They were able to spend $14M less in 2018 because of how they mishandled the bell situation.
And they ARE giving up $21M in 2019 cap if they cut/trade him. They will have $21M less in cap room, and no player production in exchange. Sure it’s a sunk cost, but it should be a sunk cost where they’d be getting All-Pro WR production in exchange.
And, sure they will get some cap relief afterwards, but then who will their QB be? A fading Big Ben? Mason Rudolph? Josh Dobbs? Some veteran re-tread? A rookie?
Face it, the Steelers screwed up Bell and maybe with AB, and because if it, they are in the process of wasting a few of the last prime years of their franchise QB. Most teams don’t get two in a row. For every SF, GB, or Indy, there’s a Dallas, Denver, ‘80’s Pitt, Mia, etc.