NFL PITTSBURGH STEELERS TEAM REPORT

BELL’S SITUATION MIGHT SET TEAM TONE

WHAT WILL BELL DO?

Three questions facing the Steelers: Le’Veon Bell will be the NFL’s best-paid running back in 2018 ... just not in the manner he’d hoped for.

The Steelers and their twotime all-pro failed to reach a long-term deal by the July 16 deadline for franchise-tagged players to do so. Bell now will play on the tag for the second consecutive season, earning more than $14.5 million as the top-compensated player at his position.

However, he failed to attain the long-term security he sought, angling for an extension that would have rewarded him like an elite receiver, according to reports. Teammate Antonio Brown paces that market by pulling in $17 million annually, more than twice the amount of Atlanta’s Devonta Freeman ($8.25 million) and Buffalo’s Le-Sean McCoy ($8 million), who have the richest average salaries among running backs on multiyear contracts.

“After the 2018 season is completed, we again will attempt to work out a long-term contract with Le’Veon,” general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement.

Bell, 26, led the NFL in carries (321) and touches (406) in 2017 and makes the most of his workload. His career average of 129 yards per game from scrimmage is the most of any player in league history with a minimum of 50 appearances.

However, durability has been an issue at times, and he’s also been suspended twice for violating the NFL’s policy on substanceabuse. Bell skipped Pittsburgh’s offseason program and didn’t report to the team until Sept. 1 last year, a tactic he’s indicated he’llreplicate in 2018.

There always seems to be “something” surrounding this group. Heading into 2018, Ben Roethlisberger no longer is hinting at retirement but seemed perturbed at the drafting of Mason Rudolph in the third round, though he says his previous remarks were made in jest. Brown had an in-game outburst last season.

One big weapon in embattled yet explosive wide receiver Martavis Bryant was traded

to Oakland. That means secondround draft pick James Washington (Oklahoma State) must emerge quickly.

Managing all of those personalities on offense will be Randy Fichtner, who was promoted to offensive coordinator after eight years as the quarterbacks coach. He replaces fired Todd Haley, who oversaw top 10 scoring and total offenses the last four years. Fichtner last called plays for the University of Memphis from 2001 to 2006.

CAN THEY GET PAST THE PATRIOTS?

Including the postseason, the Steelers are 48-23 the past four years. Four of those losses have come at the hands of the Patriots. Since their last trip to the Super Bowl in 2010, the Steelers are 1-5 against the Patriots and losers of five in a row.

WILL THE DEFENSE BE GOOD ENOUGH?

The Steelers finished seventh in the NFL in scoring defense in 2017 — but they gave up 45 points at home in a loss to Jacksonville in the playoffs.

The team will be inspired by the recovery of star linebacker Ryan Shazier following spinal surgery after he was temporarily paralyzed because of a hit in Week 13. But on the field, his presence has been missed. Second- year linebacker T.J. Watt looks to be an emerging pass rush star after recording seven sacks as a rookie, while fellow linebacker Vince Williams had a breakout year with eight sacks.

Defensive end Cameron Heyward had a career year with 12 sacks and will be counted on to continue to be that dominant presence up front. The secondary has been remade with the addition of free agent safety Morgan Burnett (Green Bay) and the drafting of safety Terrell Edmunds in the first round.

All these players will have to come together a bit more solidly, as that loss at home to the Jaguars was the fifth time in the last seven games of 2017 the defense gave up 24 points or more.

OFFSEASON BREAKDOWN

BIG ADDITIONS: S Morgan Burnett (free agent) LB Jon Bostic (free agent)

BIG SUBTRACTIONS: CB William Gay (released) S Mike Mitchell (released)

LAST YEAR: 13-3, first in AFC North, lost in divisional round

HEAD COACH: Mike Tomlin, 12th year, 116-60

DRAFT GRADE C: WIDERECIEVER:  James Washington should help replace Martavis Bryant (traded for a third-rounder), while his college quarterback, Mason Rudolph, is a great candidate to be Ben Roethlisberger’s potential heir. Edmunds was viewed as a middle- round prospect, and the team never addressed an inside linebacker void.