What we learned on reporting day at Steelers training camp is this: Martavis Bryant can
’t practice. Le’Veon Bell won’t practice. And http://www.authentic49ersshop.com/shop-by-players-mike-purcell-jersey-c-1_34.html Alejandro Villanueva needs to practice.The last two weren
’t all that unexpected. The first? Well, that was somewhat of a new occurance.The Steelers were informed by the NFL that Bryant still has a couple of hoops to jump through as part of his conditional reinstatement by the NFL for violation of the substance abuse policy.
Because of that, he could report Thursday. He can even sit in on meetings. He just can
’t practice at this time.While nobody is certain about the time frame for when Bryant, who was suspended for all of last season, will be cleared by the league, it
’s expected to be a reasonably quick happening - at least by league standards.This was not, however, any kind of off-field setback for Bryant.
As for Bell, not showing up for reporting day was always the likely outcome when he didn
’t sign his franchise deal after he and the Steelers could not come to terms on a contract extension.It
’s not a huge deal and I still expect him to show up after the team’s first preseason game. That will give him two weeks to prepare for the third preseason game - against Indianapolis - which is when he would have gotten the bulk of his work, anyway.Mike Tomlin said he has been in communication with Bell throughout the process and, while he
’d like to have the running back in camp, he expects him to b ready to start the season.Bell isn
’t going to miss any of those $725,000-per-game paychecks he’ll receive once the season starts.Bell
’s per-week money is more than Villanueva was scheduled to earn all season ($615,000). That’s why both the Steelers and Villanueva wanted to get a new deal done with their starting left tackle.Even at that, Villanueva
’s deal, which averages $6 million http://www.authenticbroncosshop.com/shop-by-players-max-garcia-jersey-c-1_52.html over four years, is a bargain. He’ll still be just the 21st-highest-paid player at his position in the league.But the 28-year-old really didn
’t have a lot of other options. As a player who made his way into the league after bouncing around for years - between three tours of duty in Afghanistan as an Army Ranger - he was in a tough spot.The Steelers held his rights this year as an exclusive rights free agent, and next as a restricted free agent. He would have gotten a raise next year on a restricted deal, but it wouldn
’t have been for $6 million per season.And if he played that out to unrestricted free agency, he would have hit the market at 30.
As it is, his deal is akin to the one signed by right tackle Marcus Gilbert, though less than those of Pro Bowl center and guard Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro, respectively.
Not showing up really wasn
’t an option for Villanueva. After all, he won his starting job when Kelvin Beachum was injured. Before that, he hadn’t even been guaranteed a roster spot.He knows from experience that starting jobs in the NFL can be fleeting.
@ Sammie Coates said he expects to be out a couple of weeks after having a clean-up surgery on his knee. It
’s the second time this offseason the knee was scoped and it just kept bothering him.@ If there was any question about Stephon Tuitt
’s hand injury that kept him sidelined during OTAs, he erased them by carry no fewer than 10 grocery bags Matt Asiata Womens Jersey to his room at the same time - splitting them between his two hands.@ Don
’t know what is up with safety Daimion Stafford, but he was placed on the did not report list. It could just be a familiy situation.The former starting safety with the Titans was signed in the offseason and is part of the team
’s plans this season as a nickel/dime linebacker.
