There's a bit of a disagreement brewing in the Steel City but, thankfully for Steelers fans, it's of a fairly benign nature.
Earlier today, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he wasn't overly concerned with the number of carries that electrifying young workhorse, running back Le'Veon Bell, has been getting this season.
"He has the pedigree for it," Tomlin said, via Bouchette.
But then later in the day, when Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was questioned about Bell's workload by the hosts of The Cook and Poni Show on Pittsburgh's 93.7 the Fan, he offered an answer that belied a bit more concern than his head coach.
"I don't know of a running back since I've been here that has been able to basically play every single snap," Roethlisberger said, per CBS Pittsburgh. "I think that speaks volumes for his conditioning and the work this season that he has put in. But you do have to be careful. I hope we don't run him into the ground, if you will. It's that stretch of the year where everyone is going to give it everything they have and I know he probably wants to be in there every single play because that's the kind of player he is."
The Steelers lost 35-32 to the New Orleans Saints this past weekend, but Bell was one of the team's top performers, managing 95 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries and catching eight passes for another 159 yards.
On the season Bell now has 1,046 yards rushing on 216 carries for a fantastic per carry average of 4.8 yards and 65 receptions for 643 yards. He has three rushing touchdowns and two more receiving.
If the now 7-5 Steelers are going to make it to the postseason and beyond, they'll need Bell to continue playing a major role. The hope for Roethlisberger, and Steelers fans, is that they don't ask too much of him and possibly cause long-term damage in the process.
