Bell's Holdout Reaching Point of Career-Damaging Consequences

[pczach]

Le'Veon Bell's Holdout has Reached Point of Career-Damaging Consequences

By Jeff Diamond


Le'Veon Bell's holdout from the Steelers, an illogical, costly and self-induced absence that's a major misjudgment of potential market value by the player and his agent, is one of the most ludicrous in NFL history.I saw a lot of holdouts during my NFL contract negotiating days and was a party to many. But the Pittsburgh running back, whose holdout dragged on through the preseason and is now into the third week of the regular season, has done major damage to his career just in the past two weeks.

MORE: Explaining Le'Veon Bell's holdoutFor whatever reason — supposedly an unsatisfactory amount of guaranteed money — Bell in the offseason turned down a reported five-year, $70 million deal (with $33 million guaranteed) that would have made him the NFL's highest-paid back. After the July 15 deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term deals passed, Bell's only option for this season became the one-year, $14.5 million franchise tender.I predicted in July that Bell would report to the team the week before the season opener, and that "no player is going to give up $853,000 per week."Wrong and wrong.I misjudged the ill-advised intentions of Bell and his agent, Adisa Bakari, who has been making inflammatory statements that Bell might wait until Week 11 to report in order to limit his exposure to injury prior to free agency and, in the process, forego $8.53 million.

Bell and Bakari are living in a fantasy land if they believe the 26-year-old will make up that money in his next contract.

MORE: NFL's highest-paid playersBoth the statements from the agent and Bell's absence into the regular season say several things to NFL team owners, general managers and coaches. As a former GM and team president, I first would consider the brain cramp that is Bell giving up so much money each week.

Then I'd think about the lack of commitment. As Bell frolics in Miami Beach on jet skis and in album-recording sessions, his Steelers teammates are struggling through an 0-1-1 start highlighted by diva wide receiver Antonio Brown's truancy.


Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl...8yC?li=BBnb7Kz

[Fire Goodell]

Who?

[pczach]

Who?

Google him. You might find something.

[fansince'76]

Good thing he has a budding career in music to fall back on...

[smokin3000gt]

I can't wait to see him Mike Wallace out on another team

[saturdaysarebetter]

Trade him to football Siberia, a team we don't face that has a terrible offensive line and a terrible quarterback and see how well he does.

[pczach]

More and more people seem to be saying that this is a huge mistake that he is making. Many are former agents, or people that worked in NFL organizations.

All he needs is one team to step up and give him a huge deal. I just think the odds of that keep going down the longer he stays away from the game.

[AtlantaDan]

Although agent Bakari shot his mouth off after Labor Day when Bell failed to report, I disagree with the article's implication that Bakari's advice is part of this cluster and being heeded by Bell.

I think not reporting to cash 16 checks is a Le'Veon decision and Bakari is going along to keep the client.

Of course when the offers in the off season do not match Gurley $$$, Bell will blame Bakari and probably fire him - but that's the breaks

[smokin3000gt]

Assuming we make the playoffs, it will be interesting to see if LB sits out the post season or not. He would obviously not want to risk injury but if he sits out that will show other teams that he cares more for himself than his team and the ultimate goal of winning a championship which would concern me as a GM and could hurt his stock even more..

[steelreserve]

Assuming we make the playoffs, it will be interesting to see if LB sits out the post season or not. He would obviously not want to risk injury but if he sits out that will show other teams that he cares more for himself than his team and the ultimate goal of winning a championship which would concern me as a GM and could hurt his stock even more..

He will sit out every game including the postseason if he's fat or stoned, or both. Showing up out of shape and playing like crap will hurt his chances of a big contract even more.

You don't want your most recent tape to be 2 yards a carry and looking like you've lost that special something. He is not playing at all this year, mark it down.

[cold-hard-steel]

Maybe Bell will invite the o-line and A.B. over for some ski jetting after the game or before they head back to Pittsburgh.

[pczach]

Maybe Bell will invite the o-line and A.B. over for some ski jetting after the game or before they head back to Pittsburgh.

Maybe a little Truth or Dare?

[st33lersguy]

Don't tell that to Bell's possible spokesman and professional jags homer Maurice Jones Drew who believes Bell should hold out

[fansince'76]

Don't tell that to Bell's possible spokesman and professional jags homer Maurice Jones Drew who believes Bell should hold out

Or Booger McFarland who thinks the Steelers' FO is at fault and the team should have just "paid the man." Never mind they already tried to make him the highest paid RB in the league and he turned it down.

[Fire Goodell]

Does he have that monocle ready for that first down run?

[Edman]

I wonder if Dingbat will like any Steeler losses on Instagram this week.

[Fire Goodell]

[stillers4me]

[pczach]

Bell is a man of many layers.....

[Moose]

Bell ? Let him walk. My prediction on Bell.....he'll sit out until week 10, then comes in to practice, shows he's in shape and show's his shit during the week---then develops a odd injury of some sort on Saturday where he won't be able to play on Sunday. This will happen every week until the end of season, that way he'll be in shape to go to another team.

[JnK]

Or Booger McFarland who thinks the Steelers' FO is at fault and the team should have just "paid the man." Never mind they already tried to make him the highest paid RB in the league and he turned it down.

Couldn't believe my ears last night. Here's a guy who apparently has no clue. Who names their kid 'Booger' anyhow?

[cubanstogie]

Or Booger McFarland who thinks the Steelers' FO is at fault and the team should have just "paid the man." Never mind they already tried to make him the highest paid RB in the league and he turned it down.

Exactly, these idiots always leave out pertinent facts. Just like the few who stick up for kaepernic, they fail to acknowledge he opted out of his contract. Poor decisions and then blame others.

[steel striker]

I still don't think there are many teams that will pay Bell what he wants. Maybe I'm wrong

[polamalubeast]

The New York Jets are interested in Bell...The faster that Bell will leave the steelers, the better will be for us.

On the field, we are fine without him on offense. 29 PPG, despite the atrocious first game by Ben.

[fansince'76]

The New York Jets are interested in Bell...

Huge media market would be right up his alley. The NYC media is RUTHLESS when they don't love you anymore, however...

[86WARD]

I’d want a high draft pick and a defensive player.

[polamalubeast]

I’d want a high draft pick and a defensive player.

or a DC!

[steelreserve]

Huge media market would be right up his alley. The NYC media is RUTHLESS when they don't love you anymore, however...

It's not about the big market or the TV audience. It's about hittin' up the nightclub.

New York, L.A., Miami, or bust.

[Mojouw]

It's not about the big market or the TV audience. It's about hittin' up the nightclub.

New York, L.A., Miami, or bust.

You're totally right. But "hittin' up the nightclub" that was basically this:



I kid, I kid. Bottom line, is you likely have the best take on where things are out now. Once he didn't report for Week 1...I came over to the SteelReserve side of the fence!

[ALLD]

Bell played his last down as a Steeler. He is trade bait to the highest bidder outside of the AFC Central.