Jun 14, 2016 4 min read

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The Steelers opened their three-day mini-camp on Tuesday with everyone in attendance at the mandatory sessions.

A rumor began in the afternoon on Twitter that running back Le’Veon Bell had skipped a mandatory drug test and is facing a supension by the NFL.

Bell, who was in attendance but isn’t practicing as he continues to rehab a knee injury – said the missed test was news to him.

“I haven’t missed any drug tests,” Bell said. “I haven’t failed any drug tests. I’m completely fine.”

I would be surprised if this rumor – which was only reported by a local radio talk show host – turned out to be true.

Bell is heading into the final year of his rookie contract. He’s considered one of, if not the best running backs in the NFL. But he has yet to play a full season.

If he really wants to cash in on his second contract, he can’t have this kind of issue crop up. And he’s no dummy.

Yes, he had an issue with marijuana in a traffic stop two years ago with then-fellow Steelers running back LeGarrette Blount. But that was a one-time mistake, according to Bell.

And there is no reason to think it wasn’t. The NFL lowered his suspension from three games two two for that incident, which tells me he didn’t have a history of this type of thing.

He’s got too much to lose and too much to gain to not stay on the straight and narrow.

• James Harrison said today that he’s not ready to commit to this being his final season in the NFL.

But he also noted that Jarvis Jones is the starter and he’s ready to do whatever is asked of him by the coaching staff.

Harrison is now 38 and the Steelers will have to be a little more judicious with his playing time this season.

I would expect them to use him more like a down lineman on obvious passing downs. But with Harrison, you never know.

As head coach Mike Tomlin said today, “I’m sure you could pull James off a couch at 60 and he would tell you he could play 80 percent of the snaps. That’s James’ mentality.”

• Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said today that he’d like to go for a two-point conversion every time the Steelers score a touchdown in 2016.

It’s an interesting thought.

The Steelers, with Bell on the field, are as tough to match up with in those situation as any team in the league.

And, as Roethlisberger noted, you can use both Bell and DeAngelo Williams in the backfield and split Bell in motion to one side or the other because he runs routes like a wide receiver.

I saw enough of that last year during the offseason and training camp to see that the Steelers would convert well over 50 percent of the time.

Will they do it?

They attempted 11 conversions in 2015 – the most in the NFL – scoring on eight of them. And that was with Roethlisberger missing four full games. So why not?

I could see the Steelers attempting at least 20 two-point conversions this year if Roethlisberger stays healthy.

• We had a discussion today on SNR about which player – with the exception of Roethlisberger – could the Steelers least live without.

My vote went to receiver Antonio Brown. We saw what that looked like in the playoffs against Denver last season. And that was with Martavis Bryant.

My co-host Adam Crowley said Cam Heyward, which also was a good vote. Throw Stephon Tuitt into that conversation as well. The Steelers were 0-2 when he didn’t play last season and the team can ill-afford to play without their two stud defensive ends.

William Gay also got some votes because of the team’s lack of experienced depth behind him, while Bell also garnered some action.

All were good picks.

But, as I noted, when we talked about this subject last offseason, my vote went to Kelvin Beachum because the team didn’t have a viable left tackle backup.

That was proven wrong when Alejandro Villanueva stepped in for Beachum for the final six games.

Sometimes, all guys need are an opportunity. That said, I’m sticking with Brown.