PITTSBURGH -- In March, Le'Veon Bell told Instagram Live viewers he would report to the Steelers in Week 1, as he did in 2017.

He has not.

On Wednesday, his agent, Adisa Bakari, told SiriusXM NFL Radio that "something exceptional" occurred between his speaking with the network in the summer, and Week 1.

"If memory serves me I said Le'Veon had every intention to make this the best season of his career," he told the radio station. "That has not changed. To make this the best statistical season of his career."

When one of the hosts pointed out Bakari had said Bell would join the team in Week 1 unless something exceptional occurred the agent responded, "Well there you go. We had something exceptional occur."

When will Le'Veon Bell report to the #Steelers? His agent @AdisaBakari joined us and updated his clients holdout in Pittsburgh...



🔽AUDIO🔽 pic.twitter.com/H7Rl4TLMiK — SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) September 5, 2018

Earlier in the same interview Bakari outlined his and Bell's thinking in not joining the team. The running back stands to lose one-seventeenth of the $14.54 million franchise tag contract he would otherwise be guaranteed in full upon signing for every week he does not sign the tender.

"You're Kevin Colbert, you're Mike Tomlin and you have a possibly once-in-a-generation player for one more season," Bakari said. "What would your plan be? What would you do with that hypothetical player?"

When one of the hosts said he would play Bell as much as possible, then asked Bakari what his plan for Bell was, he replied "I think, you know, you can read in between those lines."

As of Tuesday around noon, head coach Mike Tomlin said he had not communicated with Bell this week. In the past when Bell has stayed away from the team under the franchise tag the head coach has said he was in touch with the star running back.

Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday morning he did not know when he might see Bell.

Practice begins at 1:15 p.m.

"I think Mike Tomlin said it best yesterday," Bakari said. "He'll get there when he's there and we'll address those issues when they arise."