PITTSBURGH _ It's Jets week, which means it's Le'Veon Bell week. The Steelers defense needs to stop him. Former teammates have left the past in the past; they say they like him and respect him.
What about James Conner, the running back who flourished last year after Bell refused to sign his franchise tender and skipped the season?
"I know Le'Veon," Conner said. "This is like a must-win game for us. It will be cool to go (against) him, but I'm not getting caught up in that too much. I'm just trying to worry about playing good."
Bell's absence created the opportunity for Conner to take charge. Conner will face Bell, who signed with New York in the spring, in the regular season's penultimate game, and soon Conner will enter the final year of his rookie deal, meaning, like Bell, he'll face a contractual conundrum.
"I believe all that stuff takes care of itself if you go out there and compete," Conner said. "That's what we have agents for. I don't pay (any) attention to that."
Enough time has passed that the Steelers reflected kindly upon Bell before Sunday's game at The Meadowlands. They also have more important issues at hand: At 8-6, they currently hold the final wild-card playoff spot in the AFC, with games against the 5-9 Jets and 12-2 Baltimore Ravens, who clinched the AFC North, remaining.
"We recognize what time of the year it is," Mike Tomlin said. "We recognize the urgency of it."
Bell will wear green rather than black and gold Sunday because he declined to accept the franchise tag, which would have paid him $14.45 million, in 2018. Bell played under the tag in 2017. He signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the Jets in March.
"At the end of the day, I have the utmost respect for him," center Maurkice Pouncey said. "Hell, he did it his way, and rightfully so. What's wrong with that?"
Conner responded to the opportunity in 2018 with 1,470 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns. This year, though, Conner has 683 scrimmage yards, 76 per game, and has played in only nine games because of a shoulder injury.
"It's not going to completely go away," Conner said of the ailment.
Conner's injury history could affect the type of deal he receives after his rookie contract expires. He tore his right MCL in college, hurt the same MCL in 2017, dealt with a lower leg injury last season and has had issues with the shoulder this year.
The top of the market, at least, has been set. Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliott recently signed extensions after the third year of their rookie deals, though both have been much more productive than Conner.
"I'm just not sure that he has the track record yet that the Steelers are going to look at that and say, oh, we've got to extend him at these kind of big numbers," said Jeff Diamond, former general manager of the Minnesota Vikings and president of the Tennessee Titans. "He could get an extension, but I don't think he's going to get treated at the level some of those other guys have been treated."
A multi-year contract is possible. Conner has 683 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns with two games remaining. Jerick McKinnon compiled 991 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns in 2017 before signing a four-year, $30 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers. The Browns extended Duke Johnson before the 2018 season, giving him $15.6 million over three years after Johnson accumulated 1,041 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns. Tevin Coleman got two years and $10 million from San Francisco after gaining 1,076 yards from scrimmage and scoring nine touchdowns last year.
"I would think that James Conner is looking for more than those deals, because those guys are kind of specialists to a certain extent," Diamond said. "... I don't think he's looking for $7.5 million a year. I think he's looking at double that."
Conner could complete his rookie contract and become an unrestricted free agent, but then he runs the risk of the Steelers using the franchise tag on him, like they did with Bell.
"I'm sure from the player's standpoint, he'd like to get paid as soon as possible," Diamond said. "And from the Steelers' standpoint, they'd like to see him prove that he can be more durable and be counted on as that kind of 1,200-yard back that they envision.
"I think that in order for Conner to maximize his potential income, he probably does need to play it out, but that's something that's hard for a player to do when he's thinking about, I've got to play for $800,000 and be the lead back and hopefully gain 1,000 yards. That makes it kind of tricky."
The NFL salary cap will increase by roughly $10 million next year, which will help the Steelers, who also have decisions to make on linebacker Bud Dupree and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Conner is steering clear for now: "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
Bell had his best game as a Jet last week against the Ravens after missing the previous game because of the flu. He rushed 21 times for 87 yards. Turnover on the offensive line and quarterback Sam Darnold missing time because of mononucleosis have not helped.
"I know when you get hammered like he was, especially in the middle of the season, I'm sure he wasn't feeling great every week," Jets coach Adam Gase said. "Last week, him missing that week being sick actually kind of probably helped him a little bit because he felt better going into that game than he had in a long time."
It'll be tough sledding against Cam Heyward and the Steelers defense. Conner will face former Steeler Steve McLendon and third overall pick Quinnen Williams on the defensive line of a unit that is tied for the fewest yards per carry allowed.
"Fast group on defense," Conner said. "Got a lot of good players up front that get penetration."
A victory will boost the Steelers' postseason chances _ and extend the time before Conner needs to think about next year.
