Le’Veon Bell has been one of the best tailbacks in the National Football League. His talent and versatility are virtually unmatched, as one could tell just by watching the man play. He racks up all kinds of stats and produces a lot of points for the Pittsburgh Steelers and fantasy owners, that is, when he plays.

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Currently, Bell is in the middle of yet another holdout and trying to get a long term deal from the Steelers. So far, he has missed the first four games of the season and thusly has been denied his franchise tender pay for each of those games. And while both sides have tried to get a long term deal done, nothing has come to fruition.

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Now, we stand four weeks into the season. The Steelers are 1-2-1, having lost to the Ravens in a nailbiter on Sunday Night Football. The lack of Bell’s presence is more than evident, especially in the running game. As of Monday afternoon, the Steelers sit at 28th overall in the NFL in rushing yards with a mere 289 yards, or under 73 yards per game, according to ESPN.

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The lack of rushing has forced quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to carry the load through the air. He himself leads the league in passing yards, but has thrown the third most picks in the league. Some would argue the defense is the root of the problems in Pittsburgh. And yes, they have given up an astonishing 113 points in the last three games played at Heinz Field among other downfalls.

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However, it cannot be denied that Bell’s absence had a divisive effect on the team. Most of the Steelers’ offensive line criticized Bell for no-showing, with the most profound statements coming from Ramon Foster, who stated “In the ultimate team sport we’ve created a league of individuals,” per ESPN Analyst Jeremy Fowler. Others have come to Bell’s defense, as Antonio Brown posted a picture of him and Bell on his Instagram earlier this month that stated in the caption “We all we got, we all we need. Ready to roll whenever you get back with us, family.”

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It appears as though Bell will not be returning to this ‘family’ though, as the Steelers are currently exploring trade options for the former Pro Bowl running back. Nothing serious has been presented to the Steelers thus far, but the organization has publicly offered an asking price for Bell. Per Ian Rapoport, Pittsburgh wants a second-round draft pick along with a “good player.” A few teams have expressed a little bit of interest, among those being the Jets, Browns and Colts. Again, though, no serious offer has been put on the table.

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It is quite possible that these trade talks do not come to fruition either and the Steelers could be stuck with Bell. The longer Bell holds out, the more it becomes a possibility, simply because of the structure of his contract and his perceived value. As per an article recently published on ESPN, the more games he misses this season, the less he will be paid and the less he will be worth next season.

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What that statement boils down to is something called the transition tag. According to that same article, whether Bell was traded or retained by the Steelers, the transition tag could be applied to him, meaning that the team he ends up with is guaranteed negotiating rights until July 16. In this case, the tag can be further applied past the deadline into the season and the organization Bell is a part of must pay 120 percent of his current salary. Bear in mind, under the franchise tag, Bell loses compensation for each game he voluntarily misses.

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Not to mention, Bell has been somewhat of a liability to the Steelers. As many Steeler fans likely remember, Bell suffered a groin injury the week prior to the 2017 AFC Championship against the New England Patriots. Before that, he suffered from an ACL tear, an MCL tear, a concussion and a Lisfranc sprain, all within three years.

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In addition, Bell has received multiple drug related suspensions from the NFL. In 2016, he was suspended three games for missing a mandated drug test. In 2014, he faced a four game suspension for a DUI and marijuana possession. He is also on record stating that he smoked marijuana after his DUI arrest and the completion of his rehabilitation program in 2014.

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Needless to say, things are a bit complicated with Bell at the moment. It is quite unclear what is going to happen or what Bell is going to do. Former Steeler James Harrison suggested that Bell “fake an injury” after reporting to the Steelers, as stated in an interview with Fox Sports 1. Bell needs six games on the roster, injured or not, under his belt to qualify as an unrestricted free agent. While this may not be the most ethical course of action, it is as possible as anything else at this point.