The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most storied and beloved franchises in NFL history. Deadspin says they cemented themselves in the record books by winning the most Super Bowls. The Steelers were part of historic plays like the "Immaculate Reception" in the 1972 AFC playoffs.
The Steelers fanbase is like nothing else. Every game day, the stadium is electric and the crowds go wild for their black and gold. However, the franchise is experiencing drama unlike anything they have faced before. All-Pro running back Le 'Veon Bell has been holding out on his contract for weeks now, and Antonio Brown didn't show up to the Steelers' facility on Monday.
Bell has been in an ongoing contract dispute for the past several years. In 2016, he entered the final year of his contract and was expecting a max deal, given that he had become one of the best backs in the league. The team did not respond the way Bell expected, and they offered Bell a franchise tag. Contract negotiations failed, resulting in talks being halted completely.
Le 'Veon Bell believes he is worth a lot of money
The main issue in Bell's dispute is that he believes he should be one of the highest paid players in the league, because of his continued strong performance. Le 'Veon Bell has truly become one of the best players in the league, however, running backs are often paid less than other positions because of the high turnover rates and the short shelf life of players at that given position.
The Steelers' front office feels like they can find someone of equal or lesser value than Bell for a much lower price through either free agency or the 2019 draft. For now they are putting the workload on second-year running back James Connor.
Antonio Brown bailed on practice
A former Steeler PR staffer criticized Antonio Brown's skills, saying he would not have the same success without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Brown fired back on Twitter, saying: "Trade me lets find out."
Brown ended up skipping practice on Monday, and according to CBS Sports, called in a personal day. Brown's agent attempted to cover for him, saying Brown has no interested in a trade and is only frustrated with the role he plays on the team. Antonio Brown has managed to record more than 100 receptions in each of the last five seasons.
Bell and Brown account for nearly 100 touchdowns and 15,000 yards combined during their time as Steelers. Because of that, their absence has already impacted the team. The Steelers currently sit at 0-1-1, with little hope of recovering.