LATROBE, Pa. -- As expected, Le'Veon Bell was the only no-show for the Steelers when they reported to training camp here at Saint Vincent College Wednesday.
But his teammates said they have no concerns about the All-Pro running back skipping training camp for the second year in a row as he waits to sign his franchise tag deal.
One thing they did want, however, is for Bell not to cut things as close as he did a year ago, when he didn't report until Labor Day, just a few days before the Steelers played their regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns. They'd like for the situation not to turn into a long-term distraction.
"He came in (late) last year and was still the best back in the league," center Maurkice Pouncey said of Bell. "Maybe I’ll text him and say to come in a week earlier so he’s not rusty at the beginning."
Bell got just 10 carries in the opener last season and averaged just 3.2 yards per carry in the team's first two games as he got up to speed. But he finished the season with 1,291 yards rushing and 85 receptions for another 655 yards, while scoring 11 touchdowns in 15 games. He sat out the regular season finale — along with several other key starters — against Cleveland with the Steelers' playoff position assured.
Bell is slated to earn $14.5 million this season after playing for $12.1 million last year on the franchise tag. The Steelers again tried to sign him to a long-term deal in the offseason, but Bell passed on a five-year deal that would have paid him $70 million — an average of $14 million per season. The Steelers offered him a similar deal worth $60 million last season.
That deal was eclipsed in average per season by a contract agreed to by Todd Gurley of the Rams earlier this week, as Gurley signed a four-year, $60 million extension with a $45 million signing bonus that kicks in after the 2019 season when his rookie contract expires.
Bell's teammates aren't worried he'll be distracted or be a distraction this season.
"We’ve kind of been through it. I kind of called it, unfortunately," said David DeCastro. "I wish they would have gotten something done. You kind of see both sides. But the business is the business. It is what it is. There’s no sense fretting about it.
"I would have been surprised if something happened. They were kind of far apart."
Like Pouncey, DeCastro said he'd be pleased if Bell joined the team earlier. But he also understands why the running back wouldn't want to subject himself to training camp or preseason games.
"It’s not helping," DeCastro said of Bell not being with the team in camp. "It would be great if he was here, but you never know. Maybe he has a freak injury in camp. Maybe he’s working out and is in great shape. I’m sure he’s being smart. He’s got a lot of money on the line. I’m sure he wants to be in the best shape possible."
And that's what the Steelers want. They know Bell will be motivated to have another big season if he wants to cash in on a big contract at the end of this season.
Bell was in a similar spot last season and led the NFL in touches.
"Definitely. Most definitely. I think so," Pouncey said when asked if he thought Bell would be motivated to have a big season. "I think everyone is motivated. Everyone is going to come in, Le’Veon, if we don’t sign him back, he wants to have a heck of a year for other teams to sign him. I think everyone is on the same path."
Because of that, the veterans on this team are looking forward to big things in 2018. They also are looking forward to perhaps having a season not filled with some of the drama that took place last season when the Steelers seemingly had another situation crop up every week.
Can Bell not signing be the first of many distractions?
"I hope not," said Decastro. "I hope people realize it, with last year and all of that BS. I hope guys realize it’s one game at a time. Don’t let your head get too big. It can come off real quick in this league."
With the offense back nearly intact — with the exception of Martavis Bryant and offensive coordinator Todd Haley — and a defense the team hopes will continue to improve, this team feels it has what it needs to win a Super Bowl.
And this group is feeling the urgency to do so with Bell heading into what could possibly be his last season in Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger now 36 years old.
"It’s gotta be there," DeCastro said of the urgency. "I think so. Myself, you see the light at the end of the tunnel peeking out the other side of it. It’s weird being like that, but you’ve got to have a little urgency.
"We are in our prime. But you can see how fast time goes. I’m going into my seventh camp. It’s crazy. You start to appreciate how time is."
And perhaps how quickly things can change.
That's why the Steelers want to put their 45-42 playoff loss to Jacksonville behind them and get started on building toward a better finish this season. To do that, they know no matter how well the offense and Bell perform, much of the onus will fall to the defense making improvements.
The Steelers ranked fifth in total defense last season but clearly weren't the same after losing inside linebacker Ryan Shazier to a career-threatening spinal cord injury in early December.
"You see good things happening. It’s got to be a consistent thing," said Cam Heyward. "That’s where we have to get better.
"I know that last one stains everyone, which it should. But it doesn’t take away a good year we had on defense. It’s funny. Everyone talks about our defense, but it’s not like their defense played any better. It was 45-42. We all played bad. There are things we’ve got to get better at. We all look forward to correcting those. We’ve got a lot of young guys and guys in the middle, who are not necessarily young guys, and the older guys who can keep improving. I’m excited."
That excitement level will climb even higher when Bell eventually reports as his teammates expect.
"Honestly, if he came back and had the same year (as last season), that would be awesome," Pouncey said of Bell. "After seeing what Todd Gurley signed, hell, I wouldn’t have signed either."
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Steelers arrive at Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa., July 25, 2018. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS