The Pittsburgh Steelers don't exactly look like they need him.

Le'Veon Bell might be ready to head back to work. The star running back tweeted "Farewell Miami" on Monday Ndamukong Suh Jersey Salute to Service , possibly indicating the end of his months-long standoff with the club. Bell hasn't been inside the Pittsburgh locker room since last January, opting to stay away rather than sign his one-year franchise tender. The two-time All-Pro has sacrificed half of the $14.4 million he's due this season but needs to report by Nov. 13 to make sure he accrues enough service time to reach free agency in March.Bell's extended absence initially created a furor inside the locker room. Now, it seems almost like an afterthought. The Steelers (5-2-1) have ripped off four straight victories heading into Thursday night's visit from Carolina (6-2), relying heavily on James Conner — Bell's replacement — to surge into the lead in the AFC North.Conner topped 100 yards rushing for a fourth straight week during a 23-16 victory over Baltimore on Sunday, and caught his first career touchdown pass when he took a short flip from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and bulled past Baltimore safety Eric Weddle at the pylon."He's showing that no challenge is too big for him, against the No. 1 defense or whoever it might be," Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva said of Conner. "You know when you're so close to him, and he lowers his shoulder, and you see him get a couple yards, it's extremely motivating."Conner is second in the league in all-purpose yards and touches behind Los Angeles Rams standout Todd Gurley and tied for fourth in total touchdowns. The second-year back hardly seems bothered by the heavy workload, saying he's built for it. So does his coach."I agree with James," Mike Tomlin said Monday when asked about Conner's personal assessment.Tomlin smiled as he answered, mirroring the considerably lighter mood around his team these days. The problems that plagued the Steelers during September have vanished, though Tomlin is reticent to point to any one area where his team has improved."I'm not trying to look for specific areas, I just try to challenge these guys to get better every day," Tomlin said. "That's what we're focused on. I think that if we do that daily that will give us a chance to produce consistent performances that are on the rise. Not only in the second quarter (of the season) but as we continue through this journey."It's a pattern that's become well established during Tomlin's 12 years on the job. The Steelers have been traditionally slow starters under his watch, then get it together as the days grow shorter.Pittsburgh hasn't allowed more than 21 points during its four-game run and the secondary that was torched regularly in the opening month has settled in. Coty Sensabaugh has taken over for Artie Burns at the cornerback spot opposite Joe Haden and rookie safety Terrell Edmunds has filled in capably while veteran Morgan Burnett heals from a series of injuries that have slowed him since training camp.The Steelers aren't exactly overwhelming opponents but considering the firepower on offense, overwhelming teams isn't required. Pittsburgh gave up at least 327 yards in each of its first four games. The Steelers haven't surrendered more than 324 yards over their last four."Our defense is working in the right direction," safety Sean Davis said. "We held the Ravens to 16 points ... and I feel like we're putting together winning performances. As long as the defense continues to do that, and with our offense playing the way they're playing, we're just going to continue riding the roller coaster. Our trajectory is high."Considerably higher than it appeared while getting repeatedly torched during the opening month. Yet the job is still only halfway done. The schedule remains daunting. If Bell — whenever he shows up — can return to at least some semblance of the form that made him an All-Pro last season, Pittsburgh could be a tough out. If he can't, they like their chances anyway."It's still going to be a long ride," linebacker Bud Dupree said. "It was great that we got the win to get on top of the division again. We've got another game against the Bengals. We just need to be sure to dominate everywhere." Andre Roberts is a travelin' man whose passions include hitting the links at golf courses all over the world.You name a destination and there's a good chance the New York Jets kick returner has been there. After all John Franklin-Myers Jersey , Roberts has visited all seven continents.Yes, even Antarctica.There's one place, though, he has never been: the Pro Bowl. But Roberts is doing all he can to book a trip there this season."Yeah, I think I'm a Pro Bowl-caliber returner," Roberts said. "I've done well this year. I'm tops in the league in a lot of categories, so I think I've done a good job this year."That's an understatement.Roberts leads the NFL in punt return average (15.3 yards) among qualified players, and is tops in the league with 841 yards on kick returns. He also has eight returns of 40 or more yards 鈥?five on kickoffs and three on punts 鈥?while the next-closest player has no more than three."I don't know too many returners in this league that are dual returners that have done what he's done this year," special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said."You have some guys that are slightly better on kick return or whatever. But if you look at the dual stats and what he's done this year, I don't think there's a better returner in the game."Roberts has stabilized what has been a position of flux the past few years as the Jets tried the likes of Kalif Raymond, JoJo Natson, ArDarius Stewart, Jalin Marshall, Nick Marshall, Jeremy Ross and C.J. Spiller in the return game.None could provide a consistently reliable option on special teams. The Jets signed Roberts in the offseason, and the 30-year-old veteran has been a big-time spark."Yeah, special teams has kept me in the league," Roberts said. "And you know teams have seen that I can do the return stuff at a high level, so I still feel like I'm ascending. Age ain't nothin' but a number, but I feel good right now and hope I can just keep going."Roberts is a free agent after the season and there's uncertainty as to the futures of both coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan. But, Roberts, who is also a part of the offense as a wide receiver, has proven himself to be a key contributor for the Jets this season.He had a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown in the season opener, and has been on the verge of scoring several times since on both punt and kickoff returns."He's been great for us Authentic Joseph Noteboom Jersey ," special teams standout Terrence Brooks said. "When he hits those holes, he just goes. We love blocking for him, man. We want to get him in the end zone. It's been a while, but we're going to try to get another one before the season ends."Roberts has three punt returns for touchdowns in his career, with the other two coming in 2016 with Detroit. He also brought back a kickoff for a score with Washington in 2015. He has been a consistent return threat since his college days at The Citadel, and was drafted by Arizona in the third round in 2010.He has not been as much of a factor in the passing game as he was early in his career with the Cardinals and Redskins, but has certainly found his niche in the league."I still play receiver," Roberts said, "but I definitely embrace the role and I feel very comfortable with it and I'm making it my life now."So is traveling, something not unexpected from a guy who grew up in a military family with both parents serving in the U.S. Army. He was born in Alaska, and moved to places such as Texas, South Carolina and St. Croix 鈥?after his parents were deployed to South Korea."I moved around a little bit," he said with a smile. "I've heard others do a lot more than that, but it's been fun."The travel bug was ingrained in him at an early age, so he has always wanted to explore. He set a personal goal of seeing all seven continents 鈥?North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica 鈥?by the time he turned 30.Mission accomplished.Larry Fitzgerald, his buddy and former Cardinals teammate, joined him on several of the trips 鈥?including to Antarctica in 2013."We said the same thing most do about Antarctica, like, nobody goes there Limited Brian Allen Jersey , so why not just go?" Roberts said, laughing. "So we went on a cruise and stayed on a boat. Obviously, there are no hotels down there, but a lot of penguins, a lot of ice, a lot of snow. Saw some whales and a lot of glaciers. So, it was a fun experience."But the best trip he's ever taken?That's an easy one: Australia 鈥?where he met his fiancee, Olivia Kenny, in 2014."Me and Larry were out there playing golf and we were in Melbourne and came back to Sydney for the flight back home," Roberts recalled. "We went out one night, and met her and some of her friends and kept in contact with her and everything worked out."Now, the couple, who welcomed a baby boy in May, plan to be married in January after the football season.First, though, Roberts might have to make room on the itinerary for a trip to Orlando, Florida, for the Pro Bowl."I don't think there's a guy," Boyer said, "that's done more than Roberts this year."