The Steelers have no plans on moving on from All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell.

Team president Art Rooney II is optimistic the team can sign Bell to a long-term extension going into the 2018 season Youth Derwin James Jersey , but didn’t rule out using the franchise tag for a second straight year as a precaution if the two sides can’t come to an agreement before free agency begins next month.

While allowing that contract negotiations can be hard to predict, Rooney stressed Wednesday that ”the good news is both sides want to get something done and hopefully that will lead us to getting it done.”

Bell played under the franchise tag this season after rejecting a new contract last summer. He responded by leading the NFL in touches (406) while finishing with 1,946 total yards and 11 touchdowns to earn his second All-Pro spot in four years as the Steelers finished 13-3 and won their second straight AFC North title before being upset in the divisional round by Jacksonville.

Bell told ESPN in the run-up to the playoff loss he would consider sitting out 2018 or retiring if Pittsburgh used the franchise tag again, but softened his stance prior to the Pro Bowl, saying he believes he’s close to signing a new deal, one that would likely make him the highest-paid back in the league.

While Bell figures to be back next fall, defensive backs coach Carnell Lake will not. Lake stepped down on Wednesday after seven seasons, citing a desire to return to California to watch his youngest son finish up his high school football career.

Pittsburgh’s secondary underwent a massive overhaul during Lake’s tenure, as Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor and Ryan Clark gave way to Mike Mitchell, Artie Burns and Sean Davis.

Rooney praised Lake’s contributions while adding that overall he believes the team still has work to do despite finishing with a franchise-record and NFL-high 56 sacks.

”I think at times we weren’t as solid against the run as we’d like to be and as we’ve been historically as a Steeler defense,” Rooney said.

”We’ve typically been able to stop the run Youth Uchenna Nwosu Jersey , so we’ve had occasions where maybe we weren’t as consistent in that area as I think we’d like to be.”

Namely against the Jaguars. The Steelers allowed 231 yards rushing in a regular-season loss to Jacksonville and 164 more in a 45-42 playoff stunner.

Rooney, however, downplayed the idea the Steelers were looking ahead to a rematch with New England and defended coach Mike Tomlin’s approach.

”Anybody that wants to look at Mike’s track record since he’s been our coach, I think the record speaks for itself,” Rooney said.

Rooney praised the leadership among the coaching staff and in the locker room in general following a bumpy autumn sprinkled with off-the-field issues from a ”botched” attempt to sidestep the debate around the national anthem in Chicago to linebacker Ryan Shazier’s life-altering spinal injury to the decision to cut longtime linebacker James Harrison, who promptly signed with New England and reached the Super Bowl.

Rooney said there was blame to go around on both sides for the way Harrison’s tenure with Pittsburgh ended, adding he would have preferred Harrison’s year end with getting five sacks in a Super Bowl with the Steelers.

Shazier will have a role with Pittsburgh next season whether his playing career continues or not. The 25-year-old spent nearly two months in the hospital after injuring his spine against Cincinnati in December and is undergoing outpatient rehabilitation.

Shazier posted a picture of himself standing with a little help shortly before his discharge and he made several appearances at practices and games after getting hurt.

”I expect Ryan is going to be here one way or the other and have a role with the team one way or the other in 2018 for sure,” Rooney said.

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Zach Eflin has made all the difference for the Philadelphia Phillies against the National League’s top team.

Rhys Hoskins and Andrew Knapp hit home runs and Eflin beat the Milwaukee Brewers for the second time in a week, helping the Phillies strand 15 runners in a 4-1 victory on Saturday.

Philadelphia is 2-3 against NL-leading Milwaukee this season, allowing 37 runs over the three losses. Both victories have been pitched – and pitched well – by Eflin.

”Very efficient, very poised,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said of his starter.

Eflin (4-2) gave up one run in five innings.

”I kind of got in a little funk in the first inning but was able to put that behind me and put up four solid frames after that Youth Terrelle Pryor Sr. Jersey ,” Eflin said.

He was removed for a pinch-hitter in the sixth after throwing only 73 pitches.

”Obviously, if his spot doesn’t come up in the lineup there, we send him back out and try to get more length out of him because he was that good today,” Kapler said.

Milwaukee scored 13 runs against the Phillies in a win Friday night before being stymied by Eflin and four relievers. Hector Neris pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 13 chances.

The Brewers scored in the first on Travis Shaw’s single.

Hoskins hit a towering home run in the fourth off the window of a restaurant on Miller Park’s third level to tie it. Junior Guerra (3-5) had retired eight in a row before Hoskins, who also doubled, singled and walked, hit his ninth homer.

”Obviously, he set the tone with the big home run to left field,” Kapler said. ”It is incredibly important for us to have him swinging the bat like he is.”

The Phillies took the lead in the fifth on Knapp’s leadoff homer to straightaway center.

”I am not trying to go and hit home runs,” Knapp said. ”That is not who I am, but it is nice to pop one every once in a while.”

Eflin gave up three hits, struck out six and walked one. He helped his cause by picking off Lorenzo Cain at first base with one out in the fourth.

Philadelphia extended its lead in the sixth when J.P. Crawford drew a two-out Youth Thomas Rawls Jersey , bases-loaded walk from reliever Boone Logan – Milwaukee pitchers walked a season-high 10. Cesar Hernandez followed with an infield single.

”Too many walks, period,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. ”The walks are going to bite you for sure.”

DONE DEAL

The Brewers sent 22-year-old infielder Wendell Rijo to the New York Yankees to complete the May 25th trade for catcher Erik Kratz. Rijo had been playing with Double-A Biloxi in the Brewers’ minor league system.

PATIENCE PAYS OFF

Crawford struck out twice but drew three walks. ”J.P. Crawford saw 40 pitches today,” Kapler said. ”I’ll repeat that. J.P. Crawford saw 40 pitches.”

LOGAN STRUGGLING

Brewers’ left-handed reliever Boone Logan continues to struggle to get lefties out in key situations. ”This is his job and it has to be his role to get these outs,” Counsell said.

EXCLUSIVE CLUB

Ryan Braun collected his 200th career stolen base in the fifth inning, making the Brewers’ outfielder the only active player with at least 300 home runs and 200 steals.

TRAINER’S ROOM:

Phillies: Placed RHP Luis Garcia on 10-day disabled list with a strained right wrist and optioned RHP Mark Leiter Jr. to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Recalled RHPs Yacksel Rios and Jake Thompson from Lehigh Valley.

Brewers: 2B Jonathan Villar returned after missing two consecutive games with a calf injury.

UP NEXT

Phillies: Aaron Nola (8-2) takes the mound in the three-game series finale. Nola is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in four career starts against the Brewers.

Brewers: Chase Anderson (5-5) is 1-2 with a 5.85 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies. He has not faced Philadelphia since earning a 4-1 victory on June 2, 2016, at Citizens Bank Park.

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