Antonio Brown is lobbying for the Pittsburgh Steelers to secure Le'Veon Bell for the long-term.

Bell will play this season on a franchise tag of $12.12 million after he and the Steelers couldn't reach an extension by the July 17 deadline. 

"We need him. I need him," Brown said. "If we're going to do what we desire to do, we need every guy a part of the organization in a helmet to be there committed to the cause. He's a special piece. Obviously we know what he brings to the team, his dimension playing football, but he's a special individual. I pray that we have him there."

Brown signed a four-year, $68-million extension in February.