AFC Notes: Dolphins, Patriots, Steelers

Dolphins

• Tom Pelissero reports that Dolphins S Reshad Jones‘ decision to take himself out of Sunday’s game against the Jets could lead to him being disciplined by the team.
• According to Pelissero, Jones is going to have to earn back trust from people in the Dolphins’ organization including his teammates.

Patriots

• Adam Schefter reports that after missing the past two games with a knee injury, Patriots RB Sony Michel is likely to return for their Week 10 game against the Titans.
• Patriots signed S Obi Melifonwu. (NFLTR)
• Patriots signed LB Albert McClellan. (NFLTR)
• Patriots waived DE Geneo Grissom and OL Cole Croston.
• Patriots placed C/G Brian Schwenke on injured reserve.
• Patriots released RB Kenneth Farrow from their practice squad.

Steelers

Tom Pelissero reports that no matter what happens with Steelers holdout RB Le’Veon Bell in the coming weeks, a third franchise tag would cost Pittsburgh the higher quarterback figure of around $25 million next year, which obviously is not happening.

“My understanding is the NFL management council and the NFL Players’ Association, the parties that negotiated the collective bargaining agreement, are on the same page that if Bell were tagged a third time, whether he shows up this season, whether he sits out the entire year, that tag would be at the higher quarterback number, not the lower number similar to what he would be due under the franchise tag this year,” Pelissero said. “It would be extremely unlikely for the Steelers to put that higher third franchise tag on Le’Veon Bell. That would set up a scenario where they’d tag him a third time, the number is upwards of $25 million and Bell, if he wanted to, could walk on the day he’s tagged, sign it and be owed $25 million for one season.”

According to Aditi Kinkhabwala, neither the Steelers nor the NFL is expected to make the case that Bell’s second tag should carry over to 2019 if he doesn’t show up and sign his tender.

“I’ve been told by both league and team sources that neither the NFL nor the Steelers have any plan to argue that the second tag should carry over, should Le’Veon Bell not play this year,” Kinkhabwala said. “They are all in agreement that any potential tag would be the third (or the transition).”