If Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell doesn't sign by Monday, camp holdout possible

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk broke down Le'Veon Bell's contract situation with the Steelers. This was notable: "This year, if the Steelers and LeVeon Bell don’t do a long-term deal by Monday at 4 p.m. ET, many presume he’ll holdout for most of camp again. And while it’s useful for Bell to have the Steelers think it will happen that way (since it creates more of an incentive to sign him), there’s a case to be made for Bell showing up for training camp and the preseason.

If Monday’s deadline passes without Bell signing a long-term deal, Bell will have a clear path to the open market in March 2019, because the Steelers would have to apply the quarterback tender if he’s franchise-tagged a third time. So if that’s the post-July 16 scenario, Bell arguably would have an incentive to be as prepared as possible to have the best season he can, maximizing his value as he prepares for his better-late-than-never shot at unrestricted free agency."

The story pointed out that Bell produced nice numbers—1,291 rushing yards and 655 receiving yards—last year, but he struggled out of the gate with just 32 rushing yards in the team's first game, and a 3.2 YPC in the team's first two games, along with just one score over the first three weeks of the season.