Dec 28, 2016 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – When training camp began earlier this year, one of the biggest questions surrounding the Steelers was whether they could afford to sign running back Le’Veon Bell at the end of this season.

Now, the question might be can they afford not to?

Despite missing the first three games of this season while serving a suspension for violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, Bell was voted the Steelers’ MVP by his teammates Wednesday.

It marks the second time in his four seasons with the Steelers that Bell has been voted team MVP. He also won in 2014.

Bell, who also was coming off a torn MCL suffered Nov. 1 of last year, said this one is more special because of what he has overcome.

“I think the fact my teammates voted for me and I haven’t even played the full season this year, coming off the injury and my suspension, … it means everything in the world for me,” said Bell, who added he wants to remain with the Steelers after this season.

“They know I’ve overcome a lot of obstacles. They know the things I went through with social media and people from the outside, whatever it was. Those guys respect the way I handled myself over the course of the year.”

Bell has gained 1,268 yards and seven touchdowns rushing in 12 games, and ranked second on the team with 75 receptions for 616 yards and two more scores.

His 1,884 yards from scrimmage are the third-most in team history, leads the AFC and are second only to David Johnson of Arizona and Ezekiel Elliott of Dallas.

With the Steelers (10-5) having already locked up the AFC North title, Bell is not expected to play in the regular season finale against Cleveland (1-14), something the running back welcomes. Injuries kept him out of the postseason at the end of each of the previous two seasons, so he’s more focused on appearing in his first playoff game two weeks from now.

“It’s going to be amazing. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do the last four years,” he said. “I’m glad this year I’ll be able to. It’s something I look forward to. The last two years, I’ve been injured going into the playoffs. I haven’t been there for the team. This year, it’s a great opportunity for me and my teammates to go into the playoffs with a lot of us being healthy.

“I want to play. I definitely don’t like watching a football game. I feel like I’ve watched a lot of football games over the last couple of years. But I understand the bigger picture, me getting into the playoffs healthy so that we can have a run into the playoffs. If we get to the Super Bowl and win it, I’m not going to be thinking about Week 17 against the Browns and not playing.”

The Steelers definitely feel having a healthy Bell would make that possible. Pittsburgh is 30-17 with Bell in the lineup since taking him in the second round of the 2013 draft and 10-9 – including playoff games – without him.

And it’s not just Bell’s running ability that makes him a key player.

“We always knew he had an awesome talent for running the ball,” said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of Bell. “But what I think is most impressive is his blocking and his catching the ball out of the backfield. He’s an every-down back and we can use him for every situation. So I think that’s what’s most impressive.”

Bell beat out several other solid candidates this season, including Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown. Both have had excellent seasons, but neither had the impact of Bell, particularly during the team’s current six-game winning streak.

Bell, who said he voted for Brown, has rushed for 835 yards and six touchdowns and caught 29 passes for 256 yards and another score in the past six games.

“I think we understood that, usually when we get to the end of the year, the weather starts affecting games a little bit. So once we got to the point where we had the big guys in, they have to come out and stop it,” said Bell. “I think over the course of the year, the offensive line got better and we got more confident. Later in the year, we definitely went in with a game plan that we wanted to run the ball, control the clock and take the pride away from the defense.”

Tight end Ladarius Green, who missed last week’s win over Baltimore with a concussion, practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. … Wide receiver Sammie Coates (hamstring) and tight end Xavier Grimble (ribs) also were limited. … Linebackers Anthony Chickillo (ankle) and Ryan Shazier (illness), safety Robert Golden (ankle) and defensive ends Ricardo Mathews (ankle) and Stephon Tuitt (knee) did not practice because of injuries for the Steelers.