Le'Veon Bell, Mike Tomlin Speak, but Not About Steelers Contract Negotiations

While Le'Veon Bell's contract status remains a question mark, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has chosen instead to talk to his running back about other things. 

"It's just normal interactions that a coach has with a player," Tomlin said about his frequent communication with Bell, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The Steelers placed Bell under the franchise tag for the second straight year, and negotiations didn't go well last season. He held out the duration of training camp before signing his one-year tender six days before the season opener.

He said he will contemplate retirement if he doesn't get the long-term deal he feels he deserves, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

"I just have to decide if I'm going to play when the time comes," Bell said.

While his future with the team remains in doubt, normal discussions with the coach during the offseason appears to be a positive sign for Pittsburgh.