Forget Where's Waldo? Where's Le'Veon?
He was not at the Rooney Complex yet again.
Like everyone else on South Water Street, Ben Roethlisberger was a bit surprised that Le'Veon Bell hasn't reported to the Steelers practice facility and isn't exactly sure when he will.
But he does have a hunch -- and only that -- that the All-Pro running back will arrive in time as the Steelers begin installing their game plan for Sunday's season opener against the Browns in Cleveland.
"We went about our business (Monday), I guess we hope that he's here (Wednesday)," Roethlisberger said during his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan.
Roethlisberger said that he hasn't spoken to Bell and doesn't know of too many teammates who have. During his weekly press conference later Tuesday, Mike Tomlin would only say that he hasn't talked with Bell "this week."
But Roethlisberger did say that Bell sent him "a long note" prior to training camp explaining his position and why he hasn't signed his franchise tag that will pay him $14.544 million this season.
"In one sense, I definitely understand what's going on, where he's coming from," Roethlisberger said.
Obviously, the veteran quarterback would like to have Bell back in the fold. But he says that the unit most affected by Bell's continued absence would be the offensive line, since Bell’s unique running style presents a challenge for them and requires time to get reacquainted with blocking for him.
Is five days enough for Bell, who hasn't practiced with his team since last January, to be ready to play on Sunday? In five days?
Tomlin on Bell’s absence #dkps #Steelers pic.twitter.com/6JuMZYpgL9
— Chris Bradford (@PghBradford) September 4, 2018
"When he gets here, that's when we'll start quantifying all Le'Veon Bell-related things, his overall readiness, the amount of time that we have between his arrival and our next competition, etc., etc.," Tomlin said. "We'll weigh all those things at the appropriate time. Right now, we're just singularly focused on the guys that are here and working and have been here and working, and kind of building a plan around variables that we know. That's the appropriate thing."
If he holds out, Bell will forfeit $855,000 for each week he misses.
Both Roethlisberger and Tomlin seemed to go out of their way to talk up James Conner and his development as an all-around back -- a la Bell -- and his conditioning after suffering a torn MCL in last year's divisional round loss to Jacksonville.
Conner, the Steelers' third-round pick in 2017 and potential successor to Bell, had 161 yards from scrimmage on 26 touches this preseason (19 carries for 100 yards and seven receptions for 61 yards).
"I think you heard that from the linemen and the people who have spoken so highly of James and the hard work he's putting in, catching the ball, running the ball and his conditioning, the kind of football shape that he's in," No. 7 said. "I expect and hope that we'll see great things from him this year, especially early on."
The one area where Bell has a decided edge, Roethlisberger admits, is in pass protection, which is kind of important given the 36-year-old has an injury history and two inexperienced backups behind him.
"That's something that James will obviously have to continue to get better at, but where it starts when it comes to that is your heart and your desire and a will to want to block and James has that," he said. "I've seen growth and we'll see growth from him in that area as we go week to week."
Roethlisberger has two unproven backups on the depth chart -- Josh Dobbs and rookie Mason Rudolph -- after Saturday's surprising release of Landry Jones.
Tomlin called it a difficult decision but was impressed by what he saw from Dobbs over the course of training camp and the preseason. The 23-year-old's ability to scramble out of the pocket, a completely different style from Roethlisberger, was an advantage.
"It wasn't really about what Landry did or didn't do," Tomlin said, "It was about what Josh did. Josh was presented with very tangible challenges, he didn't shrink in the face of it. In a matter of fact, he rose up in the face of it and provided good and consistent play for us. We've always acknowledged that his mobility is an asset to him."
Even Roethlisberger said the news of Jones' release came as a "definite surprise" to him but that he understood the move from a business standpoint. Jones was due to make $1.9 million this season, which is more than double what the two backups will make combined.
Dobbs, who has been tabbed the No. 2 -- at least on the depth chart -- said he's eager to serve anyway he can, according to Roethlisberger.
"What he needs to do is prove that he's as valuable as Landry was off the field in terms of film study," Roethlisberger said. "When I have a question, having a good answer for me. When I ask him when I come off the field after a play, 'What do you see here?' and he can give me an answer and I trust that he can give me that answer. That's where he has to really make sure he steps up. And he was all for it."