Le'Veon Bell admitted that the last ti he reached out to Lance after a ga, he had ulterior motives. Forced to sign the exclusive franchise tag contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bell had been suppressing frustration all season. He knew he might face more difficult negotiations during the offseason.
He needed to rally support, to make the voices of running backs truly heard.
At the ti, Bell hadn't expected Lance to actually fight all the way to the end and rise to the top. His approach to Lance was mostly due to Lance's Chinese heritage and Roger Goodell's backing—maybe that could help generate extra attention and dia montum for running backs.
Likewise, Bell didn't expect Lance to step up as he did—going further than Gurley, who went silent after signing his extension with the Rams, acting like an outsider and doing nothing more for the cause.
Who would've thought that a casual and opportunistic connection would turn into genuine camaraderie—one that might change Bell's circumstances?
It was sothing Bell had never felt in the Steelers' locker room, again proving how a true leader can influence a team's character and atmosphere.
Now, Bell understood why T.J. Watt had nothing but praise for Lance.
However—
Just as Lance predicted, they were up against the tide of the entire league. Billions—hundreds of billions—in profits were at stake. One or two running backs couldn't change that. Bell alone wasn't enough.
Running backs still needed to keep up the pressure and shift public opinion through on-field performance.
At the mont, the timing still wasn't right. Bell might yet co up short again.
As training camp ended, there was still no news of Bell re-signing.
July 16—the franchise tag deadline—passed. The Steelers hadn't budged and once again slapped Bell with the exclusive tag.
Bell still refused to sign.
As the preseason began, Bell remained absent.
The situation was clearly deteriorating, heading toward a disastrous conclusion.
And then—it happened.
"I'm not playing."
That was the ssage from Bell.
With less than 48 hours until the 2018 regular season kickoff, Lance saw the ssage, and the aning was crystal clear.
The dia hadn't reported it. The Steelers hadn't made a statent. The league was silent. That ant even if Lance wasn't the first person Bell told, he was among the very few who knew sothing so explosive.
Lance let out a deep sigh.
He supported Bell—but he didn't want things to go this far. There was a tragic sense of futility here, like throwing an egg at a stone.
Lance replied, "Is there really no way back?"
Bell: "None. If they want to push it to the edge, so can I. Worst case, I leave Pittsburgh and play elsewhere—even if it ans a pay cut. I just can't swallow this. Pittsburgh doesn't respect ."
Lance: "Bell, you're more experienced than . You know our performance depends on the coaches' sches too."
Just like quarterbacks, running backs need coaches to build systems around them. Even the best players can't shine without proper sches.
Just look at Nick Foles in the Super Bowl.
Andy Reid earned his "QB whisperer" title by crafting systems tailored to different quarterback styles. The Chiefs even brought Burns out of retirent just to build sches for running backs.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was also a tactical mastermind. Lance worried that if Bell left Pittsburgh, he might not find another coach who understood and utilized his strengths.
Bell: "You should believe in ."
Reading the short reply, Lance understood Bell didn't want to continue. He swallowed the rest of what he was going to say.
Lance: "No matter what happens, you're never facing the storm alone."
He hit send and set the phone down. Despite knowing little about football in his past life, Lance had a bad feeling. Things might not go the way running backs hoped.
Ding.
Another ssage lit up the screen:
Bell: "I'm ready."
Then, darkness returned to the screen.
The next morning, the league was rocked by a bombshell.
Just as fans were catching their breath from the last-minute extension between Green Bay and Rodgers, another superstar's contract saga veered in a completely different, explosive direction.
Bell announced he would not play in the regular season for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
From skipping training camp to boycotting the season, Bell showed unyielding resolve, still refusing to sign the exclusive franchise tag.
And then ca the coldest, harshest twist.
The Steelers gave no response—no condemnation, no discussion of a new deal, not even a formal acknowledgnt of Bell's decision.
Instead, they made one announcent:
They nad his replacent.
No ntion of Bell's na. They acted as if he didn't exist. A brutal, silent rebuke.
Silence louder than words.
This was ruthlessness on a higher level.
Thus, the 2018 season began amid chaos and uproar.
Discussions exploded across the league.
Why?
Because the opening ga featured the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium.
Destiny had a sense of humor.
To the Steelers, Lance and Hunt were agitators. If not for them stirring the pot, maybe the Bell negotiations wouldn't have unraveled. Now Bell was sitting out, and the Steelers' reputation was in shambles.
Lance: Did the Steelers even have a reputation to begin with? Even I, a football novice, had heard stories of Roethlisberger bullying fans and acting like a tyrant in the locker room.
Tomlin: Get out!
And let's not forget last season's playoff humiliation. The Steelers never took the Chiefs or Jaguars seriously. They were already dreaming of facing the Patriots in the AFC Championship—until both so-called contenders were sent ho in sha.
Now, old grudges and fresh animosities surged to the surface.
Tension was set to explode.
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