We’re so over you, Le’Veon. Steelers are trying to peddle him, and he is upset at being trade-bait

… finding few takers

ESPN has been reporting that the Steelers have been trying to shop Le’Veon Bell before the Oct. 30 trade deadline, but they are finding no takers thus far.

The Steelers know that in a year in which they now need cohesiveness, Bell will be a tremendous distraction. However, what is outrageous is that Bell thinks that he can just waltz into the locker room and the reception will be “welcome home.”

Ian Rapoport reported this on NFL GameDay Morning:

"My understanding is that Le'Veon Bell is expected to come back in a few weeks, and his focus right now is coming back for the Steelers and putting up numbers for them rather than another team," Rapoport said. "The Steelers have openly been trying to trade him. They've been receiving some phone calls, they've also been making some phone calls. No firm offers yet, but they have had some conversations.

"For Le'Veon Bell there would be some negatives there. He'd have to come in, learn the new offense, he may not exactly look like himself. My understanding is he would have to be convinced that being traded would be beneficial to him, and that is something he is not inclined to do. In other words, Le'Veon wants to play for the Steelers this year."

Allowing Bell back would be a horrible idea. He is not going to help the team because of the way that his teammates criticized him when he did not show up before the first game of the season. Those were primarily offensive linemen. Does he think that they are going to block for him now?

Philadelphia denies interest

The Philadelphia Eagles were one of the teams that reportedly was interested in Bell, but another report from ESPN has thrown cold water on that possibility.

The Eagles restructured the contract of defensive tackle Fletcher Cox to develop cap space after their starting running back, Jay Ajayi, suffered a torn ACL and is lost for the season.

Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen denied the interest in a tweet:

“‘It’s 100 percent misleading to think Cox’s restructuring was done with Le’Veon Bell in mind,” said one league source with knowledge of the Eagles’ thinking.”

A report in late September had said that the Eagles would be willing to trade for Bell, giving up Earl Thomas in it. That now looks like it will never happen.

Contract issues problematic with a trade

The problem with any trade is that Bell has to first sign a tender with the Steelers, one that permits him to earn $14 million this season. Until he signs the tender, nothing can happen.

However, the Steelers do not have to offer the tender. He has turned it down, and now he wants to return under his own terms. Really? How dumb is that?

The problem with a trade is that the other team will have Bell for only this season, and with five weeks gone already and six pretty much done, who would really want him for just half the season? He is very talented but will be a huge distraction wherever he would go.

Steelers hold the cards

The truth is that the Steelers, I think, could refuse to offer the $14 million tender and just cut him outright. That would be justice for Bell, but it would hurt him immeasurably on the open market. Before he begins to contribute on any team, he will have to learn the offense and personnel. That could be November before that would transpire, and most teams realize that.

Bell wants to come in with the Steelers and build some numbers that he can use in free agency, but if the team allows him to do that, they will suffer in so many ways, primarily in the eyes of the players who have been through the past two preseason camps without their prima donna.

Cut him!