the need to avoid the kind of off-the-field distractions they couldn’t seem to shake in 2017.So much for that.While the two-time defending AFC North champions hit the practice field on Monday to prepare for their Week 1 opener in Cleveland https://www.brownsfanshop.com/JC-Tretter-Jersey , All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell was nowhere to be found. Bell still hasn’t signed his one-year franchise tender or given any indication on when he might show up, leaving his teammates to answer for him.“I’m not annoyed by (being asked about) it,” guard Ramon Foster said, tongue firmly in cheek. “Who are you talking about? I didn’t even notice.”Center Maurkice Pouncey called Bell’s absence “fine” and insisted it won’t be an issue going forward.“The team is so locked in and focused on what we’ve got to do at hand this weekend that whenever he comes, we’ll welcome him with open arms,” Pouncey said. “Hopefully he’s in shape and ready to run the football.”A year ago Bell skipped training camp, showed up on Labor Day and was ready to play in the opener, though he and the entire offense looked sluggish in narrow 21-18 victory over the Browns. Bell finished with 32 yards on 10 carries in Cleveland and didn’t really get rolling until October.“I think the whole offense started out kind of slow last year,” Pouncey said. “To point out one thing at one person because he wasn’t here (for camp) is totally wrong.”Bell recovered in time to lead the NFL with 406 touches and likely would have won the league rushing title if he wasn’t held out of a meaningless finale with Pittsburgh’s playoff position already secure.The Steelers placed the franchise tag on him for a second straight spring hoping a long-term deal could be worked out. When the two sides failed to reach an agreement by the July 17th deadline, Bell offered an apology while promising that “2018 will be my best season to date.”At the moment, it’s a season that currently lacks a starting point.21View Gallery Gallery:Dallas Cowboys: Celebrities who root for the Cowboys from LeBron James to Stone Cold Steve AustinUSA TODAY SportsThe players are off Tuesday, meaning Bell would have just three days of practice to get ready for the Browns if he signed his $14.5 million tender before the team took the field on Wednesday. That’s not a lot of time regardless of Bell’s pedigree.Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said the team was “disappointed” in Bell’s late arrival, but will focus on preparing for Cleveland with the 53 men currently on the roster.If Bell is not available, the Steelers will turn to second-year running back James Conner. The former Pitt star ran for 100 yards during limited action in the preseason and has won raves from his teammates for his improvement as both a blocker and a receiver.“I feel like James has been in a great spot this entire camp Ozzie Newsome Jersey ,” Foster said. “He’s the one that’s taken all the reps. And we’ve got (Stevan) Ridley who is an experienced hard downfield runner too. We’ll be fine in the run game and focus on those guys over there.”While Bell is missing, Josh Dobbs is still around. The second-year quarterback capped a stellar training camp by edging veteran Landry Jones for the right to be Ben Roethlisberger‘s backup.Dobbs, who threw for a touchdown and ran for another in the exhibition finaleagainst Carolina, said he wasn’t sure he made the team until offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner called him just minutes before rosters were trimmed from 90 to 53.“I thought I played well when my opportunities came,” Dobbs said. “I didn’t know how it was going to shake out but I felt we prepared well and played well. We’ve just got to continue to improve moving forward.”Rookie Mason Rudolph will be the third-stringer for now behind Dobbs and the 36-year-old Roethlisberger, who has been remarkably durable in recent seasons. Roethlisberger has missed just five games because of injury since the start of 2013.NOTES: The team selected Roethlisberger, Pouncey, defensive end Cam Heyward and kicker Chris Boswell as captains for the 2018 season. … Pittsburgh re-signed S Nat Berhe on Monday and placed LB Ola Adeniyi on injured reserve. The Browns may not have a first-round pick, but don’t let that stop us from mocking the first round as a community!" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesDawgs mocking the first round as a community!EDTIt’s time for the ninth annual Dawgs (if that team has 2 picks), and teams are decided on a first-come first-serve basis. In order to sign up for a team, leave a comment in the comments section AND immediately send me an email at pokorny@pfcritics.com confirming which email address I should use for you, what team you have, and what your DBN user name is. Make sure you list a specific team -- do not say, “give me any team.”The Cleveland Browns Briean Boddy-Calhoun Jersey , Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and New Orleans Saints do not have a first-round pick, so do not pick them as your team.You must be a Browns fan to sign up. In our first attempt to get people to sign up, you must have been a member for at least one month, and you must have at least 100 comments posted on DBN. If we don’t have 32 members who sign up after a couple of days, I will open the field to other individuals or see if anyone wants to take on a second team. Note: staff members are eligible to pick a team too.The Giants and Packers each have two first-round picks, while the Raiders have three first-round picks. Only one pick per person, and you must specify which pick you are taking.The draft will be done via email. If you do not check your email every day, then you should not volunteer for this.After the first team makes their pick and write-up to me via email, I will send the next person an email. They will have roughly 12 hours to respond to me with their pick and write-up. If I don’t receive anything, I may have to consult other sources for the pick. Please be on time if you choose to sign up -- this is meant to be a community mock draft, not my mock draft!This is what will be required from each person who makes a pick via email:Position, Player Joe Schobert Color Rush Jersey , SchoolOne or two paragraphs minimum on why the player is the right choice for that team. This can include comments about them being the best player available, how they fit the team’s scheme, etc.One to two sentences on how much of an impact you think he will have next season.This is not intended to be a draft profile! Remember, base your write-up on why the team needs that player.Let the sign-ups begin! If you have any questions or suggestions, let me know.Remember: as soon as you sign up in this thread, if you know you were the first person to pick a team, send me an email at pokorny@pfcritics.com telling my your username on DBN, your preferred email address, your username, and what team you have. One of the big things that has slowed us down in the past was the fact that users’ e-mail addresses on SB Nation were not the ones they checked regularly.