the kind of off-the-field distractions they couldn't seem to shake in 2017.So
much for that.While the two-time defending AFC North champions hit the practice
field on Monday to prepare for their Week 1 opener in Cleveland
Baker Mayfield Jersey Elite , All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell was nowhere to be found. Bell still hasn't signed his one-year franchise tender or
given any indication on when he might show up, leaving his teammates to answer
for him."I'm not annoyed by (being asked about) it," guard Ramon Foster said,
tongue firmly in cheek. "Who are you talking about? I didn't even notice."Center
Maurkice Pouncey called Bell's absence "fine" and insisted it won't be an issue
going forward."The team is so locked in and focused on what we've got to do at
hand this weekend that whenever he comes, we'll welcome him with open arms,"
Pouncey said. "Hopefully he's in shape and ready to run the football."A year ago
Bell skipped training camp, showed up on Labor Day and was ready to play in the
opener
http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.com/baker-mayfield-jersey , though he and the entire offense looked sluggish in narrow 21-18 victory over
the Browns. Bell finished with 32 yards on 10 carries in Cleveland and didn't
really get rolling until October."I think the whole offense started out kind of
slow last year," Pouncey said. "To point out one thing at one person because he
wasn't here (for camp) is totally wrong."Bell recovered in time to lead the NFL
with 406 touches and likely would have won the league rushing title if he wasn't
held out of a meaningless finale with Pittsburgh's playoff position already
secure.The Steelers placed the franchise tag on him for a second straight spring
hoping a long-term deal could be worked out. When the two sides failed to reach
an agreement by the July 17th deadline, Bell offered an apology while promising
that "2018 will be my best season to date."At the moment, it's a season that
currently lacks a starting point.The players are off Tuesday, meaning Bell would
have just three days of practice to get ready for the Browns if he signed his
$14.5 million tender before the team took the field on Wednesday. That's not a
lot of time regardless of Bell's pedigree.Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert
said the team was "disappointed" in Bell's late arrival, but will focus on
preparing for Cleveland with the 53 men currently on the roster.If Bell is not
available, the Steelers will turn to second-year running back James Conner. The
former Pitt star ran for 100 yards during limited action in the preseason and
has won raves from his teammates for his improvement as both a blocker and a
receiver."I feel like James has been in a great spot this entire camp
Authentic Baker Mayfield Jersey ," Foster said. "He's the one that's taken all the reps. And we've got (Stevan) Ridley who is an experienced hard downfield
runner too. We'll be fine in the run game and focus on those guys over
there."While Bell is missing, Josh Dobbs is still around. The second-year
quarterback capped a stellar training camp by edging veteran Landry Jones for
the right to be Ben Roethlisberger's backup.Dobbs, who threw for a touchdown and
ran for another in the exhibition finale against Carolina, said he wasn't sure
he made the team until offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner called him just
minutes before rosters were trimmed from 90 to 53."I thought I played well when
my opportunities came," Dobbs said. "I didn't know how it was going to shake out
but I felt we prepared well and played well. We've just got to continue to
improve moving forward."Rookie Mason Rudolph will be the third-stringer for now
behind Dobbs and the 36-year-old Roethlisberger, who has been remarkably durable
in recent seasons. Roethlisberger has missed just five games because of injury
since the start of 2013.NOTES: The team selected Roethlisberger,
Pouncey
Greg Joseph Jersey Elite , defensive end Cam Heyward and kicker Chris Boswell as captains for the 2018 season. ... Pittsburgh re-signed S Nat Berhe on Monday
and placed LB Ola Adeniyi on injured reserve. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield
shared his negative view of Hue Jackson taking a job with the Bengals after the
Browns fired him as their head coach earlier this season after the two teams met
on Sunday and that opinion sparked a lot of responses from around the football
world.Some were supportive of Mayfield and others were critical, but Mayfield
said Wednesday that none of it is going to change the way he carries himself in
the future.??eople took it as me personally attacking Hue,” Mayfield said, via
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “That?? not it. It?? the fact that I get to
have my own opinion on how it transpired and he gets to do what he wants. That??
how it is. Although I?? an athlete, I?? not a cookie cutter quarterback. Never
have been, never will be. I speak my mind, that?? how I am. I didn?? like the
move and people don?? have to care. I?? not looking for anybody?? approval. I
don?? regret any of it. It?? about this team and what we have and we have to
stick together and play together.”One could nitpick some of what Mayfield has to
say about not looking for anybody’s approval in light of his reaction to
ex-NFLer Damien Woody sharing his own opinion about what Mayfield had to
say
http://www.clevelandbrownsteamonline.com/greg-joseph-jersey , but that reaction certainly fits with the notion that Mayfield’s going to say
whatever he wants whenever he wants.Either way, it’s impossible to argue that
the quarterback isn’t entitled to speak his mind about anything he’d like. If he
does continue to do so as his career unfolds, it should make for interesting
times on and off the field in Cleveland.
