Le'Veon Bell's future unclear as Pittsburgh Steelers set to franchise tag running back

Jay Asser 13:20 06/03/2018
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  • Le'Veon Bell is one of the best running backs in the NFL.

    Le’Veon Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers are at an impasse, with neither side budging from their position.

    With no long-term contract agreed on as of yet, the Steelers will franchise tag Bell for a second consecutive season, paying him $14.5 million for one year.

    The running back stated back in January that he’ll consider retirement if forced to play on the franchise tag again and ahead of Tuesday’s deadline he told ESPN that he’s not backing off his stance.

    “I just have to decide if I’m going to play when the time comes,” Bell said.

    The deadline to work out a long-term deal, however, runs into the summer with the sides having an additional four months to reach an extension before July 16.

    If an agreement isn’t reached by then, Bell may choose to skip training camp and even sit out regular season games.

    “We’re not coming to a number we both agree on – they are too low, or I guess they feel I’m too high,” Bell said. “I’m playing for strictly my value to the team. That’s what I’m asking. I don’t think I should settle for anything less than what I’m valued at.”

    While the $14.5m he’s set to receive on the franchise tag for 2018 is a hefty figure – 120 per cent increase from the $12.12m he played on last season – Bell could be in search of a contract that pays him that much annually over multiple years.

    That figure would nearly double the $8.25m per year Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman makes, which is the highest for any player in the same position.

    Based on past production though, Bell has a case for setting a new benchmark. Entering last season, no player had ever averaged more yards from scrimmage per game during their first four seasons in the NFL than Bell’s mark of 128.7.

    And while his 2017 per-game production didn’t match what he did the previous year, Bell still earned first-team All-Pro honours for racking up 1,291 rushing yards on a league-high 321 carries, while adding 655 receiving yards on 85 receptions. He also found the end zone 11 times (nine rushing, two receiving).

    Few running backs in the league can do what Bell does as a three-down player who’s elite as a runner, receiver and pass-blocker.

    Other than quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown, it’s arguable no one on the Steelers is as valuable as Bell.

    The problem for him, however, is that he plays a position with a relatively short shelf life and while he’s only 26, it’s possible Pittsburgh believe his best days may be behind him after the heavy load he’s already carried.

    Add to that the growing expendability of running backs in the league and Bell may have to settle for something less than the payday he’s looking for.

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