James Conner

[feltdizz]

It’s not screwing Conner over.

Even Conner will say he knows he is Bells back up once he returns.

Not that he is happy to be the backup but he knows how this goes.

Ruthless knows and others who are honest know how we operate. Pointing it out doesn’t make us haters of Conner, just observant of how we treat the position.

[squidkid]

I think we were going to see Conner get another series this year if Bell came back before the season.

I’m not sure where I stand on the split back committee thing in regards to our RB situation.

I’m basically using our history of RB utilization when approaching this subject. I think folks are letting emotion get in the way of how we actually operate. It’s like folks who get mad when we don’t make splashes in FA on the first day. What team have you been watching?

arent you the one crying for the steelers to give bell 17+ with 50 guaranteed?
and you want to know what team they have been watching?

[RuthlessBurgher]

I love me some Conner. I'm hoping that the coaches learn how to run an RB-by-committee for next season, because I think that Conner would be an excellent option on 1st and 2nd downs and Samuels could be a tremendous weapon as a 3rd down back moving forward. But for this year, once he reports and gets himself up to speed, I think Bell will be the bellcow in his swan song with the Steelers. No hate toward any other RB on the roster.

[Ernie]

It’s not screwing Conner over.

Even Conner will say he knows he is Bells back up once he returns.

Not that he is happy to be the backup but he knows how this goes.

Ruthless knows and others who are honest know how we operate. Pointing it out doesn’t make us haters of Conner, just observant of how we treat the position.

there's also something to be said for how we treat guys who seemingly have one foot out the door... guys who are a cancer to the team..

[feltdizz]

arent you the one crying for the steelers to give bell 17+ with 50 guaranteed?
and you want to know what team they have been watching?

I never said 17 mill but I definitely think he is worthy of a much better deal than we offered.

[feltdizz]

there's also something to be said for how we treat guys who seemingly have one foot out the door... guys who are a cancer to the team..

Well we have always had Steeler goggles when viewing how the team treats a HOFer vs a flash in the pan.

Elite players get a lot of rope.

[Ernie]

Well we have always had Steeler giggles when viewing how the team treats a HOFer vs a flash in the pan.

Elite players get a lot of rope.

and hes just about run out.. lol

[Ernie]

when you are trolling your own team on Twitter after a tie to cleveland.. you've just about reached your shelf life.. I don't care how good you are. bell=cancer

[flippy]

If Bell comes back and plays 6 games, I hope he gets 400 touches this season. I'd run him into the ground since he'll be gone and save Conner for next season.

[Slapstick]

I don’t think it’s hating on Conner to point out how coaches have operated in the past regarding our RBs...

I’m simply saying that I really hope that they don’t do that with Conner..

[flippy]

there's also something to be said for how we treat guys who seemingly have one foot out the door... guys who are a cancer to the team..

It feels weird calling Bell a cancer in a thread about Conner. Just saying.

But in that same context, Conner realizes like few others that nothing is guaranteed:
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/james-conner-pittsburgh-college-football-cancer

I re-read that a few days ago when I was watching some old Conner highlights from his Pitt days. Kid was a beast and I think he still has limitless potential.

One thing that jumped out in that piece in thinking about how Conner and Bell are different - the first time Conner had to watch Pitt play without him when he injured his knee, he cried.

Who knows what Bell did? But Bell isn't playing for the love of the game. He's playing to get paid. Conner has a passion for football that Bell doesn't seem to have. Maybe Bell does. Maybe he's being misguided. Maybe the Steelers deserve some of the blame. Whatever it is, you read Conner's account of overcoming cancer and compare those to Bell's rap lyrics and wow, you got 2 completely different individuals.

[Mr.wizard]

It feels weird calling Bell a cancer in a thread about Conner. Just saying.

But in that same context, Conner realizes like few others that nothing is guaranteed:
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/james-conner-pittsburgh-college-football-cancer

I re-read that a few days ago when I was watching some old Conner highlights from his Pitt days. Kid was a beast and I think he still has limitless potential.

One thing that jumped out in that piece in thinking about how Conner and Bell are different - the first time Conner had to watch Pitt play without him when he injured his knee, he cried.

Who knows what Bell did? But Bell isn't playing for the love of the game. He's playing to get paid. Conner has a passion for football that Bell doesn't seem to have. Maybe Bell does. Maybe he's being misguided. Maybe the Steelers deserve some of the blame. Whatever it is, you read Conner's account of overcoming cancer and compare those to Bell's rap lyrics and wow, you got 2 completely different individuals.

They are also not in the same situation, Conner has nothing to lose,he can't get involved in any contract disputes he's only played in one game. If he puts up top notch numbers over the next couple seasons rest assure he will be looking for a top notch contract. I think it's weird to question Bell's heart and commitment to his team when he is getting 400+ touches every year. When Bell is on the field he leaves it all out there and then some, if you don't like his approach to his contract that's one thing but I don't think you can question his will to win when he is on the field.

[Ernie]

I don't think its his "Approach the contract" that people are upset about...

[Mr.wizard]

I don't think its his "Approach the contract" that people are upset about...

Then what are they upset about?

[Slapstick]

Then what are they upset about?

I think that, if a player doesn’t report, especially after he told his teammates that he would, you can doubt his desire to win...