Steelers Players Get Over Le'Veon Bell's No-Show by Stealing His Stuff
When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers, one man’s holdout is another man’s gain.
Le’Veon Bell waved goodbye to the 2018 NFL season by not reporting to Steelers’ headquarters on Tuesday afternoon to sign his franchise tender.
By all accounts, Bell hasn’t been at headquarters since the 2017 season ended, and he left behind a locker full of goodies.
Since Bell won’t be needing anything in his locker, perhaps other Steelers can put something in there to use. Some of Bell’s likely former teammates raided his locker Wednesday and claimed his possessions as their own.
Linebacker Bud Dupree walked off, literally, with some of Bell’s shoes. He then joked he was going put them on and practice the “dead leg” running move that Bell utilizes so well.
Steelers players went into Le’Veon Bell’s locker, removing his nameplate and rummaging through items. Bud Dupree says thanks for the Jordan brand cleats. pic.twitter.com/gQaAu9hUPd
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 14, 2018
“Appreciate the cleats, my guy,” said Dupree, who appeared to have made off with two pairs of Bell’s shoes. “But I hope you the best, man.”
Bell’s nameplate was also removed from his locker, as was a mixtape CD labeled “Le’Veon Bell #1.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said that the raid seemed more playful than anything else, but the Steelers are surely relieved they don’t have to answer any more questions about the running back’s absence.
“It’s kind of nice that it’s over,” guard David DeCastro said of the Bell saga. “We can just move on, keep getting James some more yards and keep winning games. It’s been fun, we’ve been on a fun roll and the season goes by a lot faster when you’re winning games.”
Bell’s replacement, James Conner, has had a breakout season, rushing for 771 yards (third in the NFL) and scoring 11 touchdowns (tied for fourth in the league).
Bell’s locker had gone untouched all season as most expected him to eventually return.
But the Week 7 bye came and went without Bell. Then the Week 11 deadline came and went without Bell. And finally on Wednesday, everyone could see that Bell has likely played his last game in Pittsburgh.
Cornerback Mike Hilton, who walked away with a pair of Jordan cleats from Bell’s locker, said this was just an act of closure and now everyone can move on.
Multiple Steelers say Le’Veon Bell’s items were packed up, placed in the back and likely to be shipped to Bell. They stressed nothing malicious, everyone likes Bell. But this was closure. “Now, everybody can really get past it,” CB Mike Hilton said.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 15, 2018
While the raiding act wasn’t considered malicious, it’s clear that many Pittsburgh players were a bit salty once they realized Bell wasn’t returning.
Antonio Brown is among a handful of Steelers who have unfollowed Bell on Instagram.
In this day and age of social media, that might be a bigger insult than someone stealing your shoes.
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