Looks like the 'best-case' scenario for Bell fans who want to see him play this year is if he decides to sign late on Saturday. That means he gets his full paycheck for this week and doesn't have to suit up for Sunday, basically he gets a one-week free paycheck but I doubt that happens.
More than likely he's sitting out the first ten games and only playing the final six games so the next-best case scenario is he gets traded.
Noticed Kyle Shanahan said the loss of his starting RB changes everything.
 Shanahan: Loss of RB McKinnon changes things ‘drastically’ for 49ers’ offens
Hmnn, he loses a duel-threat RB, the type he 'covets' and has to go to the trash heap and is starting a guy who doesn't have the skills he covets and he's coming off an injury.
The Steelers could ship Bell far away and out of the conference and get back more than compensatory picks.
Whichever team who would trade for Bell would do so knowing he can't sign an extension until after the season.
The Niners made the same sort of trade for Jimmy Garappolo last year and that has worked out 'pretty-good' for them.
Seems like a logical scenario.