RB Le'Veon Bell, FA (3 Viewers)

[apalmer]

I'm surprised more people aren't calling out the agent.  He failed and badly imo.

Theses negotiations happen all the time.  Sometimes it gets tense and camp and *maybe* a game or 2 is missed.  But everyone needs to get paid and the number of protracted holdouts is a pretty low percentage.  Furthermore - how often did the player create a win doing this?  Yes there are examples on each side but 'it worked for player X' is not data.  Some one should be able to chime in on that.

Let's say Bell has 7 years left.  That is probably quite generous.  So about 100 games or so.  He has already given up 3% of that and that number is growing.  He is probably right near/at his peak as well. The milk gets old pretty quick whether you drink it or not      Bell is only getting older and at some point older quickly.  So the million dollar Sundays might be more in the 60-70 range.

He also was in a position to stay healthy and succeed on the field.  One of the best offensive line's in football with a dynamic passing game.  What is the RB shelf life in NY, CLE getting hammered by DL's and LB's rather than LB's and DB's?

He also said he wants to get paid as 2 players (fair) - but not be used as 2 players (?).  You can't have it both ways.

And Pitt would 'run him into the ground'.  Why would they.  Pitt is in the business of winning at football not overusing players before the playoffs.

So his agent thinks he can:

Get Bell some amount enough better than what Pitt offered to make missing a prime season worth it.

Make up the games/$$ lost this year.

Stay healthier elsewhere and not get 'overused'

Potentially put up Hall of Fame numbers/win a Super Bowl  (although none of that is relevant because this is a 'business')

I'd take the other side of that bet any day.

I think the main place he ####ed himself was in not showing up and not telling them if/when he would.  No team or teammate wants to deal with that bull####.  Everyone can live with money talk but the work needs to happen.

I know - tl;dr

Agent failed - football suffered

Except that his agent thought they had a deal last year.  In fact, he agreed to the terms the Steelers offered last year but Bell refused to sign the contract. Don't blame the agent for Bell's decisions.

 

[infantsam]

I'd still take the other side of the bet - and I still think the agent is not doing his job very well.  Get them close enough - make the deal - profit.  He is already becoming yesterday's news and his beef is with the UNION not the Steelers.

I'd be pretty unhappy if I had to lose $850k a week to be your 'example'

Predicting injuries - they always happen but when and how is just a guess.

And what team WON"T use a 20 million dollar RB/WR as much as they can?  Perhaps Pitt does need to consider this usage going forward but are they that much worse than other teams who have a talent like that?  And - in 2016 Pitt spent a decent pick getting the talented backup just for that.  Not used enough in 2017 but still.

 

[infantsam]

Except that his agent thought they had a deal last year.  In fact, he agreed to the terms the Steelers offered last year but Bell refused to sign the contract. Don't blame the agent for Bell's decisions.

This I was not aware of - and is that the same thing this year?

If so - I still think it's the agents job to get him to work but if Bell is that stupid then we move on - which we already did.

I don't think history is on his side though.

 

[apalmer]

This I was not aware of - and is that the same thing this year?

If so - I still think it's the agents job to get him to work but if Bell is that stupid then we move on - which we already did.

I don't think history is on his side though.

There were no reports of that this year. Of course, that only means that this time around both sides knew what Bell didn't like about last year's offer and couldn't find common ground between that offer and what Bell insisted on (which appears to be the guarantee issue).

It may be the agent's job to get him to work, but clients don't always do what their agents/lawyers/counselors advise, and the client is always the one with the final say-so, no matter how right or wrong their decision might be. 

 

[Judge Smails]

I'm surprised more people aren't calling out the agent.  He failed and badly imo.

Theses negotiations happen all the time.  Sometimes it gets tense and camp and *maybe* a game or 2 is missed.  But everyone needs to get paid and the number of protracted holdouts is a pretty low percentage.  Furthermore - how often did the player create a win doing this?  Yes there are examples on each side but 'it worked for player X' is not data.  Some one should be able to chime in on that.

Let's say Bell has 7 years left.  That is probably quite generous.  So about 100 games or so.  He has already given up 3% of that and that number is growing.  He is probably right near/at his peak as well. The milk gets old pretty quick whether you drink it or not      Bell is only getting older and at some point older quickly.  So the million dollar Sundays might be more in the 60-70 range.

He also was in a position to stay healthy and succeed on the field.  One of the best offensive line's in football with a dynamic passing game.  What is the RB shelf life in NY, CLE getting hammered by DL's and LB's rather than LB's and DB's?

He also said he wants to get paid as 2 players (fair) - but not be used as 2 players (?).  You can't have it both ways.

And Pitt would 'run him into the ground'.  Why would they.  Pitt is in the business of winning at football not overusing players before the playoffs.

So his agent thinks he can:

Get Bell some amount enough better than what Pitt offered to make missing a prime season worth it.

Make up the games/$$ lost this year.

Stay healthier elsewhere and not get 'overused'

Potentially put up Hall of Fame numbers/win a Super Bowl  (although none of that is relevant because this is a 'business')

I'd take the other side of that bet any day.

I think the main place he ####ed himself was in not showing up and not telling them if/when he would.  No team or teammate wants to deal with that bull####.  Everyone can live with money talk but the work needs to happen.

I know - tl;dr

Agent failed - football suffered

I'm glad you're not my agent.

 

[steelers1080]

If you are calling Bell selfing because he is only doing what's best for himself, you have to call the Steelers selfish too, because they are just doing what's best for them.  It works both ways.

Lol, of course it's selfish. Everyone in this situation is being selfish. The Steelers for trying to guarantee a low amount, Bell for holding out to try and stay healthy, and the teammates who want him to come back and get overworked to help them win.  Almost everybody in the NFL is selfish, except Brady. And he's not selfish when it comes to contract size because he can afford to be.  

 

[Godsbrother]

This I was not aware of - and is that the same thing this year?

If so - I still think it's the agents job to get him to work but if Bell is that stupid then we move on - which we already did.

I don't think history is on his side though.

What should have happened is Bell and his agent should have told the Steelers in no uncertain terms that they would not sign the tender before week 10 and that it would be in everyone's best interest to negotiate a trade with a team willing to give Bell the guaranteed contract he was looking for.  I don't think that happened or if it did the Steelers weren't paying attention.

When the July 16 deadline hit I think that both sides were thinking that Bell would sit out camp and the preseason, report week 1 to get the guaranteed $14.5 million and the become a UFA in 2019.  Something happened (Gurly signing) and Bell changed his mind. 

The players were still under the assumption he was going to report over labor day weekend and when he didn't they were pissed.  They had a right to feel let down but Bell has to do what he feels is in his best interest so his teammates (o-line mostly) should have kept their mouths shut.  

At this point it is clear that Bell is not planning on reporting anytime soon if at all.  The Steelers organization has moved on and would love to work out a trade but circumstances now make that extremely more difficult and even if they do they'll get a lot less in the trade than they would have before July 16.  Plus they screwed themselves out of $14.5 million in cap space they could have used to sign FAs to improve that crappy defense.

Bell he is losing close to a million dollars a week and sitting out one of his prime years.  Ultimately he may make out monetarily with the next contract but he'll never get that year back.   Maybe he doesn't care I dunno.

In any case I think both sides severely crapped the bed...

 

[Milkman]

What should have happened is Bell and his agent should have told the Steelers in no uncertain terms that they would not sign the tender before week 10 and that it would be in everyone's best interest to negotiate a trade with a team willing to give Bell the guaranteed contract he was looking for.  I don't think that happened or if it did the Steelers weren't paying attention.

When the July 16 deadline hit I think that both sides were thinking that Bell would sit out camp and the preseason, report week 1 to get the guaranteed $14.5 million and the become a UFA in 2019.  Something happened (Gurly signing) and Bell changed his mind. 

The players were still under the assumption he was going to report over labor day weekend and when he didn't they were pissed.  They had a right to feel let down but Bell has to do what he feels is in his best interest so his teammates (o-line mostly) should have kept their mouths shut.  

At this point it is clear that Bell is not planning on reporting anytime soon if at all.  The Steelers organization has moved on and would love to work out a trade but circumstances now make that extremely more difficult and even if they do they'll get a lot less in the trade than they would have before July 16.  Plus they screwed themselves out of $14.5 million in cap space they could have used to sign FAs to improve that crappy defense.

Bell he is losing close to a million dollars a week and sitting out one of his prime years.  Ultimately he may make out monetarily with the next contract but he'll never get that year back.   Maybe he doesn't care I dunno.

In any case I think both sides severely crapped the bed...

Can't offer him less guaranteed money the first year than the franchise tag and expect Bell to not be offended by that. 

Anyway, any trade news? Would love the Colts to grab him.......

 

[Bayhawks]

Eagles?

Trying to figure out if this just click-bait, or talking heads spewing nonsense.

Eagles currently have $4.5M in cap space, and trading Foles seems to be a prerequisite for this trade (who’d take him?), which would free up $11M.  That’d give the Eagles $15.5M to fit Bells remaining salary under the cap.  The 2nds, a 3rd, & a 4th in 2019 (cant see Pitt taking less as they should get a 3rd rd comp pick in 2020 if Bell leaves in FA next offseason.

But, what’s in it for Bell?  Why would he sign the tag (allowing the trade) unless he was getting something out of it?

 

[Steelers4Life]

Eagles?

Trying to figure out if this just click-bait, or talking heads spewing nonsense.

Eagles currently have $4.5M in cap space, and trading Foles seems to be a prerequisite for this trade (who’d take him?), which would free up $11M.  That’d give the Eagles $15.5M to fit Bells remaining salary under the cap.  The 2nds, a 3rd, & a 4th in 2019 (cant see Pitt taking less as they should get a 3rd rd comp pick in 2020 if Bell leaves in FA next offseason.

But, what’s in it for Bell?  Why would he sign the tag (allowing the trade) unless he was getting something out of it?

That's the point.  No matter who offers anything, Bell isn't going to be any more interested in risking his body without a long term deal with a massive guarantee, and he can't get one before the off-season.  People are making more of this trade thing than they should unless Bell's attitude changes.

When July 16th passed, he was either playing on the tag or he wasn't.  He's chosen not to, and he has no way to change that.  If he wanted a deal, he should have expressed clearly his intention of sitting out when the Steelers could have dealt him, but he likely didnt decide to do that until he saw other guys get paid by teams that don't have a ton of money tied up already with franchise QBs.

 

[infantsam]

What should have happened is Bell and his agent should have told the Steelers in no uncertain terms that they would not sign the tender before week 10 and that it would be in everyone's best interest to negotiate a trade with a team willing to give Bell the guaranteed contract he was looking for.  I don't think that happened or if it did the Steelers weren't paying attention.

When the July 16 deadline hit I think that both sides were thinking that Bell would sit out camp and the preseason, report week 1 to get the guaranteed $14.5 million and the become a UFA in 2019.  Something happened (Gurly signing) and Bell changed his mind. 

The players were still under the assumption he was going to report over labor day weekend and when he didn't they were pissed.  They had a right to feel let down but Bell has to do what he feels is in his best interest so his teammates (o-line mostly) should have kept their mouths shut.  

At this point it is clear that Bell is not planning on reporting anytime soon if at all.  The Steelers organization has moved on and would love to work out a trade but circumstances now make that extremely more difficult and even if they do they'll get a lot less in the trade than they would have before July 16.  Plus they screwed themselves out of $14.5 million in cap space they could have used to sign FAs to improve that crappy defense.

Bell he is losing close to a million dollars a week and sitting out one of his prime years.  Ultimately he may make out monetarily with the next contract but he'll never get that year back.   Maybe he doesn't care I dunno.

In any case I think both sides severely crapped the bed...

This is why I blame the agent.  He is paid to be the smart guy in the room.  Le’Veon Bell should be playing football in the NFL.

It would appear that Pittsburgh ‘gambled’ on the fact that Bell would play out the tag and they were wrong.  And it must have appeared to be a bit ludacris to think he would forfeit some, all or most of a full year in his prime so they are surely surprised.  Now losing 14.5 in cap space they are rightfully saying they will only get screwed once.  One thing they don’t seem to do is posture.

Rosenhaus would have had Bell either on the field or traded.  And he would have let the NFLPA and NFL know what they were doing wrong.

Bell is “Kap”ing himself.  Maybe Nike will pay him.  

Pittsburgh should get what they can without empowering a direct competitor and if that means he sits or whatev the rules dictate then so be it.  

 

[pollardsvision]

I'm an idiot when it comes to the compensatory pick formula. Can someone explain the likely outcomes for PIT's possible compensatory pick if Bell signs the tag/reports for Week 11 vs. rescinding the tag for Bell altogether? Would rescinding the tag definitely mean PIT's potential 3rd round compensatory pick just goes away?

Also, is it stupid to think PIT might just be better off rescinding the tag anyway? It's looking like the chances of Bell doing anything productive in PIT this year are near zero. Is it possible they decide that saving another $12 mill (or whatever) in real money or potentially using it for players to help the team now (Bowman?) is worth losing a 3rd round pick over?

 

[Hairy Snowman]

How did a year off affect David Johnson?  

Word is that Bell is not in shape, never mind football shape.  

I think he hurt his value by not playing and putting up another big year before hitting the market.  The time off is going to work against him in negotiations. IMO

 

[Milkman]

How did a year off affect David Johnson?  

Word is that Bell is not in shape, never mind football shape.  

I think he hurt his value by not playing and putting up another big year before hitting the market.  The time off is going to work against him in negotiations. IMO

He would have never survived another 400 touch season. He just got unlucky getting drafted by the Steelers. 

 

[Milkman]

This is why I blame the agent.  He is paid to be the smart guy in the room.  Le’Veon Bell should be playing football in the NFL.

It would appear that Pittsburgh ‘gambled’ on the fact that Bell would play out the tag and they were wrong.  And it must have appeared to be a bit ludacris to think he would forfeit some, all or most of a full year in his prime so they are surely surprised.  Now losing 14.5 in cap space they are rightfully saying they will only get screwed once.  One thing they don’t seem to do is posture.

Rosenhaus would have had Bell either on the field or traded.  And he would have let the NFLPA and NFL know what they were doing wrong.

Bell is “Kap”ing himself.  Maybe Nike will pay him.  

Pittsburgh should get what they can without empowering a direct competitor and if that means he sits or whatev the rules dictate then so be it.  

He's not Kap-ing himself. Kap was a marginal talent. Bell is a top player at his position. 

 

[Godsbrother]

He would have never survived another 400 touch season. He just got unlucky getting drafted by the Steelers. 

Maybe.   I am sure his stats would have been just as lofty playing for the Browns or Jets over the past couple of seasons vs a crappy offense like the Steelers have had.  

 

[Milkman]

Maybe.   I am sure his stats would have been just as lofty playing for the Browns or Jets over the past couple of seasons vs a crappy offense like the Steelers have had.  

Can't offer less guaranteed money than the tag for the first year. The Steelers just refused to pay him. He walked. Steelers looked fine Monday night but probably aren't winning a SB this year. They'll be fine but probably could have used that 14 million somewhere else and had more SB equity. Seems like a wasted year with an elite QB.

Maybe when they have a player like Bell in a tough spot like this in the furure they'll let him walk instead of trying to tag that player again. Do the honorable thing. Bell worked hard for you guys and took a beating last year. 

Maybe he sits out the entire year and tells the Steelers go ahead waste another 14.5 million tagging me and I'll sit out this year too. 

I bet they slide back under that rock and let him walk if he does that.......

 

[Steelers4Life]

Can't offer less guaranteed money than the tag for the first year. The Steelers just refused to pay him. He walked. Steelers looked fine Monday night but probably aren't winning a SB this year. They'll be fine but probably could have used that 14 million somewhere else and had more SB equity. Seems like a wasted year with an elite QB.

Maybe when they have a player like Bell in a tough spot like this in the furure they'll let him walk instead of trying to tag that player again. Do the honorable thing. Bell worked hard for you guys and took a beating last year. 

Maybe he sits out the entire year and tells the Steelers go ahead waste another 14.5 million tagging me and I'll sit out this year too. 

I bet they slide back under that rock and let him walk if he does that.......

This made me laugh a little bit.  The Steelers may have a marginally better chance with Bell than Conner, but it's not significant... this team can still put up 30+ against most defenses and that should be enough to win.  The defense just isn't good enough.  I'm sure they could've used the $14.5 million on other players, and maybe they would have if Bell had made his intentions clear in June or July instead of not telling anyone and just not showing up.  Maybe he thought the Steelers would be forced to rescind the tag if he doesn't report, but that would be stupid of them.

Do the honorable thing????  Bell got paid a #### ton of money on the tag for the beating he took last year.  That's what the Steelers "owed" him for 2017.  And you know how he handled it at the end of the year?  He skipped the walkthrough and showed up late for their playoff game.  It wouldn't be honorable to let him walk away like that.  It'd be stupid.  Bell cost himself millions of dollars AND the chance to be traded this year by holding back his intentions.

If he's stupid enough to sit out this entire year (he won't), I hope and expect the Steelers do tag him again, and then trade him while they're able to.  That's what a responsible organization would do.  You think Bell would have sacrificed $14.5 million this year and then even more next year when he's already 27?  I don't.  Bell will report this year to get that accrued year... he'd be nuts not to, because he won't have any more leverage next year.  The only difference is that the Steelers would tag him and trade him before the deadline.

 

[Milkman]

This made me laugh a little bit.  The Steelers may have a marginally better chance with Bell than Conner, but it's not significant... this team can still put up 30+ against most defenses and that should be enough to win.  The defense just isn't good enough.  I'm sure they could've used the $14.5 million on other players, and maybe they would have if Bell had made his intentions clear in June or July instead of not telling anyone and just not showing up.  Maybe he thought the Steelers would be forced to rescind the tag if he doesn't report, but that would be stupid of them.

Do the honorable thing????  Bell got paid a #### ton of money on the tag for the beating he took last year.  That's what the Steelers "owed" him for 2017.  And you know how he handled it at the end of the year?  He skipped the walkthrough and showed up late for their playoff game.  It wouldn't be honorable to let him walk away like that.  It'd be stupid.  Bell cost himself millions of dollars AND the chance to be traded this year by holding back his intentions.

If he's stupid enough to sit out this entire year (he won't), I hope and expect the Steelers do tag him again, and then trade him while they're able to.  That's what a responsible organization would do.  You think Bell would have sacrificed $14.5 million this year and then even more next year when he's already 27?  I don't.  Bell will report this year to get that accrued year... he'd be nuts not to, because he won't have any more leverage next year.  The only difference is that the Steelers would tag him and trade him before the deadline.

No i don't but if he did the Steelees won't go through this again and tie up all that money for nothing. 

They definitely have less SB equity this year with the way this turned out. Not sure as a Steeler fan why you'd laugh at that. Big Ben only has a limited amount of years left and this one looks wasted. 

 

[Steelers4Life]

No i don't but if he did the Steelees won't go through this again and tie up all that money for nothing. 

They definitely have less SB equity this year with the way this turned out. Not sure as a Steeler fan why you'd laugh at that. Big Ben only has a limited amount of years left and this one looks wasted. 

If the tag is $14.5 million again for next year, there's little doubt in my mind that the Steelers would tag him and trade him before the deadline when a team can sign him long term and leaving plenty of time to use the money.  Again, I don't think that'll happen because I believe he'll report to get credit for this year.  You think Bell would play that game and risk losing even MORE money from his age 26/27 seasons?  If Bell is stupid enough to not report and lose the entire $14.5 million this year, well, all bets are off.

Of course the Steelers could use more on defense. Doubtful any one piece would turn that group into a Super Bowl quality defense though.  But once it was determined that he wasn't going to report, it was already into the season.  No free agents at that point were going to make a difference and other than making a trade, they weren't going to be able to use that space.  Now they can roll it into 2019.  If Bell wanted a trade, he should've made up his mind when the Steelers could've traded him, not as late as he did.  

 

[Milkman]

If the tag is $14.5 million again for next year, there's little doubt in my mind that the Steelers would tag him and trade him before the deadline when a team can sign him long term and leaving plenty of time to use the money.  Again, I don't think that'll happen because I believe he'll report to get credit for this year.  You think Bell would play that game and risk losing even MORE money from his age 26/27 seasons?  If Bell is stupid enough to not report and lose the entire $14.5 million this year, well, all bets are off.

Of course the Steelers could use more on defense. Doubtful any one piece would turn that group into a Super Bowl quality defense though.  But once it was determined that he wasn't going to report, it was already into the season.  No free agents at that point were going to make a difference and other than making a trade, they weren't going to be able to use that space.  Now they can roll it into 2019.  If Bell wanted a trade, he should've made up his mind when the Steelers could've traded him, not as late as he did.  

The Steelers should have done the right thing and this situation doesn't happen either. They could have let him walk once they knew they valued him like they did and spent the money elsewhere. Meh like I said because of the way this turned out the Steelers have less SB equity. They only have a limited amount of time left with Big Ben. 

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

That's the point.  No matter who offers anything, Bell isn't going to be any more interested in risking his body without a long term deal with a massive guarantee, and he can't get one before the off-season.  People are making more of this trade thing than they should unless Bell's attitude changes.

When July 16th passed, he was either playing on the tag or he wasn't.  He's chosen not to, and he has no way to change that.  If he wanted a deal, he should have expressed clearly his intention of sitting out when the Steelers could have dealt him, but he likely didnt decide to do that until he saw other guys get paid by teams that don't have a ton of money tied up already with franchise QBs.

The one year deal can be increased. 

 

[Steelers4Life]

The Steelers should have done the right thing and this situation doesn't happen either. They could have let him walk once they knew they valued him like they did and spent the money elsewhere. Meh like I said because of the way this turned out the Steelers have less SB equity. They only have a limited amount of time left with Big Ben. 

The Steelers did the right thing.  They did exactly what they should've done under the rules of the CBA.  A tag and trade would've been a better option, but Bell didn't make his intentions clear in time to do that, and that cost both Bell and the Steelers.  Bell made his decision about how to handle it, and they've moved on.  The Steelers' next move will depend on when or if Bell reports.

Unless they were going to land Khalil Mack, no defensive player they could've snagged would've made this a Super Bowl defense.     

 

[Steelers4Life]

The one year deal can be increased. 

Yep.  Not showing up isn't the way to get that from the Steelers.  Is another team going to offer him so much more for this year plus compensating the Steelers that he'll risk the same future he's not willing to risk right now?  Doubtful to me. I don't see him playing this year without a contract he can't get, so I don't see him traded either.

 

[Milkman]

The Steelers did the right thing.  They did exactly what they should've done under the rules of the CBA.  A tag and trade would've been a better option, but Bell didn't make his intentions clear in time to do that, and that cost both Bell and the Steelers.  Bell made his decision about how to handle it, and they've moved on.  The Steelers' next move will depend on when or if Bell reports.

Unless they were going to land Khalil Mack, no defensive player they could've snagged would've made this a Super Bowl defense.     

Yeah Bell was offended by the pay cut the Steelers were asking him to take the first year. They should have let him walk and spent the money elsewhere. Everyone wins there including the fans. 

I expect Bell to show up at some point and get credit for his year. Hopefully he stays healthy and does well. Then he can get paid hopefully. 

 

[Steelers4Life]

Yeah Bell was offended by the pay cut the Steelers were asking him to take the first year. They should have let him walk and spent the money elsewhere. Everyone wins there including the fans. 

I expect Bell to show up at some point and get credit for his year. Hopefully he stays healthy and does well. Then he can get paid hopefully. 

We know what was leaked, but we don't know the actual details of anything.  Probably never will, but the Steelers aren't a stupid organization.  They historically don't lose free agents that they don't want to lose, they keep everyone they want, and they find ways to make them happy if they feel it's worthwhile.  Agree to disagree on what the Steelers "should" have done.  

If I'm the Steelers and he reports for week 11, I'd rather pay him $6 million to do nothing than put him on the field. He can't be trusted.

 

[daveR]

We've all been assuming that the tag expires at the end of the season.  I wonder if that's true.  Does the CBA have language to that effect, or might the tag remain in force until rescinded/signed?  Uncharted waters...

Here's another $.02:  If I were Bell, I would think about reporting on a Friday so I could miss that week's game & still get paid, then ball out for one game, then come up with a nagging injury for the rest of the season. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Jets check in with Steelers about Le’Veon Bell trade

The Jets dipped their toe into the Le’Veon Bell sweepstakes, but landing him sounds like a long shot.

...The call was described as routine by the source. The Jets speak with other teams constantly and ask about trade possibilities. There was no trade offer made by the Jets. It sounds like they were gauging the price the Steelers are looking for, which plenty of other teams are surely doing, too.

...A second source said the Jets are happy with their running back combination of Bilal Powell and Isaiah Crowell and said they would be shocked if the Jets seriously pursued a Bell trade.

 

[msudaisy26]

This made me laugh a little bit.  The Steelers may have a marginally better chance with Bell than Conner, but it's not significant... this team can still put up 30+ against most defenses and that should be enough to win.  The defense just isn't good enough.  I'm sure they could've used the $14.5 million on other players, and maybe they would have if Bell had made his intentions clear in June or July instead of not telling anyone and just not showing up.  Maybe he thought the Steelers would be forced to rescind the tag if he doesn't report, but that would be stupid of them.

Do the honorable thing????  Bell got paid a #### ton of money on the tag for the beating he took last year.  That's what the Steelers "owed" him for 2017.  And you know how he handled it at the end of the year?  He skipped the walkthrough and showed up late for their playoff game.  It wouldn't be honorable to let him walk away like that.  It'd be stupid.  Bell cost himself millions of dollars AND the chance to be traded this year by holding back his intentions.

If he's stupid enough to sit out this entire year (he won't), I hope and expect the Steelers do tag him again, and then trade him while they're able to.  That's what a responsible organization would do.  You think Bell would have sacrificed $14.5 million this year and then even more next year when he's already 27?  I don't.  Bell will report this year to get that accrued year... he'd be nuts not to, because he won't have any more leverage next year.  The only difference is that the Steelers would tag him and trade him before the deadline.

I agree with almost everything you said except the tagging him next year part. Even if he sits the whole year the Steelers won't tag him. At this point these 2 sides hate each other and once it gets that bad people no longer think rationally. I believe Bell would be so mad that he wouldn't sign the tag again and then they can't trade him.

I could see the NFLPA getting involved, even though both sides would be doing what is legal under the CBA the Steelers would be pissed that they have to tie up money on the cap and can't trade him and Bell would argue that they are holding him hostage and this would probably end up in court. 

 

[msudaisy26]

We've all been assuming that the tag expires at the end of the season.  I wonder if that's true.  Does the CBA have language to that effect, or might the tag remain in force until rescinded/signed?  Uncharted waters...

Here's another $.02:  If I were Bell, I would think about reporting on a Friday so I could miss that week's game & still get paid, then ball out for one game, then come up with a nagging injury for the rest of the season. 

James Harrison actually tweeted that same scenario. He said Bell should have reported right before week one so he was inactive and then come up with a mysterious lower back injury or hamstring pull during practice for week 2. 

 

[msudaisy26]

Something I thought about the other day is Marshawn Lynch. He looked done his last year with the Seahawks and he took a year off. He lost money for that year, but it rejuvenated him and has extended his career. I wonder if Bell thought about taking a year off because of all the wear and tear in the hopes of extending his career to make more money. 

 

[Milkman]

We know what was leaked, but we don't know the actual details of anything.  Probably never will, but the Steelers aren't a stupid organization.  They historically don't lose free agents that they don't want to lose, they keep everyone they want, and they find ways to make them happy if they feel it's worthwhile.  Agree to disagree on what the Steelers "should" have done.  

If I'm the Steelers and he reports for week 11, I'd rather pay him $6 million to do nothing than put him on the field. He can't be trusted.

I think Bell would appreciate that if they did pay him to do nothing the last 6 games. If I was him I'd feel like they were kind of making things right. 

Didn't the Steelers pay Shazier when they didn't have too? 

 

[Milkman]

Something I thought about the other day is Marshawn Lynch. He looked done his last year with the Seahawks and he took a year off. He lost money for that year, but it rejuvenated him and has extended his career. I wonder if Bell thought about taking a year off because of all the wear and tear in the hopes of extending his career to make more money. 

Think it was more he took offense to the pay cut the Steelers were asking him to take and said "screw this".

 

[irish eyes]

We've all been assuming that the tag expires at the end of the season.  I wonder if that's true.  Does the CBA have language to that effect, or might the tag remain in force until rescinded/signed?  Uncharted waters...

Here's another $.02:  If I were Bell, I would think about reporting on a Friday so I could miss that week's game & still get paid, then ball out for one game, then come up with a nagging injury for the rest of the season. 

Yes because that's what teams want to see when they are looking at paying big money to a free agent, faking an injury. As I said before, he is all about money and will sign with some bottom feeding perennial losing team. Then fade away taking his money with him

 

[msudaisy26]

Think it was more he took offense to the pay cut the Steelers were asking him to take and said "screw this".

I think that was a main reason, but I wonder if this was a benefit he thought about to not getting the money now. 

 

[Milkman]

Yes because that's what teams want to see when they are looking at paying big money to a free agent, faking an injury. As I said before, he is all about money and will sign with some bottom feeding perennial losing team. Then fade away taking his money with him

Probably but if teams get a pass for doing what's best for them shouldn't players be afforded that same pass? 

Under this CBA the fans lose. We don't see Bell in one of his peak years. 

 

[Godsbrother]

Can't offer less guaranteed money than the tag for the first year. The Steelers just refused to pay him. He walked. Steelers looked fine Monday night but probably aren't winning a SB this year. They'll be fine but probably could have used that 14 million somewhere else and had more SB equity. Seems like a wasted year with an elite QB.

Maybe when they have a player like Bell in a tough spot like this in the furure they'll let him walk instead of trying to tag that player again. Do the honorable thing. Bell worked hard for you guys and took a beating last year. 

Maybe he sits out the entire year and tells the Steelers go ahead waste another 14.5 million tagging me and I'll sit out this year too. 

I bet they slide back under that rock and let him walk if he does that.......

The Steelers paid him more than any other RB last year by a wide margin and he would have been the highest paid this season as well as soon as he signed his tender.   I understand he wants the long-term guaranteed and is holding out for that and that is fine but saying the Steelers weren't paying him when he's the highest paid RB is not accurate.

I do agree the Steelers could have used the $14.5 million elsewhere to help the team and that they screwed themselves.  If you look back there were a few of us here that were not happy when the Steelers franchised Bell. We knew the money could be better spent elsewhere (i.e. the defense).   I agree it is unlikely the Steelers will win a SB this year but let's face it:  while having Bell on the team would be nice they haven't been able to win a Super Bowl WITH him.

As far as the Steelers "doing the honorable thing" you can check and see that Ben was among the top paid QBs when he signed his contract, AB was the highest paid WR when he signed his contract, and every year they are almost always right up against the cap so they are paying to the max and spreading it around.   You can't sign everyone to long-term guaranteed contracts and they offered Bell what they thought they should,  Bell feels he deserves more and that's okay it's business. 

There doesn't have to be a good or bad guy in this.   If you want to blame anyone blame the CBA that the players agreed to.  Oh wait there was one team that voted against it:  the Steelers.

 

[Milkman]

The Steelers paid him more than any other RB last year by a wide margin and he would have been the highest paid this season as well as soon as he signed his tender.   I understand he wants the long-term guaranteed and is holding out for that and that is fine but saying the Steelers weren't paying him when he's the highest paid RB is not accurate.

I do agree the Steelers could have used the $14.5 million elsewhere to help the team and that they screwed themselves.  If you look back there were a few of us here that were not happy when the Steelers franchised Bell. We knew the money could be better spent elsewhere (i.e. the defense).   I agree it is unlikely the Steelers will win a SB this year but let's face it:  while having Bell on the team would be nice they haven't been able to win a Super Bowl WITH him.

As far as the Steelers "doing the honorable thing" you can check and see that Ben was among the top paid QBs when he signed his contract, AB was the highest paid WR when he signed his contract, and every year they are almost always right up against the cap so they are paying to the max and spreading it around.   You can't sign everyone to long-term guaranteed contracts and they offered Bell what they thought they should,  Bell feels he deserves more and that's okay it's business. 

There doesn't have to be a good or bad guy in this.   If you want to blame anyone blame the CBA that the players agreed to.  Oh wait there was one team that voted against it:  the Steelers.

They should have let him walk then and spent the money elsewhere. I mean you are kind of agreeing with that. Is there a chance they voted against the CBA because they wanted more? I mean some of the stuff we have learned about the Steelers FO in regards to not guaranteeing 2nd years for RB and such seems to point to that.

I just don't like seeing elite players getting screwed.  The fans are losing here. Get rid of the tag completely. I agree the CBA is mostly to blame but The Steelers already tagged him once. Take your foot off his throat and before you say "they were going to pay him more this year than any RB" if they were offering the best deal let him hit FA and then match the deal. The reality is he was getting screwed.

 

[Steelers4Life]

I agree with almost everything you said except the tagging him next year part. Even if he sits the whole year the Steelers won't tag him. At this point these 2 sides hate each other and once it gets that bad people no longer think rationally. I believe Bell would be so mad that he wouldn't sign the tag again and then they can't trade him.

I could see the NFLPA getting involved, even though both sides would be doing what is legal under the CBA the Steelers would be pissed that they have to tie up money on the cap and can't trade him and Bell would argue that they are holding him hostage and this would probably end up in court. 

Time will tell.  I don't expect it to reach that point. But if he sits all year and the tag for next year remains $14.5 million, there would be no incentive for the Steelers to handle the situation differently.  They can tag him and tell Bell that if he wants to play or get paid this year, the only way he can do that is by signing the tender so the Steelers can trade him prior to July 16th. Bell would get his long term deal, the Steelers would get compensation and the ability to spend money elsewhere.  The Steelers would be crazy to just let him walk like that.

If Bell were to refuse to sign again, he'd be in this exact same situation, making a fraction of what he might be able to elsewhere... and if he'd wait until after July 16th again, he'd be unable to look for a long term deal until he's 28.  

It's never going to get to that point.

 

[irish eyes]

Quite hilarious, being the highest paid at your position for 2 years but Steelers were screwing him. Okay

 

[apalmer]

Quite hilarious, being the highest paid at your position for 2 years but Steelers were screwing him. Okay

And being at almost twice the amount the 2nd highest guy at your position was getting paid.

 

[Milkman]

Quite hilarious, being the highest paid at your position for 2 years but Steelers were screwing him. Okay

But he would have been ecstatic if the let him walk.......why is that I wonder?

 

[Milkman]

It's funny how everyone wants to act like these one year deals are awesome. Players hate the franchise tag. 

 

[Milkman]

Time will tell.  I don't expect it to reach that point. But if he sits all year and the tag for next year remains $14.5 million, there would be no incentive for the Steelers to handle the situation differently.  They can tag him and tell Bell that if he wants to play or get paid this year, the only way he can do that is by signing the tender so the Steelers can trade him prior to July 16th. Bell would get his long term deal, the Steelers would get compensation and the ability to spend money elsewhere.  The Steelers would be crazy to just let him walk like that.

If Bell were to refuse to sign again, he'd be in this exact same situation, making a fraction of what he might be able to elsewhere... and if he'd wait until after July 16th again, he'd be unable to look for a long term deal until he's 28.  

It's never going to get to that point.

It'll never get there but if Bell did it the Steelers would release him. They are just wasting Big Ben's peak if they dont. 14.5 million gets you some decent defensive help. 

Take your foot off his throat. Go spend the money elsewhere. 

 

[Bayhawks]

Quite hilarious, being the highest paid at your position for 2 years but Steelers were screwing him. Okay

You're trying to move the goal posts again.  The Steelers were "screwing" Bell by refusing to offer him the same type of guaranteed money at signing that other RBs of his caliber received.  They offered him less than 1/2 the guaranteed at signing money as what Gurley and DJ got this year, and only a little over 1/2 the guaranteed at signing money that Freeman got last year.

And, BTW-he was the highest paid RB (in single year salary, not guaranteed $$) one year, not twice.

 

[Godsbrother]

They should have let him walk then and spent the money elsewhere. 

The Steelers were gambling that Bell wouldn't walk away from $14.5 million and report by week 1.  They were wrong but at least I understand their rationale.

Bell knew full well the Steelers weren't just going to let him walk without any compensation.  If he wasn't going to agree to the Steelers offer and wasn't going to sign the tender then he should have asked to work out a long term deal with another team so a trade could be made before July 16 deadline.   Now there really isn't anything either side can do.  I suppoe

You're trying to move the goal posts again.  The Steelers were "screwing" Bell by refusing to offer him the same type of guaranteed money at signing that other RBs of his caliber received.  They offered him less than 1/2 the guaranteed at signing money as what Gurley and DJ got this year, and only a little over 1/2 the guaranteed at signing money that Freeman got last year.

And, BTW-he was the highest paid RB (in single year salary, not guaranteed $$) one year, not twice.

I am pretty sure that had Bell signed the franchise tag on July 16th he would have been the highest paid RB at that time.  No one knew about the Gurley or DJ deals on July 16

 

[Godsbrother]

It's funny how everyone wants to act like these one year deals are awesome. Players hate the franchise tag. 

I was refuting your claim that he was underpaid.  He made considerably more than any other RB in 2017 and would have been among the highest in 2018.  

 

[Godsbrother]

It'll never get there but if Bell did it the Steelers would release him. They are just wasting Big Ben's peak if they dont. 14.5 million gets you some decent defensive help. 

Take your foot off his throat. Go spend the money elsewhere. 

I agree with the bolded. 

 

[Milkman]

I was refuting your claim that he was underpaid.  He made considerably more than any other RB in 2017 and would have been among the highest in 2018.  

That's just semantics though right? I said they were screwing Bell. You said "lol he was the highest paid RB that year". You know both of those statements can be true at the same time right?

 

[infantsam]

I like the idea of 14.5 million extra next year that is for sure.  What are the details of that?  Do we get 855k x #games sat or what?