Le'Veon Bell is optimistic about reaching an agreement on a new contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers that would allow him to report to camp on time.

"Yeah. You know regardless that's what I want to do," Bell said. "I don't want to have the replications of what happened last year. But if that came down to that, obviously I got to do what I got to do. Take my stand and protect myself. I don't want to have to do that. I want to go to camp and play for the Steelers long term."

Both Bell and the Steelers expressed a desire to reach a deal early in the offseason. The running back is set to earn $14.5 million under the franchise tag. He has until the July 16 deadline to finalize a long-term contract.

"Obviously, the people in the organization try to do what's best for them and I'm trying to do what's best for me," Bell added. "We're working on it. We're a lot closer than we were last year at this time. That's what I'm happy about. None of that matters if we don't get it done. Hopefully we'll try to get something done. That's what I'm looking forward to. I got confidence we'll get it done. I want to do it."

Ben Roethlisberger is two years away from free agency, but isn't interested in seeking another major deal.

"I care about record-breaking Super Bowl wins and things like that -- that's more important to me," said Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger's five-year contract, signed in 2015, averages about $20 million per year, which was the market for top quarterbacks at the time. 

"I have two years on my contract. I'm not going to be one to sit here and worry about my contract," said Roethlisberger. "That's not my job. My job is to play football. I'll let my representation, the Steelers worry about all that stuff. To me, it's all about going out and playing now. I think there are a lot more, maybe a lot more important people who need to get their deals done now. For me to do it two years out, if it doesn't make sense for the team, I'm not going to sit here and worry about it."

Ryan Shazier held a news conference on Wednesday for the first time since he suffered a spinal injury in Week 13 of the 2017 regular season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker underwent spinal stabilization surgery on Dec. 6, 2017.

He has already been placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, which ends his 2018 season, but Shazier made it clear he remains hopeful to continue playing.

"My dream is to come back and play football again," Shazier said. "I've been working my tail off every single day, so I have that in the back of my mind every single time I go to rehab. I just try to stay positive every day, so I'm just trying to do everything I can to get back."

Shazier pointed out there isn't a hard medical timetable on his recovery process and he is taking it "one day at a time," but he has received encouragement.