The Pittsburgh Steelers have a storied history of players who have been loyal to the franchise. Many of these players remained in Pittsburgh long after their careers ended. They are players that fans and the organization revere, respect and recall with great fondness. Players like Jerome Bettis, Hines Ward and Jack Lambert are the embodiment of the type of players fans appreciate.

They gave everything they had, leaving nothing on the field. This quote from Lambert’s Hall of Fame induction speech sums up what fans appreciate the most.

“If I could start my life all over again, I would be a professional football player, and you damn well better believe I would be a Pittsburgh Steeler.”

Two players who will probably never be viewed with such reverence, but could have been, are Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount. Both have one thing in common Steelers fans love, but also, many of the personality traits they despise.

• Blount and Bell are friends.
• Blount has been suspended for smoking weed.
• Bell has been suspended for smoking weed.
• Blount walked out on his Steelers teammates because he was unhappy with a lack playing time.
• Bell walked out on his teammates because he’s unhappy with a lack of money.

Blount’s actions forced the Steelers to give him what he wanted: his release. It certainly appears that Bell is trying to accomplish the same thing. Blount quit over a lack of playing time while Bell has quit to avoid it. He wants to save himself for a huge payday next season.

Whether or not Bell’s strategy works, his actions are reflective of what his priorities truly are, with himself. At least Blount wanted to play. Thanks to Bell, another guy who really wants to play, James Conner, is getting an opportunity to show what he can do.

There are two positive aspects to Bell’s selfishness, however. Conner is proving what he is capable of doing, and the Steelers’ available salary cap space is growing by $889,000 each week.