Will Bill Bellichick try to sign Le’Veon Bell once the Steelers say Sayonara later this year? Is he desperate enough for another Super Bowl?

… Conner making him expendable

The sports media are attempting to make a soap opera of the tale, “Will Le’Veon show or won’t he?” However, what is clear, is that the Steelers have been trying to peddle Bell for weeks. The question is where he is going to land.

One of the more interesting narratives is whether or not the NFL coach who believes that he can resurrect the careers of any player. In addition, he desperately wants to win another Super Bowl, so maybe he might be willing to sign Bell for half a season.

That, of course, is Bill Belllichick, the coach of the New England Patriots. The Pats have struggled a great deal this year, now tied with the Miami Dolphins with a 4-2 record in the AFC-North.

However, Bellichick believes that with two consecutive wins, he now has his team headed for another shot at Super Bowl gold. Bell would be a great addition for Tom Brady and the NE offense.

Is this far-fetched?

Steelers should simply forget Bell

Bellichick picking up Bell may be somewhat out in the scheme of crazy, but if the Steelers are to make their own run at the AFC-Central title, which has been theirs for the past few years, they have to end the soap opera and deal Bell as soon as they can.

They can probably cut him outright since he has never signed the franchise tender that was offered earlier this year. They could also trade him, but could not do that until he signed his tender for $14 million+, which would be pretty dumb almost halfway through the season.

Bell has been playing games with them, saying that he would show up and then does not. So, the team cannot simply sign him and place him on the roster as if nothing has happened, like not showing up for preseason camp for two years and for six games this year.

This will be his last season with the Steelers, and the sooner that they focus on this year and next, the better off they will be.

Conner makes him expendable

After two consecutive wins and two strong performances by Bell’s successor, second-year RB James Conner, Steeler fans are realizing that they should just write Bell off for the short and long-term future.

An NFL analyst wrote this after comparing the stats of the two running backs over the first six games of the last two seasons, Bell for 2017 and Conner for this year.

Here is what he found based on his tweet:

“James Conner vs Le'Veon Bell (First 6 weeks of 2018 and 2017). At this point, it's difficult to say there is even a dropoff. This is impressive for Conner, considering he has faced 8 or more defenders in the box on nearly 40% of his attempts. #Steelers”

And, here are the numbers that he used to make that conclusion:




In short, Conner is not a major drop-off physically, and emotionally, he has been a great lift for the team — and the fans. One of the most tweeted and texted photos from last week was one in which Conner, a cancer survivor, visited a young boy who is currently undergoing chemo for cancer. He has become that much of a role model for the team and the fans.

Tomlin has to can Bell

While the front office will ultimately determine what will happen with Bell, the truth is that head coach Mike Tomlin should take a strong position against his ever again joining the team. But, he likely will not.

As I have written previously, Tomlin has simply lost his tough persona as a disciplinarian since his two Super Bowl appearances in his first four years as coach. Consequently, he may welcome Bell back, though his linemen and others in the locker room will not. The concept of a team is still uppermost in the minds of most players, and Bell has undermined that entire concept.

That is why if Bellichick and the Pats come to the Steeler front office with an offer than the team cannot refuse, they should jump on it. Knowing Bellichick, he may try to pick him off the wire, but if he was willing to give up a draft pick for a receiver like Josh Gordon who has hardly played over the past few years, then he may be willing to give a draft pick or two for Bell.

One more Super Bowl

Bellichick believes that his team has enough to reach the Super Bowl again next year. However, two early losses have some questioning whether he has the talent to do so. That is why Bell may be one ingredient that the Pats could really use, and since Bellichick has rehabilitated a slew of miscreants previously, he probably thinks that he may be able to do so for half a season.

Perhaps not, but do not think that he has not entertained the thoughts. The bottom line is that the Steelers need to dump him, even if that means that the Pats could tie them in the top Super Bowl winners after next season.