUSINESS STANDPOINT. RYAN SO THIS CHAPTER IS CLOSED, BUT IT IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY. AT 6:00 WE WILL EXPLAIN WHAT IS NEXT FOR BOTH SIDES.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell cannot play for the remainder of the 2018 NFL season after missing Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline to report to the team.Bell has sat out nine games while declining to sign his franchise tender. By sitting out the entire season, he gives up $14.5 million in salary and takes a gamble on a richer deal being available next year.WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?The Steelers could use the franchise tag on Bell again in 2019 - which seems unlikely after how this season has played out.Another option is to use the transition tag. If Bell received a contract offer from another team, the Steelers would have a chance to match it.If the Steelers don't tag Bell, he would simply become a free agent. Bell could then look elsewhere for a more lucrative deal than what the Steelers have offered him.Of course, there is still a chance that Bell could sign a new, long-term contract with the Steelers after the 2018 season -- but the two sides have been unable to reach a deal thus far.TOMLIN ON BELL: "SO BE IT"At his weekly news conference Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin said he's had no communication with Bell, and "I have no reaction" to reports that the All-Pro rusher would not show up by the deadline."I've told you guys consistently: a reaction comes from me if and when he walks in the door," Tomlin said to reporters. "Until that happens, I'm business as usual, focused on those that are here and working -- and appropriately so. That way, I don't waste my time and theirs."When asked about the possibility that Bell never shows up, Tomlin responded, "So be it."Tomlin said he can't concern himself with how Bell's absence may affect Pittsburgh's postseason chances because it is a business matter that he can't control."That train has left the station," Tomlin said. "We're comfortable with how we function, the people at our disposal, the division of labor and our ability to ready ourselves for the challenges."BELL'S PLACE IN FRANCHISE HISTORYAssuming he has played his last game for Pittsburgh, Bell leaves behind some impressive statistics that will put him among the Steelers' all-time leading rushers.With 5,336 career yards, Bell ranks No. 4 in franchise history behind two Pro Football Hall of Famers -- Franco Harris (11,950) and Jerome Bettis (10,571) -- and Willie Parker (5,378).Bell's total of 35 rushing touchdowns ties him with Kordell Stewart for third all-time behind Harris (91) and Bettis (78) in Steelers history.Bell was a second-round draft pick from Michigan State in 2013 and immediately became a featured player in Pittsburgh's offense.

PITTSBURGH —

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell cannot play for the remainder of the 2018 NFL season after missing Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline to report to the team.

Bell has sat out nine games while declining to sign his franchise tender. By sitting out the entire season, he gives up $14.5 million in salary and takes a gamble on a richer deal being available next year.

Statement from GM Kevin Colbert on RB Le’Veon Bell:

"I want to confirm that Le’Veon Bell did not sign his Franchise Tender today and, as a result, he will not be eligible to play football during the 2018 season."
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 13, 2018

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Steelers could use the franchise tag on Bell again in 2019 - which seems unlikely after how this season has played out.

Another option is to use the transition tag. If Bell received a contract offer from another team, the Steelers would have a chance to match it.

If the Steelers don't tag Bell, he would simply become a free agent. Bell could then look elsewhere for a more lucrative deal than what the Steelers have offered him.

Of course, there is still a chance that Bell could sign a new, long-term contract with the Steelers after the 2018 season -- but the two sides have been unable to reach a deal thus far.

Before today, Le'Veon Bell had lost out on $8.5 million in wages for the 2018 season. Today the remaining $6 million goes away. Bell is bidding goodbye to $14.5 million to stay healthy and strike a mega deal this off-season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 13, 2018

Le’Veon Bell

TOMLIN ON BELL: "SO BE IT"

At his weekly news conference Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin said he's had no communication with Bell, and "I have no reaction" to reports that the All-Pro rusher would not show up by the deadline.

"I've told you guys consistently: a reaction comes from me if and when he walks in the door," Tomlin said to reporters. "Until that happens, I'm business as usual, focused on those that are here and working -- and appropriately so. That way, I don't waste my time and theirs."

When asked about the possibility that Bell never shows up, Tomlin responded, "So be it."

Tomlin said he can't concern himself with how Bell's absence may affect Pittsburgh's postseason chances because it is a business matter that he can't control.

"That train has left the station," Tomlin said. "We're comfortable with how we function, the people at our disposal, the division of labor and our ability to ready ourselves for the challenges."

BELL'S PLACE IN FRANCHISE HISTORY

Assuming he has played his last game for Pittsburgh, Bell leaves behind some impressive statistics that will put him among the Steelers' all-time leading rushers.

With 5,336 career yards, Bell ranks No. 4 in franchise history behind two Pro Football Hall of Famers -- Franco Harris (11,950) and Jerome Bettis (10,571) -- and Willie Parker (5,378).

Bell's total of 35 rushing touchdowns ties him with Kordell Stewart for third all-time behind Harris (91) and Bettis (78) in Steelers history.

Bell was a second-round draft pick from Michigan State in 2013 and immediately became a featured player in Pittsburgh's offense.

AP Photo/David Richard

Le’Veon Bell

Le'Veon Bell doesn't report to Steelers by deadline; he's now ineligible to play at all this season

GET LOCAL BREAKING NEWS ALERTS

Good Housekeeping