First Call: Le'Veon Bell doubles down on Andy Reid criticism; former WPIAL standout still on market if Steelers want him

Monday’s “First Call” gives us a fired up Le’Veon Bell. We look at some important variables on the 2021 Steelers roster. The notion of bringing a former WPIAL star back to Pittsburgh may be in the cards for the Steelers. And one Kansas City Chiefs superstar sees a Steelers rival as top competition in the AFC.

No love lost for Le’V

Apparently Le’Veon Bell did not enjoy his time playing for Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

The former Steelers running back got into a social media conversation over the weekend, during which he claimed that he’d never play for Reid again.

Based on the two carries Bell got over three postseason games, I bet Reid is hoping that’s a promise, more so than seeing it as a threat.

Bell got lots of social-media blowback expressing similar responses about the irony of a free agent that nobody wants to sign saying that he wouldn’t go back to a coach that has been to two straight Super Bowls.

Bell doubled down on his stance anyway via his Twitter account Sunday night.

“I said what I said & I don’t regret at all what I said,” Bell wrote. “For those who have a PERSONAL PROBLEM with me because of what I SAID, that’s fine. you have your right! just understand I ALSO have MY RIGHT for how I feel about MY PERSONAL problem with dude because of what HE SAID to me.”

Yet, Bell didn’t explain what Reid said that was so bad, claiming “I’m not about to get all into depth on why I feel the way I do, but I have my right to feel the way I feel.”

The only thing Bell wished he handled differently was taking his beef to social media in the first place.

“The ONLY thing I would change is commenting how I really felt on social media. I’ll admit that’s somethin’ I could’ve and should’ve kept to myself & I apologize about that and that only. but I don’t regret what I said, because that’s how I feel,” Bell posted.

Well, Le’V, saying it online was pretty much the root of the problem in the first place. But at least this time, you didn’t try rapping about it.

‘X’ marks the spot

Bleacher Report came up with a list of the biggest X-factors on every NFL team. For the Steelers, writer Brad Gagnon chose the offensive tackles.

“Chukwuma Okorafor had his share of struggles in place of injured right tackle Zach Banner last year, but with Banner returning and two-time Pro Bowler Alejandro Villanueva gone, Okorafor will move to Big Ben’s blind side.

Is the 2018 third-round pick ready for that? And how will the huge and tantalizing but still unproven Banner (6’8”, 335 lbs) bounce back from a lost season due to a torn ACL? If both players shine, it could make it possible for Roethlisberger, Harris and Co. to keep the Steelers in contention. But the opposite could easily happen as well.”

I can’t disagree with that. The injection of Najee Harris is an X-factor. So is Cam Sutton in an expanded role, as is Alex Highsmith replacing Bud Dupree full time. You can even argue the return of Devin Bush deserves some consideration.

However, if the decision to stick with Banner and Okorafor on the bookends of the offensive line backfires, any other improvements the Steelers have made on offense may crumble.

As might quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the pocket.

Latest on the local guy

New Castle product Malik Hooker is coming off an injury and is trying to figure out his playing future. The safety tore an Achilles tendon last September, and the Indianapolis Colts declined his fifth-year option.

Now a free agent, Hooker recently visited the Steelers as a prospective signee but didn’t leave with a contract. Regardless, Hooker remains optimistic.

“For me, on my next team, everybody knows the situation,” Hooker said Friday on Sirius XM NFL Radio. “I’m coming off the injury, most likely going to probably get offered a one-year deal so it’s about me fitting into the perfect system — to be able to go out there and show my talents. There were a couple of teams I visited that I felt highly of. But now it’s just the point of taking my time with it, and training camp is next month not next week so I have time to still tune up things and still hopefully go on more visits and see what else teams are talking about.”

FA Safety @MalikHooker24 discussed his recovery after tearing his Achilles last year and what he is looking for in his next team...

"From a health standpoint, I'm feeling pretty good right now."

⬇️LISTEN⬇️ | #NFLFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/aMeqO1vBzW

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) June 11, 2021

Hooker had seven interceptions in 34 career starts with the Colts.

Hearty endorsement

Back to the Chiefs, one of their stars is endorsing the Cleveland Browns as a significant contender for their AFC crown.

“They’re definitely a contender, without a doubt,” All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce said about the Browns to the Akron Beacon-Journal. “It’s definitely there. Baker [Mayfield] and the gang have upped the ante, made this team an unbelievable team and a team you have to prepare for and take serious. I think that moving forward without a doubt, I can see a lot more playoff games between us, and I’ll just take it one day at a time and hope for it. I think the Browns and Chiefs are definitely neck and neck.”

I wonder how a certain other AFC team feels about that: the Buffalo Bills.

What? Did you think I was going to say the Steelers there? You saw the playoff game, didn’t you?