re: Leveon bell not expected to report to Pittsburgh

I don't think that's right. If he accrues a year then they wouldn't be able to franchise him again because all that stuff that you said happens, but that's all moot if he doesn't accrue the year under this franchise tag and fulfill that contractual obligation. Then he would just be playing under the contract that he was supposed to be playing this year for next year. I'm pretty sure at some point he has to at least show up. Maybe before the week 11 game? Whether the Steelers actually decide to play him and how is a different question entirely.

I don't know. There must be something about this process that I'm not understanding.

EDIT: From reading that ESPN article, it seems that I'm right. The Steelers could just franchise him again next year with the same price as this year if he doesn't report. They're just speculating that the Steelers don't want to bring him back at any price because they're moving on and Conner has proven himself.