Has it come to this? Has it really come to this? The Pittsburgh Steelers thought they had everything figured out this season. After what happened last season, there was no way they would let this happen again, right? What am I talking about? The Steelers running back situation of course.

In 2014, the Steelers were a team on the move as they made their way to the playoffs. The offense was balanced and explosive with a run and pass mix that was hard to stop. Then Cincinnati Bengals safety Reggie Nelson changed it all in the final week of the regular season. Nelson went in low to tackle star running back Le’Veon Bell, and took him out for the playoffs. Pittsburgh turned around the next week, and without the threat of a run game, lost to the Baltimore Ravens.

Why was there no threat to run? Because the Steelers coaches in their infinite wisdom has zero depth behind him. After cutting petulant backup running back LeGarrette Blount go because he left the sidelines before the end of a game he didn’t play, Pittsburgh did nothing in the subsequent six weeks to replace him. So when Bell got hurt, the Steelers had no depth whatsoever.

But this season was different, right? Pittsburgh signed veteran DeAngelo Williams, and between a suspension by Bell and yet another injury, had taken the reins of the starter. However, when Williams took over, the Steelers didn’t bother to bolster the depth behind him. Now as the playoffs are set to begin again, Pittsburgh is without its starting running back and has no viable option to replace him.

So why not sign Ray Rice? According to a TMZ report, Rice is working out and staying fit, ready for a return to the NFL. And if you look closely at the available free agent running backs, none come close to Rice in terms of talent. Especially when you consider he hasn’t taken a snap in two seasons. A concern about Rice at one point in his career was mileage, but he’d come in with fresh legs for sure.

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I know what Rice did was awful. I’ve seen the video just like the rest of you. I also know that the league is littered with bad guys. If Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy or Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson can get a second chance, why can’t Rice? He’s got a balanced package of skills, is smart and could pick up the offense in a hurry.

He wasn’t just a good runner, but also a threat to catch the football, and very good in blitz pickup. Bringing in a guy that the Steelers already cut adds nothing in terms of talent, and an inexperienced free agent might not be ready in time. Remove what he did as a man, and you see that Rice might be just what the Steelers need.