Finally, some resolution.
Le'Veon Bell did not sign his franchise tag offer by the NFL's 4 p.m. deadline Tuesday, ending any chance of the All-Pro playing in 2018 for the Steelers or any team.
It also means his career with the Steelers is likely over, as well.
"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," Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said in a statement released by the team.
And Mike Tomlin's reaction to that not happening?
"I have no reaction. I've told you guys and I've told you guys consistently, a reaction comes if and when he walks through the door. Until that happens, I'm business as usual and focused on those who are here and working -- appropriately so. I won't waste my time and theirs.
"So be it."
The Steelers are unlikely to franchise tag Bell a third year -- at $25 million-plus -- allowing him to enter into free agency at the conclusion of this season. He is passing on the remaining $6 million of the $14.54 million franchise tag offer he could have earned this season to gamble he will get a big contract on the open market at 27 years old.
And with the emergence of James Conner -- who leads the AFC in rushing, total yards and touchdowns -- the Steelers aren't likely to want Bell back under any circumstance now, though they would have accepted him back this season had he chosen to report by Tuesday's deadline.
"If he wants to come and be a part of this team, absolutely," Ben Roethlisberger said on his weekly call to 93.7 The Fan. "He's one of the best players in football. Why wouldn't you want an extra weapon? Why wouldn't you want someone who could do special things on the football field and give James a break? It's only if he wants to. We don't want someone who is here because they have to be here. If he wanted to be out there with us, then we'll welcome him back."
They won't get that chance. And they have gotten no true explanation from Bell as to why, though he has said he was concerned about his overall health after getting a league-high 407 touches in 2017 when he played on the franchise tag for the first time, earning $12.1 million.
Since his interview a few weeks ago with ESPN, when he said he would report during the team's Week 7 bye-week, the days and games have gone by with nary a word from Bell, other than a cryptic tweet he was leaving Miami last week. He was spotted in Pittsburgh soon after that and some felt that might be a sign he was going to return and play the remainder of the season for the Steelers.
But between then and now, something changed his mind -- perhaps the Achilles' tendon injury suffered by Dez Bryant last Friday in his first practice after signing with the Saints.
Tomlin had always maintained a close relationship with Bell and had mentioned previously he had at least been trading texts with the running back when he had skipped the team's offseason workouts the past two years. But Tomlin said the two haven't been in contact recently.
"Under the circumstances, no," Tomlin said when asked if that was strange. "I understand that business is an element of the game of football. Football at this level, there is also is a business element. Even if we don't understand it, we're sensitive to it."
And now the Steelers can move forward without having to come up with any plans on how to utilize Bell along with Conner -- not that they had spent any time working on those things.
"No, because that is a waste of time," Tomlin said. "We've been focused on the things in our control and that's the people who are here working. I think you guys don't believe that I mean it. I do."
We can certainly believe that now.
But it wasn't what anyone expected. Not after Bell tweeted this when the two sides were unable to come to terms on a long-term agreement by the league's July 16 deadline for franchise players.
to all my Steeler fans, my desire always has been to retire a Steeler...both sides worked extremely hard today to make that happen, but the NFL is a hard business at times...to the fans that had hope, I’m sorry we let you down but trust me, 2018 will be my best season to date...
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) July 16, 2018
That text came right after Bell had turned down a five-year, $70-million contract extension with the team because it did not include enough guaranteed money.
His agent, Adisa Bakari, said the guaranteed money was the sticking point during an appearance on NFL Live on ESPN.
"The Steelers have a unique way of structuring deals," Bakari said. "These contracts are not fully guaranteed. Le'Veon plays a position that has one of the shortest lifespans in the league. We have to focus on the guarantee. It’s safe to say he’ll get a guarantee (as a free agent) that is more traditional, and he’ll be protected for the balance of his career."
But still, the Steelers had expected Bell to show up as he did in 2017 and play the entire season -- though Tomlin said that wasn't the case, at least, for him.
"I don't know that I had any expectations," Tomlin said. "I don't know that I ever had any expectations because that's just a waste of my time."
Bell will finish his career with the Steelers fourth on the team's all-time rushing list with 5,336 yards and 35 touchdowns in just five seasons. He's also eighth on the team's all-time receptions list with 312.