The relationship between the Pittsburgh Steelers and running back Le’Veon Bell ended in an ugly fashion last season. The Steelers placed the franchise tag on Bell for a second straight season after the two sides couldn’t come together on a new contract, which cost Bell his season. Bell chose to forfeit his full 2018 salary to protect his health in hopes of maximizing his value in free agency.
Bell signed a contract with the New York Jets in the offseason but he maintains he got exactly what he wanted despite taking a pay cut. But Bell does have one regret. According to an article on The Athletic, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made multiple attempts to contact him during his holdout. Those text messages didn’t get a reply from Bell.
“I didn’t respond because I didn’t want to respond on emotion,” Bell said. “I just never got back to him. Little things like that I kind wish I could go back and do over. But, you know, it is what it is.”
No one should be surprised Bell didn’t respond to Roethlisberger. I doubt he was in any state of mind to communicate with any of the players he let down, much less his quarterback. Bell’s selfishness cost the team dearly but it’s great to see right up until the last week Bell could report, Roethlisberger was still trying to get Bell on the team.
