Bell doesn’t show, but Brown does, in a helicopter
LATROBE — Le’Veon Bell didn’t show up at all, but Antonio Brown pulled into the upper field in a helicopter.
It was a reporting day of extremes for the Pittsburgh Steelers at Saint Vincent College on Wednesday, but the only actual news was the signing wide receiver Eli Rogers to a one-year contract.
Rogers tore an ACL in the playoffs last season and as a free agent took a bit of a tour around the NFL before returning to sign yesterday with the Steelers.
The slot receiver’s production dipped precipitously last year due to the emergence of JuJu Smith-Schuster.
After catching 48 passes for 594 yards in 2017, Rogers finished his second NFL season with only 18 catches for 149 yards, although he did add five catches for 42 yards in the playoff game before the injury.
Rogers will start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list without an immediate agenda.
“He’s been rehabbing at UPMC’s facility, so we’ve seen him some around,” said Mike Tomlin. “He went through the process, felt like this is the best place for him. We feel like it might be an opportunity for him when healthy. We know enough about him that we don’t have to rush that process. When he is ready to go, we’ll proceed.”
Tomlin knows that his primary receiver is ready. The coach was asked about Brown’s theatrical arrival by helicopter and Tomlin said, “It’s A.B. It’s a beautiful thing. He’s ready to go.”
“It was less driving,” explained Brown. “More convenient for the time, so I could get here to get ready to go.”
After catching more than 100 passes in each of the last five seasons, was Brown perhaps making a statement about this season?
“I’m just ready to go,” he said. “Ready to go here professionally, ready to work, and excited to get ready for the year. … We know what is expected. We know what’s at stake.”
On the absence of Bell, Brown said, “It’s a business. Everyone has to do what’s right for their business.”
Bell, of course, used a camp holdout as leverage during his failed contract negotiations that left him on the franchise tag for the second consecutive season.
Last year, Bell didn’t sign his tag until the week of the first game, and he gained 32, 87 and 61 rushing yards before erupting for 144 in the fourth game. Tomlin said he’s not looking to apply any lessons this season from what he may have learned about Bell’s holdout a year ago.
“My mentality regarding Le’Veon will be very similar to the way it was a year ago,” Tomlin said. “When he gets here, we’ll evaluate his overall readiness and how much time he missed and see the ramifications of that. Until then, I’m going to be singularly focused on those that are here working and their development.”
Tomlin said he thought Bell last year “did a nice job when he showed up, in terms of his overall approach and attitude. I didn’t have any qualms with that.”
A couple more questions about Bell were the last Tomlin said he expects to field this training camp.
“Again, I’m going to stay focused on where I’m at, respectfully,” Tomlin said. “I’m done with the Le’Veon questions.”
Tomlin only fielded the first of what will be many questions about his new offensive coordinator, former QBs coach Randy Fichtner, and the changes he may bring.
“I was a wideout coach (at the University of Memphis) when he was a playcaller in 1997,” Tomlin said. “I’ve seen that show before. It’s going to be fun.”
But Fichtner called plays out of the spread at Memphis.
“Not much has changed in the big scheme of things,” Tomlin said. “They’ve got 11; we’ve got 11. We better move the ball fluidly down the grass.”
Tomlin was also asked about last week’s criticisms by former All-Pro linebacker James Harrison, which included a perceived lack of discipline enforced by Tomlin.
“I don’t think a lot about it,” Tomlin said. “He has an opinion. He’s entitled to it. He doesn’t play for us right now. I’m focused on 2018, man. That soap-opera stuff, I’ll let you guys play that game.”
Only one player, veteran offensive tackle Bryce Harris, failed the conditioning test. Undrafted rookie cornerback Trey Johnson didn’t participate because of a shoulder injury.