Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell did not report to training camp Thursday, and there are no signals from his camp about when, or if, he will arrive.
Coach Mike Tomlin said there are consequences for Bell for not reporting on time, but the Steelers cannot punish him in any way because he is not under contract.
Bell has yet to sign his one-year contract for $12.12 million, the tender for running backs who received the franchise tag. But until he signs the tender, he is under no obligation to report.
Bell, who was recovering from sports hernia surgery this spring, also did not show up for OTAs or minicamp in May and June.
"There is no question we are a group that values the team-building process," Tomlin said Thursday. "And doing it in this setting, so yes, there is value, and yes, there are consequences for not being here. That's the reality of it."
What are those consequences?
"They're untold as we sit here," Tomlin said.
The Steelers could decide to pull the franchise tag, which would make Bell an unrestricted free agent. They can do that at any time as long the franchise tender remains unsigned. The Carolina Panthers did that with Josh Norman last year, and he signed with the Washington Redskins.
The Steelers are not expected to make that move, but it is an option. They also could refuse to place the franchise tag on Bell again next year, which would make him an unrestricted free agent in 2018.
There has been speculation Bell will not report until mid- to late-August. Tomlin would like for his star running back to report sooner rather than later.
"Obviously I would like for him to be here," Tomlin said. "He is not. I am going to focus my energies on the guys who are. It's an unfortunate circumstance, one that we'll deal with, one that he'll deal with. I've had good clean communication with him. I'll keep the nature of that conversation between us. Rest assured he'll be ready to play football. When he gets here, he gets here."
Tomlin is not worried about Bell being in shape when he does report.
"He's in shape over the course of a 12-month calendar," Tomlin said. "Football conditioning is not an issue with him. Rust and overall readiness will be. That's to be determined."
Tomlin wasn't the only member of the organization to prod Bell to show up. Veteran center Maurkice Pouncey and receiver Antonio Brown did the same.
"Just to be around the team, so you guys don't have to ask the same question every day," Pouncey said. "He can sit on the sidelines and answer that question every day."
