They can’t just tell him to fukk off. They would have to pull the franchise tag. Then he becomes a FA immediately I believe.
When he comes back, they can put him on an exempt list for 2 weeks and don’t have to pay him for that time. After that they have to pay him but could hold him out of games by declaring him inactive or just benching him.
Let’s be real though, each side needs the other now. If The Steelers want to make a playoff push they could use him along with Conner. At worst they could could make him backup to Conner and as insurance. Bell meanwhile needs to be on the roster by a deadline so that he becomes a FA at the end of the year.
When he comes back, they can put him on an exempt list for 2 weeks and don’t have to pay him for that time. After that they have to pay him but could hold him out of games by declaring him inactive or just benching him.
Let’s be real though, each side needs the other now. If The Steelers want to make a playoff push they could use him along with Conner. At worst they could could make him backup to Conner and as insurance. Bell meanwhile needs to be on the roster by a deadline so that he becomes a FA at the end of the year.