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Le'Veon Bell  is second in the NFL in rushing yards (1,268).
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Team MVP Le'Veon Bell hopes to stick around with Steelers

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Team MVP Le'Veon Bell hopes to stick around with Steelers

Le’Veon Bell just picked up his second Steelers Most Valuable Player award in three years, two more than the number of playoff games in which he’s appeared.

He will make his playoff debut Jan. 7 or 8, and Bell along with at least one important teammate believe that will not be his final game at Heinz Field.

Bell is finishing up the last year of his rookie contract after the Steelers chose not to negotiate an extension with him before the 2016 season began. He would become an unrestricted free agent in March without benefit of a new deal. The Steelers could give him the one-year franchise tag, which this year would have been slightly under $12 million and will likely rise in 2017.

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“I think they do need to do whatever they can to keep him,” Ben Roethlisberger said.

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Bell’s response: “Obviously, I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler so obviously we’re going to try to do everything it takes to make that happen.”

Bell and Antonio Brown have alternated winning the team MVP the past four years and Brown also won it in 2011 to give him three. The All-Pro wide receiver also is in line for a big contract extension after this season.

But for now, all of their thoughts are on the playoffs.

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Absent with injuries over the previous two postseasons and no doubt a big reason the Steelers went just 1-2 in those games, Bell will get his first taste of the playoffs after sitting out Sunday’s game against Cleveland.

“It’s something I’ve been wanting to do the last four years,” Bell said after his teammates chose him as their MVP. “I’m glad this year I’ll actually be able to.”

It is why he will not complain about not playing against the Browns Sunday. Mike Tomlin plans to rest him, Roethlisberger, Brown, Maurkice Pouncey and probably more in a game that has no bearing on their No. 3 seed in the playoffs as AFC North Division champions.

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“I understand the bigger picture, me getting into the playoffs healthy so we can have a run in the playoffs. If we get to the Super Bowl and win, I’m not going to be thinking about week 17 when we played the Browns and I didn’t play. I’m thinking about the bigger picture, us making a run.”

He also was not thinking much of winning the AFC rushing title, which he leads by just two yards, or of his outside shot of winning the league MVP.

“I obviously don’t care about winning it or not,” Bell said. “I want to get to the Super Bowl.”

It was that kind of attitude that has endeared Bell to his teammates despite the fact he’s twice been suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He missed the first two games of 2015 for a marijuana conviction/DUI, and the first three this season for what was reported as missed drug tests.

He returned with a vengeance, rushing for 144 yards in his 2016 debut against Kansas City. His 236 yards at Buffalo Dec. 11 set a Steelers record and were part of a finishing kick in which he topped 100 yards in five of the final six games, the other reaping 93.

His 1,268 yards rushing lead the AFC and are second in the NFL. His 157 yards per game from scrimmage (rushing and receiving) leads the league, although his 1,884 yards are third because he missed the first three games.

All this after his right knee was damaged Nov. 1, 2015, which ended his season. He reportedly tore the medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments.

“I’m just glad to see this guy’s come back in a major way from the suspension, just from the injury to have the production he had this year,’’ guard Ramon Foster said. “He had three less games than the guy who is the leading rusher right now and he’s still No. 2.”

Foster said he knew Bell was all the way back to form during a play in his second game, against the New York Jets Oct. 9.

“He made a cut and the safety came down and fell right on his face. I was like, ‘Ohhh, he’s got it.’ I was just glad to see him do what he does best. He’s doing it without thinking. I love it.”

Their hope now is that he will continue to do it for them in the postseason. And beyond.

Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com

First Published: December 28, 2016, 6:22 p.m.
Updated: December 28, 2016, 11:02 p.m.

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Le'Veon Bell is second in the NFL in rushing yards (1,268).  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
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