So much for the positive updates on talks between Le’Veon Bell and the Steelers. On the eve of the league’s franchise tagging deadline, the running back says that the two sides are far apart in talks (via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler). Furthermore, Bell added that he was not bluffing in January when he said that he is contemplating retirement if he does not get the kind of deal he is after. 
“We’re not coming to a number we both agree on — they are too low, or I guess they feel I’m too high,” Bell said. “I’m playing for strictly my value to the team, that’s what I’m asking. I don’t think I should settle for anything less than what I’m valued at.”
Instead of looking at his value in terms of what he brings to the Steelers, Bell gets the sense that the team is putting a greater focus on the running back market as a whole. Currently, Falcons tailback Devonta Freeman stands as the game’s highest-paid running back at $8.25MM per year. Bell has previously stated that he wants a deal that reflects his value not just as a runner, but as a lethal pass catcher. He remains more optimistic about talks than he was last year, but he doesn’t see anything coming together between now and Tuesday afternoon.
“We might get something done,” Bell said. “I’m hoping for something to get done but I’m not expecting it to [before Tuesday].”
As it stands, the Steelers are expected to tag Bell for a second consecutive season, this time at the inflated cost of $14.544MM. The mechanism, in theory, would keep Bell in place for the 2018 season, but his retirement threat could throw a wrench into plans, depending on how seriously it is received by the Steelers.
Heyyy, maybe Maurkice Pouncey can step in there for you Le’v? I mean, if HE can’t convince management to sign you to what you’re worth, then I don’t think anyone can.
(Cue the trolls on yesterday’s post)
That’s not even a story. Give it up already. It’s just teammates backing teammates.
Frankly at this point, I wish he would retire or for the Steelers to trade him. Sick and tired of his whining and threats.
Couldn’t agree more. He thinks he’s Superman and there’s no one else like him. There are plenty of backs that could be put in the same role and not be too far off from Whiny azz Bell. He is a great talent but he’s not the only great talent. Let him retire , because as soon as he starts to miss his first paycheck he will be on that field pronto. What an arrogant and selfish player
Lol that’s like saying Aaron Rodgers is easily replaceable because there are plenty of great QB’s in football. There are plenty of great RBs, true, but none like Bell, and none that’ll come cheap, whether it be the FA $ to sign them or the pick it’d cost to draft a replacement. Add to that the Steelers lack of cap space and huge holes at safety and MLB, not to mention their aging franchise QB.
Say he doesn’t accept the tag and retires, who would you replace him with then?
Good points for sure , but he’s no Aaron Rodgers. Next guy up would still be successful in the system. Deangelo Williams did well , Steelers still won with him. Just saying he is overvalued. I said he was great … but a QB is much more important position to the team so that’s not a fair comparison
I see you’re STILL at it, BUBBA. You and your sis break up? Is that why you’re so angry?
Yep Eminem .. still at it. Cheers
Yeah, the nerve of a guy to demand his fair market value from a team that has historically relied on players taking hometown discounts.
Shazier’s injury was a wake up call to every NFL player about how short their careers can be. As a RB, Bell likely only gets one shot at a long term deal. Good for him for not caving in, the guy’s giving years of his life for his employer, the least they could do is pay him what he’s worth.
THANK YOU! Finally, someone who understands.
The problem is that neither the Steelers nor any other team is going to pay him what he “thinks” his worth is. Regardless of his production, he’s not getting paid like a QB.
While it is true that NFL players have a short window to play and make money, the money that the Steelers have offered/will pay is more than enough to change/set anyone’s life. If he choose to forego that money ($14.5M, or $30M based on last year’s offer) on principle, he’ll have to live with that decision the rest of his life…especially if the money he’s already made runs out at some point, which happens to far too many celebrities.
Now your using both hands … get’em T
They offered him 5/60 last offseason with 30 guaranteed. That’s way more than any other RB and more than market value. How bout your Eagles pay him $14.5MM a year for 5 years. See how you can keep that SB roster together…
So what? So, it’s YOUR job to determine his value for him? How about you let someone determine how much you make at your job, ok??
It’s not my job…I’m talking about the market
He’s not allow to try and set the market to what he think he’s worth? If he doesn’t get it, Oh well. Can’t blame him for wanted however much he think he’s worth.
The guy is one of the best RB’s in the game plus he was #10 in the league in receptions… one behind Julio Jones. And he did this while sharing receptions with Antonio Brown. He’s right, he’s worth more than just RB money.
Let him sit out and see what he has to gain. This is team sport not a “what am I worth”
Unfortunately, the time to get a long-term deal done was before last season. Half of the guaranteed $30 million would have burned off by now.
No way do the Steelers give him $15mm per season with $30 guaranteed now, a year later, and closer to the inevitable RB falloff, nor should they.
If I’m the Steelers GM, I give him the non-exclusive tag, tell him to go ahead and find a team willing to pay him what he wants AND have to give up two #1s to the Steelers as a condition of presenting an offer sheet. No team would be that desperate, but if one is, the Steelers should take those picks and laugh.
Bell is going to either play his last year in Pittsburgh on the tag, retire, or sign elsewhere, giving the Steelers massive draft capital. Either way, I see him with zero leverage here, other than the retirement option, which would be insanely stupid.
So say the Patriots come in, make an offer on the non exclusive franchise tender and essentially closes the Steelers window with Ben and Antonio. Patriots give up two 1st round picks but so what. They draft better after the 1st round than the rest of football.
What Steeler fans who complain constantly that Bell is a selfish whiner forget that without Bell then Ben would be exposed to more pressure, Antonio would have fewer avenues to work. The offense as a whole would cease to resemble anything close to what it is. That is what a guy Bell brings to a team and it would turn a team that is in the conversation for the Super Bowl each year into the Detroit Lions.
Pay the dude. Structure it to be Front loaded with little to no dead money and cut him after a couple of years. Mishandling your own hometown talent is noticed by out of town talent when they hit free agency. Player collusion is perfectly legal. The Patriots have done it for years now.
All this from a lifelong Lions fan who has watched the misuse of a star player not once but twice.
I don’t think anyone will really disagree that he’s the best all-around RB in the league. But the salary cap only allows for so much, no matter how good a player is. No team can remain competitive and allocate #1 RB and #1/2 WR cap money to ONE player, as Le’Veon insists he is worth.
The Steelers hold all the marbles here. If he retires, fine…holds out like last year and returns before the regular season, great…signs his tender and the Steelers trade him, even better.
Le’Veon is one of a kind but RB’s are a dime a dozen. Colbert can find a viable replacement on Day 1 or 2 of the draft.
How’d that dime of dozen do when Zeke was out in Dallas??
2 hands , go boy go
*Day 2 or 3
Agreed he’s the best now, but not long ago Arian Foster was the best in the league, and Larry Johnson before that. Being the best RB is about a 2 or 3-year fleeting thing if you’re lucky.
Signing a RB to a massive, long-term contract is nuts and Leveon missed his best chance at one before last season. He’s never getting that $30 million guaranteed contract offer ever again.
I’m actually amazed he doesn’t happily sign that tag and be the highest paid RB in the league for a year by $6 million. But if he does, I guarantee the Steelers run him 450 times this year until the wheels fall off.
I agree he’s one of the best in the league. I wouldn’t flat out say he’s the best. I would take David a Johnson over him , here’s why. Obviously, this is not counting last year but he matched L Bell in all categories and beat him in a lot of categories the year prior. He did this with Carson Palmer as QB , not Big Ben. Also did it with a mediocre line and not near the receiving core that Pitt has over all to take the pressure off the run. They have Fitz and then what that year … Micheal Floyd?? The total offense in Pitt was much better than Arizona across the board. Regardless, I would say the same thing if David Johnson was the subject matter , no one is above the team or more important than the team.
Bell said “They feel I’m too high” Really, you can’t make that stuff up.
That is outstanding … very fitting considering his troubled past.
Bell as one of the best offensive lines in the league. I’d like to do him be so patient when he gets clobbered behind the giants oline. He’s a very talented running back but many rbs would produce behind a very good q.v. and a great oline.
Anyone is worth what they’re signed for.
IMHO, he’s the best all around RB in the league right now. Opens up the field for the receivers, and hurts defenses when they bite too hard on the run. The offensive line is good, and he at the she time makes them look good with his patient sure if running. He opens up the passing game, enabling Brown, Bryant and Smith even more so.
Long term deal is probably not going to happen, but if they can give him $25M guaranteed over the years with incentives to reach $45M over three years, it begins to become a win-win. I’d personally be fine with $30M guaranteed at 4/60, with guaranteed dollars covering the first three years. The Steelers wouldn’t need to worry about RB for at least three years and can focus on other positions in the draft – replacing others who may not deserve the dollars against the cap. Bell is a young, impact player who would be hard to replace, especially at a critical time when they have Ben for maybe 2-3 years and Brown at his peak. This isn’t the time to let a major player who helps your other major players perform better walk. The window is now and replacing him would be a set back – possibly a major one.
Since he joined the team, they have had 66 games with him, and 21 without, and have averaged exactly the same 25.3 points per game with as without. He’s better than a system back, and extremely talented, but it’s a mutually beneficial situation, and they can’t allocate too much of limited resources to any one player, especially at a position that has such a limited shelf life. I’d love for them to get 2- #1’s for him, or even the Browns #4 overall and 1st in the 3rd this year- those two players would do more for the Ben/Brown window.
Let him retire. Bell is replaceable. Anybody who thinks otherwise is an idiot.
Your mother’s an idiot for not swallowing.
Wow – T, are you really so juvenile that because someone has a different opinion of your personal hero apparently ,that all you can resort to is your mamma this and your mama that …you are all over these boards knowing everyone’s mamma .. trust me , you spouting off about like this only solidifies the points being made. You are clearly too ignorant to participate in a simple sports conversation. Meaning you add nothing of substance to the conversation , other than your fetish for older women. I hope you know how stupid and childish you sound on almost every post. What up with my mama now , can’t wait to hear.
So everyone that doesn’t agree with HIS opinion is an IDIOT?? Have you and him been playing Tummy Sticks together or something??
More useless rubbish as expected , No useful sports conversation.
I hope he retires and then tries to come back a year from now and has to take a fraction of what he would have got had he stayed.