NFL Week 1: Eagles defend their SB championship

If he can pass block and pick up the blitz. Hell yes.

 

Story of the week is all locked up.

Seahawks rookie LB Shaquem Griffin to start Week 1

 

Except they did it with Harrison last year. Sure, Harrison didn't have as much left in the tank, but he did help the Patriots a little and it looked bad in Pittsburgh.

I agree that they won't want to benefit Bell or another contender. The only real issue is the roster. If I understand correctly, they only get a roster exemption for two games. It is stupid enough that a player can sit out 10 weeks and still get a full season toward free agency, but having the exemption only last two games really sucks.

 

He seemed better during the preseason, but he's still a big drop-off from Bell. He still has to prove he can handle 20 carries in a game, that he can protect the football and that he can block. Their most proven option is Ridley, but he can't be trusted to hold on to the ball. Bell very rarely fumbles, something else they are going to miss.

 

I’m having a hard time believing the Steelers are going to welcome Bell back in week 10.

If Ridley/Connor/Samuels is a shit show and they are 5-5 headed into week 10, they might.

But if that backfield can take them to 7-3 or 8-2, they may just roll with what they got. Those linemen are fucking pissed. I also don’t get what that agent thought he was doing yesterday.

I also think this BS is costing him more money than 400 touches.

 

If Cleveland is ever going to start to believe it's no longer anything but the doormat of its division, there couldn't be a better time than this weekend.

 

They've been playing the last game of the preseason for quite a few years now. The regular season opener many just be one of those scheduling quirks.

 

Unless the Steelers rescind the tag Bell doesn't have to be welcomed back in November, just pay him and leave him alone. And fuck those players. Where were all these opinions six months ago when they could have went to ownership and said hey, at least give the guy a fair offer since he's our best skill player, we use him to the point of breakage, and he's protecting our quarterback from an additional 10 picks a year or dying on the field from a heart attack? I definitely wouldn't be in the rush to play with those assholes.

At the time I thought LeGarrette Blount was the worst kind of person for quitting on a team just to get out of a contract but he probably saw that locker room for what it was and decided to get out while he could and deal with Belichick's shit to win a Super Bowl.

 

Until Bell signs the contract, he’s under no obligation to the team or his future teammates. 26 .6 million for last year and this year is more than any person in theSteelers organization will get for those 2 years except BenR. If the teammates want to get mad, let them get mad after game 1 when he’s not able to play a full compliment of snaps.

 

Jalen v. Stephen A. Oop

 

Play the damn game. It’s football. Weather doesn’t matter. Lt them hit each other, tackle. This is bullshit. This will be a5 hour game.

 

Actually, I'm on Jalen's side on this one. Smith thinks the Steelers did something wrong by not overpaying Bell. He wants to ignore red flags such as his injury history and two drug-related suspensions. I absolutely get the idea of having him play on the tag this year then move on. I already said his teammate are right to rip into him. He's screwing them over.