I’d bet Bell shows up on Saturday to ensure he gets paid. He’s not going to forfeit game checks. His actions are meant to discourage the team from running him into the ground this year, however I’d have to believe his lack of practicing will show up on game day and would negatively affect whatever contract he’s offered next year.

I haven’t heard anything about fines which could prevent Bell or at least discourage him from doing what he’s doing. Seems like a flaw in the design of the franchise tag contract if the team can’t fine him or maybe they can’t because he hasn’t actually signed the tender yet? So if he shows up on Saturday, signs and gets paid and tries doing this again next week, maybe they could fine him? That makes more sense and should be the case and if it is then Bell will show on Saturday and it’ll be the last we see of any demonstrations about his unhappiness with his situation.

I’m all for players using whatever leverage they have to get the most money they can as their window of prime earning years is small, but Bell doesn’t really have any leverage here. I think the players would be smart to try to negotiate more limits on the use of the franchise tag by teams in the next CBA, but Bell can’t do anything about that now. I just feel like this will be over on Saturday and the only thing Bell will have accomplished besides pissing off his teammates and fans is that he will have limited how much the Steelers use him in week 1. Hope it was worth it.

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