Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Jets running back Le’Veon Bell won’t be exchanging pleasantries before Pittsburgh and New York kick off on Sunday.
After sitting out all of last season due to a contractual dispute, Bell left the Steelers and signed a four-year, $56.5 million deal with the Jets in March. Tomlin has not kept in touch with his former star running back since he left Pittsburgh and isn’t exactly giddy to reunite with him this weekend.
“I have none,” Tomlin said when asked if he had any sort of relationship with Bell. “I don’t communicate with him. He’s a New York Jet.”
It’s understandable if Tomlin is harboring any sour grapes towards Bell. His contractual dispute with the Steelers rubbed many within the organization the wrong way and drew plenty of criticism. Tomlin went as far as saying Bell had a “complete game”, but didn’t offer too many praises for the 27-year-old tailback or lend any insight into whether Pittsburgh has an advantage going up against its former feature back.
“I don’t have to tackle him. I don’t have a lot to worry about,” Tomlin said. “Tackling him is the issue. His teammates have seen him in [a] training-camp like setting. It won’t be the first time those guys had a chance to combat him in those ways.”
Bell became a star with the Steelers, appearing in three Pro Bowls and establishing himself as one of the NFL’s elite running backs. He hasn’t been able to achieve the same success in his first season with the Jets, recording only 676 rushing yards, 404 receiving yards and four total touchdowns in 13 games.
The hope is that Bell will be able to exact some revenge against his former team in Week 16. Either way, there is certainly no love lost between the running back and his former head coach.