Bell doesn’t show, but Brown does, in a helicopter
LATROBE 鈥� Le鈥橵eon Bell didn鈥檛 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鈥檚 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.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been rehabbing at UPMC鈥檚 facility, so we鈥檝e seen him some around,鈥� said Mike Tomlin. 鈥淗e 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鈥檛 have to rush that process. When he is ready to go, we鈥檒l proceed.鈥�
Tomlin knows that his primary receiver is ready. The coach was asked about Brown鈥檚 theatrical arrival by helicopter and Tomlin said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 A.B. It鈥檚 a beautiful thing. He鈥檚 ready to go.鈥�
鈥淚t was less driving,鈥� explained Brown. 鈥淢ore convenient for the time, so I could get here to get ready to go.鈥�
After catching more than 100 passes in each of the last five seasons, was Brown perhaps making a statement about this season?
鈥淚鈥檓 just ready to go,鈥� he said. 鈥淩eady to go here professionally, ready to work, and excited to get ready for the year. 鈥� We know what is expected. We know what鈥檚 at stake.鈥�
On the absence of Bell, Brown said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a business. Everyone has to do what鈥檚 right for their business.鈥�
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鈥檛 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鈥檚 not looking to apply any lessons this season from what he may have learned about Bell鈥檚 holdout a year ago.
鈥淢y mentality regarding Le鈥橵eon will be very similar to the way it was a year ago,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淲hen he gets here, we鈥檒l evaluate his overall readiness and how much time he missed and see the ramifications of that. Until then, I鈥檓 going to be singularly focused on those that are here working and their development.鈥�
Tomlin said he thought Bell last year 鈥渄id a nice job when he showed up, in terms of his overall approach and attitude. I didn鈥檛 have any qualms with that.鈥�
A couple more questions about Bell were the last Tomlin said he expects to field this training camp.
鈥淎gain, I鈥檓 going to stay focused on where I鈥檓 at, respectfully,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淚鈥檓 done with the Le鈥橵eon questions.鈥�
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.
鈥淚 was a wideout coach (at the University of Memphis) when he was a playcaller in 1997,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen that show before. It鈥檚 going to be fun.鈥�
But Fichtner called plays out of the spread at Memphis.
鈥淣ot much has changed in the big scheme of things,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e got 11; we鈥檝e got 11. We better move the ball fluidly down the grass.鈥�
Tomlin was also asked about last week鈥檚 criticisms by former All-Pro linebacker James Harrison, which included a perceived lack of discipline enforced by Tomlin.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think a lot about it,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淗e has an opinion. He鈥檚 entitled to it. He doesn鈥檛 play for us right now. I鈥檓 focused on 2018, man. That soap-opera stuff, I鈥檒l let you guys play that game.鈥�
Only one player, veteran offensive tackle Bryce Harris, failed the conditioning test. Undrafted rookie cornerback Trey Johnson didn鈥檛 participate because of a shoulder injury.