Aug 8, 2017 4 min read

LATROBE – It wasn’t exactly a shot across the bow of Le’Veon Bell’s camp, but it certainly was a message.

Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert said Monday in an appearance on Steelers Nation Radio the team has no idea when Bell might report and sign his franchise player tag.

Colbert said the Steelers are currently preparing as if the All-Pro running back won’t be available when Pittsburgh opens its season Sept. 10 at Heinz Field against the Cleveland Browns.

“That’s where we are,” Colbert said. “There’s no need wasting time on something we can’t control. Let’s just move on and get ready for Cleveland.”

The Steelers placed the franchise tag on Bell to keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. The two sides were unable to work out a long-term agreement in the offseason and, per league rules, are no longer permitted to negotiate a new deal until the conclusion of the 2017 season.

The Steelers reportedly offered a five-year, $60-million contract extension that would have made Bell the highest-paid running back in the league.

Bell will instead be paid the franchise tag rate of $12.12 million this season – provided he reports and signs his tender. Once he does, that money becomes fully guaranteed. Until then, Bell, who has posted on his social media outlets that he is training in Florida, would get nothing if he were injured.

It’s a risky stance to take on the part of Bell.

“He needs to do what he needs to do in his mind and we need to do what we need to do,” said Colbert. “When players aren’t here, we focus on who is here and who can help us win.”

The Steelers would like to find out sooner rather than later about the status of another of their stars who, while he has reported to Saint Vincent College, has not been permitted by the NFL to participate.

The team is hopeful wide receiver Martavis Bryant’s situation with the NFL is resolved soon. But because Bryant was suspended by the NFL for a year for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, the matter is strictly between Bryant and the league office.

“There’s nothing we can do to intervene,” Colbert said. “Once it reached the stage it reached with the year-long suspension, it’s totally between he and the league. All we can do is abide by the rules and follow them and support him. We’ll let him do what he can do and hope that it is resolved to the league’s satisfaction and we can all move on.”

There was a feeling that because Bryant was permitted to fully participate in the team’s offseason workouts and minicamp, he would be ready to go when training camp started. But the team got word when they reported here two weeks ago that there were conditions pending on Bryant’s reinstatement.

In the meantime, the Steelers continue to prepare for not just their game against the Browns in a month, but for their first preseason game Friday at the New York Giants.

To that end, head coach Mike Tomlin released his first depth chart of the preseason. Atop the running back list was four-year veteran Fitzgerald Toussaint. Starting opposite Antonio Brown at wide receiver was nine-year veteran Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Because of additions made in the offseason, both were thought to be fighting to hold onto roster spots.

“People are always counting me out,” said Toussaint. “Honestly, that doesn’t really matter. I train hard, I work hard and I come in here focused. That’s what really matters.”

And, at some point, Bell will be back. He’s not about to skip any of the more than $700,000 he’ll be guaranteed per game this season.

“Definitely,” said Toussaint.

Odds and end zones

The Steelers waived/injured center Mike Matthews and signed center Lucas Crowley. Matthews is the son of Hall of Fame center Bruce Matthews. … After practicing in pads Sunday, linebacker James Harrison was back in his usual sweat suit on Tuesday. … Tackle Alejandro Villanueva, center Maurkice Pouncey, cornerback Artie Burns, safety Mike Mitchell, linebackers Ryan Shazier and Anthony Chickillo and receivers Justin Hunter and DeMarcus Ayers were among the players who sat out practice. Linebacker Bud Dupree was back after sitting out the past few days. … The Steelers will practice at 3 p.m. today at Saint Vincent College. It is open to the public.