Schefter: Steelers Not Close To Signing Bell Long-Term With Deadline Looming

Schefter: Steelers Not Close To Signing Bell Long-Term With Deadline Looming

BY DAVE BRYAN JULY 16, 2017

The deadline for the Pittsburgh Steelers to sign running back Le’Veon Bell to a long-term contract extension is almost 24 hours away and while anything can certainly happen between now and Monday’s 4PM EST cutoff, it doesn’t appear as though the two sides are close to a deal at the time of this post.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN on Sunday, Bell is one of three players still wearing the franchise tag who are not close to consummating new long-term contract extensions with their respective teams. Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins and Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson are the two other players.

Deadlines usually spur actions and so quite honestly, it’s not surprising that Bell and the Steelers have yet to work out a new long-term deal so far. However, it’s worth noting that the last time Bell’s agent, Adisa Bakari, represented a franchise tagged running back in 2012, that player, Matt Forte, ultimately signed a long-term contract extension with the Chicago Bears on the day of that year’s deadline.

Bell was issued the $12.12 million franchise tag just ahead of the start of the 2017 league year in March and has reportedly yet to sign the tender...

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http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/07...dline-looming/

I wonder if we could trade him and move up enough to draft the first QB next year.

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Originally Posted by GBMelBlount

I wonder if we could trade him and move up enough to draft the first QB next year.

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None.

2018 draft is looking like another strong RB class.

Not likely to work out. Would need to get into the top 3-5 to pull that off. So now that is likely going to cost Bell + Steelers own 1st rounder.

Likely teams drafting in the top 5 are Rams, 49'ers, Jets, Bears, Jags, and Browns.

Every one of those teams, aside from the Browns and Bears are likely to take a QB. Rule out the Browns (no way Pittsburgh wants to give Bell 2 chances a year to beat them).

Bears have some youngish backs and assuming Gurley bounces back so do the Rams. Leaves, the Niners, Jets, and Jags.

I figure the chances are pretty low that they all pass on a franchise QB in the draft. But, Kirk Cousins could prove my precarious house of cards theory all wrong!

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

Not likely to work out. Would need to get into the top 3-5 to pull that off. So now that is likely going to cost Bell + Steelers own 1st rounder.

Likely teams drafting in the top 5 are Rams, 49'ers, Jets, Bears, Jags, and Browns.

Every one of those teams, aside from the Browns and Bears are likely to take a QB. Rule out the Browns (no way Pittsburgh wants to give Bell 2 chances a year to beat them).


Bears have some youngish backs and assuming Gurley bounces back so do the Rams. Leaves, the Niners, Jets, and Jags.

I figure the chances are pretty low that they all pass on a franchise QB in the draft. But, Kirk Cousins could prove my precarious house of cards theory all wrong!

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Jags Drafted Leonard Fournette 4th over all this past draft so scratch them as well as they will not be in the market after drafting one so high

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Originally Posted by Secondaryconcerns

Jags Drafted Leonard Fournette 4th over all this past draft so scratch them as well as they will not be in the market after drafting one so high

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I forgot about that! So, even if we assume Cousins engineers a landing in San Francisco, that leaves the Jets.

Is Bell + a first rounder +??? enough to get them to move off a "franchise" QB? I doubt it...

The Steelers best bet to obtain a first round QB is to trade out of the 1st round for a year or two for future 1st round picks. Then package all those picks together to go get they guy they want.

I see no rush to go long term. Steelers have the most leverage in the negotiations. Let's see him get through a season with at least 14-15 games and no drug issues.

Many deals last year came in the last hour before the deadline.

Hopefully something can be agreed on.

Not sure that the economics work out in Bells' favor. He happens to be the best at the wrong position in the current NFL. Seems like your #1 WR, LT and CB, and of course QB all take priority. Even the edge rusher is becoming higher paid. I trust the Steelers won't overpay and that won't make Bell happy. In another position, he probably makes 18-22m. As a RB, maybe 10-14m.

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Originally Posted by DesertSteel

I see no rush to go long term. Steelers have the most leverage in the negotiations. Let's see him get through a season with at least 14-15 games and no drug issues.

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This.

honestly anything over 10 million a year is to much for a RB it doesn't matter if you are the best in the game

just cant have 1/5 th of the cap going to 2 guys on the roster especially if on the same side of the ball

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Originally Posted by Count Steeler

Not sure that the economics work out in Bells' favor. He happens to be the best at the wrong position in the current NFL. Seems like your #1 WR, LT and CB, and of course QB all take priority. Even the edge rusher is becoming higher paid. I trust the Steelers won't overpay and that won't make Bell happy. In another position, he probably makes 18-22m. As a RB, maybe 10-14m.

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:iagree:

Running back has been left behind in terms of value placed on the position, presumably due to changes in who touches the ball on offense and durability concerns

Franchise tag salaries for 2017

Quarterback: $21.268m
Running back: $12.120m
Receiver: $15.682m
Tight end: $9.780m
Offensive line: $14.271m
Defensive end: $16.934m
Defensive tackle: $13.387m
Linebacker: $14.550m
Cornerback: $14.212
Safety: $10.896m
Kicker/punter: $4.835m

http://fansided.com/2017/02/14/nfl-f...-per-position/

Add to that Bell's injury history along with multiple drug suspensions and no surprise no long term deal has been negotiated

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Add to that Bell's injury history along with multiple drug suspensions and no surprise no long term deal has been negotiated

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Exactly my thoughts. His durablity and weed use are a concern.

http://images1.tickld.com/live/fb_911723.jpg

No one in the history of the league has actually sat out a season instead of signing the franchise tag, so not signing the tender is a non-issue.

He has ... availability issues, so a big contract is not without risk. It's not a bad idea to try to get another season's worth of data on what to expect before we shove a wheelbarrow full of cash his way.

By the way, does anyone else think the franchise tag cost seems screwy AGAIN in this case? The rule says the cost is the average of the top five salaries at the position, but what we had to offer Bell is almost double that, and significantly higher than the #1 salary. The average of the top 5 salaries for running backs was $7.06M by cap hit, $6.87M by average yearly value.

This is not the first time I have seen this happen. It doesn't matter whether you use cap hit for 2017 (which includes base salary and bonuses) or average value of the contract; the amount we had to offer Bell is still way higher. Cap hit for the top 5 highest-paid RBs is first on the list below; average value is second. In case they were using 2016 numbers, I checked that list too and it's not much different.

Le’Veon Bell - $12,120,000 / $12,120,000
LeSean McCoy - $8,875,000 / $8,010,000
Doug Martin - $7,000,000 / $7,150,000
DeMarco Murray - $6,950,000 / $6,312,000
Lamar Miller - $6,500,000 / $6,500,000
Chris Ivory - $6,000,000 / $6,400,000

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Originally Posted by steelreserve

No one in the history of the league has actually sat out a season instead of signing the franchise tag, so not signing the tender is a non-issue.

He has ... availability issues, so a big contract is not without risk. It's not a bad idea to try to get another season's worth of data on what to expect before we shove a wheelbarrow full of cash his way.

By the way, does anyone else think the franchise tag cost seems screwy AGAIN in this case? The rule says the cost is the average of the top five salaries at the position, but what we had to offer Bell is almost double that, and significantly higher than the #1 salary. The average of the top 5 salaries for running backs was $7.06M by cap hit, $6.87M by average yearly value.

This is not the first time I have seen this happen. It doesn't matter whether you use cap hit for 2017 (which includes base salary and bonuses) or average value of the contract; the amount we had to offer Bell is still way higher. Cap hit for the top 5 highest-paid RBs is first on the list below; average value is second. In case they were using 2016 numbers, I checked that list too and it's not much different.

Le’Veon Bell - $12,120,000 / $12,120,000
LeSean McCoy - $8,875,000 / $8,010,000
Doug Martin - $7,000,000 / $7,150,000
DeMarco Murray - $6,950,000 / $6,312,000
Lamar Miller - $6,500,000 / $6,500,000
Chris Ivory - $6,000,000 / $6,400,000

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I will take Murray and Miller (BOTH combined) over Bell for basically the same money ..1 goes down I still have a quality proven back

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Originally Posted by BlackAndGold

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LOL - as if Bell or any other player has a f**k to give about what a glorified gossip columnist like Jason LaConfora thinks he should do when it comes to negotiating his pay. :sofunny:

Confirmation that some writers are arrogant enough to think anyone cares what they think someone else should do and of the suspicions of many players that writers and broadcasters are in the back pocket of the owners

According to Ian Rapoport, the Steelers have offered Bell a contract that averages more than he will make this year under the franchise tag. That means he will be averaging more than $12.1 million dollars per year if he accepts the deal. I believe he said that is their final offer, and that Bell either accepts the contract or he does not. He wants more guaranteed money and more money up front than the Steelers have offered.

We shall see soon enough.

No long term deal per Schefter.

It may be time that the team does everything in their power to draft Sequon Barkley next year.

Another prima donna player... Wouldnt be surprised if hes gone next year... This is all gonna be resulting of what he does this year... If he has a great year with no injuries then they will probably franchise him again but will give him what he wants in the process

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by pczach

According to Ian Rapoport, the Steelers have offered Bell a contract that averages more than he will make this year under the franchise tag. That means he will be averaging more than $12.1 million dollars per year if he accepts the deal. I believe he said that is their final offer, and that Bell either accepts the contract or he does not. He wants more guaranteed money and more money up front than the Steelers have offered.

We shall see soon enough.

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He would be a fool not to sign it, and we would be fools to guarantee more than whatever token amount passes for table stakes. We'll see who's dumb!

he is one gruesome injury away ( and 2 failed tests ) from never seeing another paycheck in the league , when somebody puts that kind of money on the table only a FOOL walks away without picking it up

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Originally Posted by Secondaryconcerns

he is one gruesome injury away ( and 2 failed tests ) from never seeing another paycheck in the league , when somebody puts that kind of money on the table only a FOOL walks away without picking it up

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I agree. Keep him healthy this year and transition tag him next year and be done with it. I am still open to signing him long term, but he has to realize that he is dealing with one of, if not the most conservative teams in the league. When they make up their minds on your market value, that's it, no more negotiating. Knowing that I find it hard to believe that we'll be able to get him long term now. Unless he just kills it this year stays healthy and clean. That's his only opportunity to get a higher offer imo.

Thank goodness they didn't sign him. Waste of money for what he wants.

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Originally Posted by AtlantaDan

LOL - as if Bell or any other player has a f**k to give about what a glorified gossip columnist like Jason LaConfora thinks he should do when it comes to negotiating his pay. :sofunny:

Confirmation that some writers are arrogant enough to think anyone cares what they think someone else should do and of the suspicions of many players that writers and broadcasters are in the back pocket of the owners

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https://akphoto1.ask.fm/174/110/257/...ginal/file.jpg

:chuckle:

As awesome as Bell is, he hasn't played a full 16 game season yet, and is another busted drug test away from being gone for a year.

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Originally Posted by Edman

As awesome as Bell is, he hasn't played a full 16 game season yet, and is another busted drug test away from being gone for a year.

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12 game Bell is what I call him.

Until he can help this team win a Championship... He hasn't done shit in my mind. Let some dumbass team like the Jets overpay him and deal with his suspensions and injuries.