Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 Takeaways from Week 1 vs Browns

2. Mike Tomlin makes good on his word

Back in late July while the team was in training camp, coach Tomlin provided a few words on Le’Veon’s absence in a press conference that foreshadowed a possible punishment once Bell decided to return to team activities.

"“There is no question we are a group that values the team-building process,” Tomlin said. “And doing it in this setting, so yes, there is value, and yes, there are consequences for not being here. That’s the reality of it.”"

Fast forward almost two months later with Bell now signed to his franchise tender, and Tomlin proved to be a man of his word. After whispers of what Bell’s workload would look like upon arrival, Bell ended the game with 10 carries for 32 yards, adding three receptions for 15 yards. To say the least, Bell’s production was extremely underwhelming.

Whether it be the penalties previously talked about, or the “rust” shown by not being at camp, the most noticeable thing about Le’Veon was his constant absence on the field. According to Adam Levitan of Draft Kings/Fantasy Labs, Bell was on the field for 43 of 60 snaps, which translates to 71 percent of the time he was on the field. To give you a comparison, Bell was on the field for 90 percent of possible snaps all of last season, barring injury or suspension.

Do all of those 5-wide sets start to make sense now? In all reality, it’s unlikely the plan was to limit Bell for a whole game, especially one where the Steelers needed a boost from a non-existent rushing attack. Yet Tomlin is very particular on hitting home the idea of a team mentality, and the absence of Bell on more plays than normal signifies he did his due time, courtesy of the coaching staff.

Rest easy, fantasy owners abroad. Le’Veon Bell should hit normal usage in the coming weeks.