Steelers O-linemen react to news of Bell's impending return

Now that there is a date associated with Le'Veon Bell's return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the tune in the locker room has changed some.

Members of the team's offensive line criticized the running back earlier in the season for his holdout. After missing the first four games of the year, Bell will reportedly return to the team during its Week 7 bye.

"It's music to my ears," said right tackle Marcus Gilbert, according to Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

"It sounds good. But I wish we could have him back today. Why's he taking so long? " Why wouldn't he come back here and be around the guys and see us in the eye? I don't know. I know we're all waiting on him."

Center Maurkice Pouncey called the news "awesome."

"We love Le'Veon," he said. "Sometimes, I think that gets misconstrued, how much we care about him. We all want the best for him. People take things the wrong way sometimes, and we're totally fine with him."

Guards David DeCastro and Ramon Foster were among Bell's harsher critics when they learned he would be missing games early this season. They remained reserved with their responses Wednesday.

"If he's not here, he's not here. I'll believe it when I see it," said DeCastro.

"If he shows up, that's awesome. If he comes later, that's cool. Our job right now is to win these games that's in front of us until he does," Foster added.

The Steelers are off to a 1-2-1 start and face the 1-3 Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

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