‘Didn’t Want To Leave Pittsburgh’: Le’Veon Bell Explains Contract Dispute, Why He Left Steelers For Jets

[polamalubeast]

https://steelersdepot.com/2023/05/i-never-wanted-to-leave-pittsburgh-leveon-bell-opens-up-regarding-departure-from-steelers-after-2018-season/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTuSbfBUMdA

[Mojouw]

This should generate a calm, rationale, and reasonable discussion...

There are certainly some fascinating things brought up in the interview.

[86WARD]

Hard to listen to…

What point does he talk about the contract? Anyone know?

[T&B fan]

Hard to listen to…

What point does he talk about the contract? Anyone know?

about the 50 min mark

[86WARD]

about the 50 min mark

Thank you. I listened to about 35 minutes and couldn’t tolerate it anymore. The host is pretty bad too…

[steelreserve]

"$13 million a year? Why y'all gonna send me the same contract again that I already turned down?"

*proceeds to sign for $13 million a year with NY*

It was certainly a well thought-out stand on principle.

[86WARD]

"$13 million a year? Why y'all gonna send me the same contract again that I already turned down?"

*proceeds to sign for $13 million a year with NY*

It was certainly a well thought-out stand on principle.

I guess it’s the thought process that “what’s the worst that can happen, I get offered similar money from somewhere else…so why not take a shot at more?” Only he lost $13-14 million in the process…seems logical…

[ALLD]

His career never recovered because he never fit in anywhere. He forgot football is a team sport.

[Hawkman]

His career never recovered because he never fit in anywhere. He forgot football is a team sport.

……and only the Steelers O-linemen knew how to block for his weird running style……That “pause and go”.

[Born2Steel]

Hind-sight is always 20/20. I'm glad he can now look back and see his mistakes, and is able to admit them. Hopefully this will make him a better mentor for others. But, I don't see why the Steelers owe him any favors or why they should let him re-sign and retire as a Steeler. If they grant his request, great. He's beyond helping the team now. This is all about him.

[86WARD]

Hind-sight is always 20/20. I'm glad he can now look back and see his mistakes, and is able to admit them. Hopefully this will make him a better mentor for others. But, I don't see why the Steelers owe him any favors or why they should let him re-sign and retire as a Steeler. If they grant his request, great. He's beyond helping the team now. This is all about him.

I kinda never really thought of bringing him back but since you brought it up, the idea intrigues me. I wouldn't be opposed to bringing him in to see if he has anything left in the tank. If after the eval, he's a little better than McFarland, I see no harm in signing him. I can't see how he's not more talented...within 42 carries, I think Bell, without being looked at, can be better than McFarland. How long is McFarland going to steal a paycheck? He and Anthony Miller should be brought up on charges. Two very wasted roster spots...

[Born2Steel]

I kinda never really thought of bringing him back but since you brought it up, the idea intrigues me. I wouldn't be opposed to bringing him in to see if he has anything left in the tank. If after the eval, he's a little better than McFarland, I see no harm in signing him. I can't see how he's not more talented...within 42 carries, I think Bell, without being looked at, can be better than McFarland. How long is McFarland going to steal a paycheck? He and Anthony Miller should be brought up on charges. Two very wasted roster spots...

Well, he carried the ball in 2021 39 times for 101 yards. And 5 receptions. That is 44 touches. Does it compare?

[Edman]

He could've gone down as one of the greats.

[EzraTank]

The guy openly admitted to smoking pot before games, then in the next breath wants to still play... just pure stupidity. That's the kind of stuff you talk about AFTER you're done playing, especially since it is still against NFL policy.

I'm sorry but I want no part of this dude in the locker room. If the Steelers want to sign him to a one day deal to let him announce his retirement, fine, but again I don't want him anywhere near the locker room. Bell & AB were great but also a cancer on that 2017 team that should have won.

[polamalubeast]

The guy openly admitted to smoking pot before games, then in the next breath wants to still play... just pure stupidity. That's the kind of stuff you talk about AFTER you're done playing, especially since it is still against NFL policy.

I'm sorry but I want no part of this dude in the locker room. If the Steelers want to sign him to a one day deal to let him announce his retirement, fine, but again I don't want him anywhere near the locker room. Bell & AB were great but also a cancer on that 2017 team that should have won.

Those 2(AB and Bell)as good as they were,they were also a big reason(with Martavis) why the lockerroom was so toxic at the end of the killer B's era....Big time drama every week!

It was embarrassing....Some steelers team were worse on the field than the killer B's era but the killer B's era were the most disappointing era in steelers history, in big moment and also off the field with drama every week

[Hawkman]

From all I’ve heard, Bell was a great teammate. I never heard anything about him being a cancer in the locker room. He just chose not to play when he was tagged the second time. That being said, I have no interest in having him back. All the linemen who knew how to block for him are gone.

[Craic]

Hind-sight is always 20/20. I'm glad he can now look back and see his mistakes, and is able to admit them. Hopefully this will make him a better mentor for others. But, I don't see why the Steelers owe him any favors or why they should let him re-sign and retire as a Steeler. If they grant his request, great. He's beyond helping the team now. This is all about him.

This is something all teams do. Let a player sign a one-day contract and retire. It's something the Steelers should do because it's (1) tradition and (2) classy, and if the Steelers aren't those two things, they're just another one-of-the-mill organization.

[El Kabong]

This is something all teams do. Let a player sign a one-day contract and retire. It's something the Steelers should do because it's (1) tradition and (2) classy, and if the Steelers aren't those two things, they're just another one-of-the-mill organization.
I'm just wondering if Bell earned that honor. He didn't lead us to a championship.

[Hawkman]

I'm just wondering if Bell earned that honor. He didn't lead us to a championship.

Neither did Rod Woodson.

[Craic]

I'm just wondering if Bell earned that honor. He didn't lead us to a championship.

Neither did Dermontti Dawson, Chad Brown, Mark Bruener, and so on.

[polamalubeast]

I'm just wondering if Bell earned that honor. He didn't lead us to a championship.

If he is not honored by the steelers it will be because of the way it ended...Football is still a team sports...

[86WARD]

The guy wanted money. He held out for money. He eventually screwed himself and left. No where did he ever besmirch the Steelers Organization. He didn’t create near the drama that AB did and shouldn’t be put in that category. Did he create a story for the media? Sure he did…just like 1/3 of the league does.

Not nearly the “problem” that scorned fans like to think he “was”.

[EzraTank]

This is something all teams do. Let a player sign a one-day contract and retire. It's something the Steelers should do because it's (1) tradition and (2) classy, and if the Steelers aren't those two things, they're just another one-of-the-mill organization.


The guy wanted money. He held out for money. He eventually screwed himself and left. No where did he ever besmirch the Steelers Organization. He didn’t create near the drama that AB did and shouldn’t be put in that category. Did he create a story for the media? Sure he did…just like 1/3 of the league does.

Not nearly the “problem” that scorned fans like to think he “was”.

Like I said if he wants to sign a one day deal to retire a Steeler, absolutely, but it sounds like he wants to sign and still try to play. For that I'm going to have to say no way, unless he just wants to be a backup, but as others have said none of these linemen know how to block for him and this is now Harris's team. Warren is more than capable as a backup.

[86WARD]

Like I said if he wants to sign a one day deal to retire a Steeler, absolutely, but it sounds like he wants to sign and still try to play. For that I'm going to have to say no way, unless he just wants to be a backup, but as others have said none of these linemen know how to block for him and this is now Harris's team. Warren is more than capable as a backup.

He should definitely be a back up if he’s signing anywhere…if he thinks he’s starting material…good for him, good attitude to have but he’s not gonna be signed anywhere as that. He’d have to earn that.

[polamalubeast]

The guy wanted money. He held out for money. He eventually screwed himself and left. No where did he ever besmirch the Steelers Organization. He didn’t create near the drama that AB did and shouldn’t be put in that category. Did he create a story for the media? Sure he did…just like 1/3 of the league does.

Not nearly the “problem” that scorned fans like to think he “was”.

It was not as bad like AB at the end but it was still bad when the talks around Bell at the end was when he was going to show up and Bell was doing nothing to help himself with some stupid tweet...that was such a mystery....we must not forget his suspensions too in the past, so although it was not at the AB level, it was still bad that I don't want a situation like this to happen again for the steelers

[DuckHodges]

any player that asks for guaranteed money imo is showing that they're unwilling to bet on themselves, the steelers did the right move by not budging.

[El Kabong]

Neither did Dermontti Dawson, Chad Brown, Mark Bruener, and so on.
My gut reaction is that Woodson and those guys are more worthy of the honor.

[Orion]

F bell. he CHOSE to leave the steelers. they made him a very generous, more than fair offer and he still walked. retire a jet dickhead.

[steelreserve]

My gut reaction is that Woodson and those guys are more worthy of the honor.

I don't think playing for 5 seasons with the team, winning nothing of note, and then quitting on the team because of your own ego in possibly the dumbest contract dispute in history, qualifies you as a "lifelong member" of the team or deserving of any special honor.

What are the odds that we'd get two potential all-time talented players at their positions at the same time, and they were also two of the league's all-time meatheads who malfunctioned within about 6 months of each other.

[Bluecoat96]

I think Bell will come back. As a retired player and be a quality rep for the Steelers. Think about Santonio Holmes back in the day....traded away after being a moron. He considers himself a Steeler after leaving under arguably worse circumstances than Bell.

Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

[Steeler-in-west]

From all I’ve heard, Bell was a great teammate. I never heard anything about him being a cancer in the locker room. He just chose not to play when he was tagged the second time. That being said, I have no interest in having him back. All the linemen who knew how to block for him are gone.

the last two sentences above are another big reason why he would not be effective here. He’s also older and slower (he was never fast to begin with - probably slower than Najee on his best day).

He, AB, Santonio should send send a message to the present day young guys on the team - “think twice before leaving to try to chase more money”

[86WARD]

the last two sentences above are another big reason why he would not be effective here. He’s also older and slower (he was never fast to begin with - probably slower than Najee on his best day).

He, AB, Santonio should send send a message to the present day young guys on the team - “think twice before leaving to try to chase more money”

Santonio didn’t leave to chase money and AB really wasn’t that either…that may have been one of the issues with AB but that wasn’t why he was traded. Those guys were traded out.

Bell left on his own to chase money…as did Mike Wallace, Kelvin Beachum, Emmanuel Sanders, etc.

Steelers wanted to keep Bell up until he left. Holmes and Brown they did not want to keep. The fact that Holmes is such a plus for the Steelers off the field says a lot about his maturity and character. Most of these guys would take a bitter angle…

[El Kabong]

Holmes was never as bad a character as Bell or AB. He made the unfortunate mistake of tweeting how he was going to "wake and bake" at a time when the Steelers were already taking a shellacking over Ben's Milledgeville scandal. I never had a problem with Holmes's character, and I always thought it was stupid of Rooney/the Steelers to trade him.

[Hawkman]

Holmes was never as bad a character as Bell or AB. He made the unfortunate mistake of tweeting how he was going to "wake and bake" at a time when the Steelers were already taking a shellacking over Ben's Milledgeville scandal. I never had a problem with Holmes's character, and I always thought it was stupid of Rooney/the Steelers to trade him.

Holmes got nailed for smoking weed, at least twice. Tough to win games when one of your star players has to sit out, because of his own stupidity. Bell only got nailed once.

[polamalubeast]

Holmes got nailed for smoking weed, at least twice. Tough to win games when one of your star players has to sit out, because of his own stupidity. Bell only got nailed once.

Bell has been suspended by the league twice....

[Hawkman]

Bell has been suspended by the league twice....

Twice as a Steelers?

[polamalubeast]

Twice as a Steelers?

Yes...2015(2 games) and 2016(3 games)

[86WARD]

Holmes was never as bad a character as Bell or AB. He made the unfortunate mistake of tweeting how he was going to "wake and bake" at a time when the Steelers were already taking a shellacking over Ben's Milledgeville scandal. I never had a problem with Holmes's character, and I always thought it was stupid of Rooney/the Steelers to trade him.

Bell wasn’t a bad character. Again, putting him with AB is just wrong. If Bell is a bad character then so is Hines Ward for wanting more money. So is Ben for being stupid. Bell got cracked for weed twice…not a big deal and held out for more money. Yes he’s stupid. Bad character as in AB…not close…

[Craic]

Bell has been suspended by the league twice....


Twice as a Steelers?

PB is right he was suspended twice. But his second suspension was suspect as he argued that it was more because the league didn't inform him in time of his testing and so he didn't hear about it and missed it. If I remember right, it was something like them informing him the night before for a very early morning test.

I'm usually pretty impatient with players doing stupid things like flouting rules with drugs. You have a short time in the league. Put the pipe down, do your work, and then pick it back up when you're done in the league if your stupid enough to do so. But I remember reading Bell's response and thinking to myself, "Yeah, he has a good point."

[Dwinsgames]

I agree with my running back brothers around the NFL- history will show that you need running backs to win- we set the tone every game and run trough walls for our team and lead in many ways- this notion that we deserve less is a joke. https://t.co/rWJkGIEgmW
— Najee Harris (@ohthatsNajee22) July 17, 2023 (https://twitter.com/ohthatsNajee22/status/1681064205309419523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

[Craic]

Bell wasn’t a bad character. Again, putting him with AB is just wrong. If Bell is a bad character then so is Hines Ward for wanting more money. So is Ben for being stupid. Bell got cracked for weed twice…not a big deal and held out for more money. Yes he’s stupid. Bad character as in AB…not close…

Not sure why I didn't see this when you first posted it. But I think you're absolutely right about Bell. It isn't a character issue. Personally, I'd chalk it up to (1) immaturity and (2) bad influence from his agent.

[HollywoodSteel]

Not sure why I didn't see this when you first posted it. But I think you're absolutely right about Bell. It isn't a character issue. Personally, I'd chalk it up to (1) immaturity and (2) bad influence from his agent.

I agree that he was never a bad teammate. There were no locker room issues and apparently he was a motivator in the huddle as well.

I think people bring up character for Bell, not because he held out or even the wisdom of his holdout, but the WAY he went about it at the time. Remember, he made it clear to his teammates and the public that he was just going to holdout for the preseason to avoid the risk of injury, but that he was going to suit up week one. Then when he didn’t that was a huge betrayal.

He didn’t have to make a claim either way if he wanted leverage. He actually lied to his teammates in private, or at least went back on his word. That is absolutely a character issue.

[86WARD]

I agree that he was never a bad teammate. There were no locker room issues and apparently he was a motivator in the huddle as well.

I think people bring up character for Bell, not because he held out or even the wisdom of his holdout, but the WAY he went about it at the time. Remember, he made it clear to his teammates and the public that he was just going to holdout for the preseason to avoid the risk of injury, but that he was going to suit up week one. Then when he didn’t that was a huge betrayal.

He didn’t have to make a claim either way if he wanted leverage. He actually lied to his teammates in private, or at least went back on his word. That is absolutely a character issue.

But that’s still not on an AB level and we don’t know that this wasn’t what his agents were instructing him to do….or if he was fed some information by the agent and went about his day not knowing what was actually happening…also possible…meaning that he may not have lied as far as he knew at that time…

[polamalubeast]

You can be a bad teammate or often be a big distraction even if it's not at the AB level....

[86WARD]

You can be a bad teammate or often be a big distraction even if it's not at the AB level....

But Bell wasn’t a bad teammate. Not even a little bit. His actions eventually were perceived as a distraction and probably were but I don’t recall any players coming out and saying it was…could’ve missed it. But even with it being a distraction, wasn’t a bad teammate and not on AB level.

[tube517]

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/steelers_ramon_foster_detailed_incredible_mistake_ leveon_bells_agent_admitted_to/s1_17101_39031387


Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

[86WARD]

Do you think it’s the biggest botched contract negotiation/holdout of all time?

[polamalubeast]

Do you think it’s the biggest botched contract negotiation/holdout of all time?

For Bell,it was maybe neutral(except for the fact he was in a way worse team) but he was very lucky since only the Jets in 2019 had a similar offer that the steelers,so it could have been way worst for Bell

But it was still such a stupid holdout and he did reset the RB market but in the wrong direction!

[HollywoodSteel]

But that’s still not on an AB level and we don’t know that this wasn’t what his agents were instructing him to do….or if he was fed some information by the agent and went about his day not knowing what was actually happening…also possible…meaning that he may not have lied as far as he knew at that time…

I agree. And I do think it shows maturity that he can admit he made a mistake. I don’t think he deserves any ill will at this point.

I don’t think he intentionally lied at the time. He probably got what he thought was new information about the merits of a hold out sometime after he made that promise to be there week one. Even if it was on bad advice or for purely strategic reasons, it’s still fair that his fans and teammates considered it a character issue to go back on your word with no warning or explanation beforehand.

My point was that it wasn’t just a run of the mill holdout like when Hines Ward did it. In fact, with Ward the character display was the exact opposite. He saw his teammates on tv playing in the preseason and called his agent to say, I don’t care about leverage. I’m going to go be with my teammates. Make the best deal you can but I’m done holding out.

It was the only time Bill Cowher got directly involved in negotiations on behalf of a player. In his mind Hines Ward showed his true character as a Steeler through and through, and deserved to be rewarded by the team.

[86WARD]

For Bell,it was maybe neutral(except for the fact he was in a way worse team) but he was very lucky since only the Jets in 2019 had a similar offer that the steelers,so it could have been way worst for Bell

But it was still such a stupid holdout and he did reset the RB market but in the wrong direction!

Was it neutral though? He lost $14M sitting out?

[pczach]

Was it neutral though? He lost $14M sitting out?



I know I wouldn't think it was neutral if I lost $14 million! :grin:

[polamalubeast]

Yeah,you are both right on this....It would been unlikely that the steelers would cut Bell after the 2019 season so if he would stay with the steelers for the 2020 season,it would not been neutral or close to that!

This is a different story if the steelers would cut Bell after 2019...It would been neutral at best

[Devilsdancefloor]

I bet everyone around him was telling him to hold out for more and those people have moved on and he has reflected (i too tried to watch ugh just cant) wonder if ben wouldever have him on the podcast

[Hawkman]

I bet everyone around him was telling him to hold out for more and those people have moved on and he has reflected (i too tried to watch ugh just cant) wonder if ben wouldever have him on the podcast

I think he might.From what I can gather, there were no hard feelings between Ben and Bell.

[HollywoodSteel]

I think he might.From what I can gather, there were no hard feelings between Ben and Bell.

Yeah, I doubt there are really any former teammates Ben would outright reject if they asked to come on his podcast. Even AB would probably be welcome if AB was the one to reach out to Ben.

There are probably guys where Ben wouldn’t actively pursue them, but I doubt he’d reject anyone that would make for good radio. Ben doesn’t seem the type to hold grudges at this stage in his life.

[86WARD]

Hell AB would be top ratings!!

[tube517]

Yeah, I doubt there are really any former teammates Ben would outright reject if they asked to come on his podcast. Even AB would probably be welcome if AB was the one to reach out to Ben.

There are probably guys where Ben wouldn’t actively pursue them, but I doubt he’d reject anyone that would make for good radio. Ben doesn’t seem the type to hold grudges at this stage in his life.

Mason Rudolph step right up! :lol:

[hawaiiansteeler]

Alex Kozora
@Alex_Kozora

Le'Veon Bell returned to the Steelers' facility today. Just to say hello but he again expressed regret over leaving the team originally. #Steelers

"I was trippin’. Why didn’t y’all tell me not to leave?"

Dec 22, 2023

https://twitter.com/Alex_Kozora/status/1738270479373254949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5 Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1738270479373254949%7Ctwgr% 5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

[Steeler-in-west]

I wish he was steered in the right direction by his agent. I always liked his running style despite the lack of speed. He just knew where to go, great vision. Good blocker too.

[El Kabong]

Why didn't y'all tell me not to leave? WHY DIDN'T Y'ALL TELL ME NOT TO LEAVE?!?

Dumbass.

Mr. "I catch passes as well as run the ball so I want to be paid like the top RB AND the top WR."