Steelers-Le'Veon Bell Reunion is a Pipe Dream

Ever since joining the New York Jets, running back Le'Veon Bell's exit has been lurking from the corners of the team facility. And that's all due to head coach Adam Gase not agreeing with the contract terms former general manager Mike Maccagnan gave the former Pro Bowler rusher.

Things only escalated on Monday, as Gase refused to commit to Bell next season during an end-of-year press conference.

With many wondering if Bell is going to be traded before the start of the 2020 season, there's one team you can cross off the list, and that's his former squad in the Pittsburgh Steelers, because that's simply a pipe dream.

You just have to look at the end of Bell's tenure to see why that will never happen. The running back held out for the entirety of the 2018 season to preserve his body for free agency, and essentially burned the bridge of a potential return.

Then, there's finances. The Steelers have two key players in need of a contract extension. Linebacker Bud Dupree is set to hit free agency, and is coming off a career year in terms of tackles (68) and sacks (11.5). Additionally, TJ Watt is due for a much-needed contract extension, as he hits the open market after the 2021 season.

There's no way the Steelers would be able to fit Bell's lucrative contract into the payroll, as they have just $5.5 million in cap space in 2020. Good luck trying to fit that in the books.

Additionally, recent years in the NFL showed you don't need to hand out lucrative contracts to build a strong running game. The Steelers are better off building their running back depth chart via the NFL Draft. It's way cheaper, and much more effective.

While Bell and the Steelers had an amicable split, a reunion isn't in the cards.