NFL roundup: Le’Veon Bell not at Steelers minicamp
By Brad Weiss
The Pittsburgh Steelers need Le’Veon Bell if they hope to make some noise during the 2017 NFL season, but the running back was not at minicamp Tuesday.
In order for the Pittsburgh Steelers to be a legitimate threat in the AFC during the 2017 NFL season, they need their star running back lining up behind Ben Roethlisberger. Le’Veon Bell has yet to sign his franchise tender, and because of that, he will not be fined for not showing up for the first day of mandatory minicamp with the team. Bell is one of the more dynamic players in the NFL, and without him at running back, the Steelers will be lacking a potent weapon on the offensive side of the ball.
Luke Kuechly suffered a horrific concussion last season, forcing some players to anonymously tell him to retire. The concussion came only 14 months after he had to miss three games due to another shot to the head, which is worrisome considering how much we now know about head injuries. On Tuesday, star Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said that Kuechly is “as physically ready” as he has ever seen, and if he is healthy, the Panthers will be so much stronger on defense.
Odell Beckham Jr. did not show up for OTAs with the New York Giants, prompting fans and media to worry that it was due to him wanting a new contract. Instead of the drama dragging into training camp, OBJ was at Giants minicamp on Tuesday, putting to bed any notion that he may hold out this season. The star wide receiver said he took the time off to “train and mature,” and for Giants fans, the sight of No. 13 being back on the field with his teammates has to be relieving.
Andrew Luck will not be participating in minicamp, but that is no big shock to anybody within the Indianapolis Colts organization. The star quarterback of the Colts is battling back from shoulder surgery in January, and the team is hoping he will be ready in time for training camp. Luck is one of the better young quarterbacks in the NFL, and without him under center, it would be a long season for the fans in Indianapolis.
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In some rather funny news, it appears that new Baltimore Ravens star wide receiver will be getting free crabcakes for life. Jimmy’s Seafood, a Baltimore-based seafood restaurant, promised to give Maclin the free food if he signed with the Ravens. The restaurant made good on their word, and because Maclin loves crabcakes, it makes his new two-year deal with the team that much sweeter.