Bell likely headed to another franchise tag for 2018 season

The Steelers made every effort to secure running back Le'Veon Bell prior to the season, to no avail, and while they aim to explore that option again in 2018, the situation is pointing to another franchise tag.

Bell, who has had an up-and-down season thus far after sitting out all of the offseason on the franchise tag, remains a central cog on the team, and with Ben Roethlisberger aging and the passing game struggling, that remains the case into the future. However, Bell has been seeking a deal worth an absurd $15M a year -- and league sources said the Steelers won't go that high, and that's unlikely to change.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/steelers-leveon-bell-likely-headed-to-another-franchise-tag-for-2018-season/

Honestly I hope they release him before they do that. He'll be holding out, rapping, and causing a massive distraction all offseason again. Don't need that.

I anticipate he'll be signed to a long term contract, especially given the randomness of Roethlisberger retiring or not.

franchise for another year Conner and Watson need another year of experience and see if a good RB falls the Steelers in next years draft.

what Bell wants salary wise the Steelers can have 3 quality RBs for the same price. damn MSU players are a little f'ed up in the head.

Hawaii 5-0 wrote:

Dump him. Draft a #1 QB #2 RB in the draft start preparing for future runs at rings. Ben is done and Bell is just drama. The dude want paid 18 million a year... sorry not for a RB...

Yeah needs to be dumped. Great player but locker room cancer!

All it would take would be to sign and he blows a knee out again or tokes it all away. I see both him and Bryant gone after this year. One is greedy and the other is a head case IMO.

solardave wrote:

All it would take would be to sign and he blows a knee out again or tokes it all away. I see both him and Bryant gone after this year. One is greedy and the other is a head case IMO.

After watching the last two games, I believe Bell has proven himself to be worth $15M per year, if not $17. If he can help bring home #7 this year, then he will have honestly solidified his payment requests considering his value in all aspects of the offensive scheme (not his fault Ben doesn't check down).

As for MB, he's proving there's always got to be one head case on offense and it's usually a WR.

I'd consider keeping Bell if he's willing to be reasonable. He just makes this offense that much better and will be tremendous in helping whoever succeeds Ben. It's a pity that Bryant has turned out to be such a jerk. He's got talent but he's not a team guy. I think Bell to his credit is.

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

I'd consider keeping Bell if he's willing to be reasonable. He just makes this offense that much better and will be tremendous in helping whoever succeeds Ben. It's a pity that Bryant has turned out to be such a jerk. He's got talent but he's not a team guy. I think Bell to his credit is.

I have no problem with the way Bell handled his business prior to signing his tendor. Once he did that, he was back to being the team player the Steelers needed him to be. While he wasn't up to game day standard the first few games he's starting to prove why he's a vital part of the Steelers future.

stlrtruck wrote:

ImmaculateGreenePolamalu wrote:

I'd consider keeping Bell if he's willing to be reasonable. He just makes this offense that much better and will be tremendous in helping whoever succeeds Ben. It's a pity that Bryant has turned out to be such a jerk. He's got talent but he's not a team guy. I think Bell to his credit is.

I have no problem with the way Bell handled his business prior to signing his tendor.  Once he did that, he was back to being the team player the Steelers needed him to be.  While he wasn't up to game day standard the first few games he's starting to prove why he's a vital part of the Steelers future.

Yep my thoughts exactly. I do wish we'd use Conner more but it's all good.

after the Bungirls game I'm starting to come over to the side of paying him to keep him.

effyou515 wrote:

after the Bungirls game I'm starting to come over to the side of paying him to keep him.

I still don't think he's worth 15 mil a year, but that stiff arm to kirkpatrick was one of those 'turn down for what! OHHHH!!!!' moments

Fire Arians wrote:

effyou515 wrote:

after the Bungirls game I'm starting to come over to the side of paying him to keep him.

I still don't think he's worth 15 mil a year, but that stiff arm to kirkpatrick was one of those 'turn down for what! OHHHH!!!!' moments

I know what you mean the way he runs is not new people got use to zone blocking one cut RBs.

No matter how good he may be, no RB gets 15 million a year.

jak341 wrote:

No matter how good he may be, no RB gets 15 million a year.

That may be changing as we're seeing the role of RBs become more involved in the passing game. While it's not new, having a dangerous RB like Bell should help the passing game, especially as an out of the backfield specialist such as Bell.

It may not happen with Bell, but it's going to happen and probably within the next 5 years. And if you think someone like Cleveland wouldn't pay to have someone like Bell, I'd say you're lying to yourself.

I'd rather the Steelers keep him on the roster at $15M, and find Ben's replacement in the draft.

Well, if they do tag him again get ready for another slow start next year.

If they keep giving him 35-40 touches every game he won't finish the season.

Stella Nation wrote:

If they keep giving him 35-40 touches every game he won't finish the season.

Well then we won't have to pay him

stlrtruck wrote:

jak341 wrote:

No matter how good he may be, no RB gets 15 million a year.

That may be changing as we're seeing the role of RBs become more involved in the passing game.  While it's not new, having a dangerous RB like Bell should help the passing game, especially as an out of the backfield specialist such as Bell.

It may not happen with Bell, but it's going to happen and probably within the next 5 years.  And if you think someone like Cleveland wouldn't pay to have someone like Bell, I'd say you're lying to yourself.

I'd rather the Steelers keep him on the roster at $15M, and find Ben's replacement in the draft.

I don't know, honestly if Ben doesn't play next year, it'd make more sense to let Bell go and let someone else pay him 15M.

Losing Ben would put the Steelers in rebuild mode, any way we look at it. Signing Bell to that much would make it that much more difficult to rebuild, basically putting us in cap hell. I do think the Steelers roster overall is good enough to reach the playoffs with a mid tier QB and Bell shouldering the load, but definitely not a SB caliber team. I'd rather the team spend 15M on a quarterback, or to keep the existing young talent here while we find a replacement (hopefully) for Ben.

^ That.

Fire Arians wrote:

stlrtruck wrote:

jak341 wrote:

No matter how good he may be, no RB gets 15 million a year.

That may be changing as we're seeing the role of RBs become more involved in the passing game.  While it's not new, having a dangerous RB like Bell should help the passing game, especially as an out of the backfield specialist such as Bell.

It may not happen with Bell, but it's going to happen and probably within the next 5 years.  And if you think someone like Cleveland wouldn't pay to have someone like Bell, I'd say you're lying to yourself.

I'd rather the Steelers keep him on the roster at $15M, and find Ben's replacement in the draft.

I don't know, honestly if Ben doesn't play next year, it'd make more sense to let Bell go and let someone else pay him 15M.

Losing Ben would put the Steelers in rebuild mode, any way we look at it. Signing Bell to that much would make it that much more difficult to rebuild, basically putting us in cap hell. I do think the Steelers roster overall is good enough to reach the playoffs with a mid tier QB and Bell shouldering the load, but definitely not a SB caliber team. I'd rather the team spend 15M on a quarterback, or to keep the existing young talent here while we find a replacement (hopefully) for Ben.

I tend to agree with this thinking. Under the current circumstances I would try to get a current deal even with his contract demands. Without a top QB an elite RB is more a luxury kind of like having an elite closer on a sub .500 baseball team. That said it's hard to figure where they'll stand after this year. If the D keeps improving and would start approaching 2008 level, an average QB with an elite D, WR, and RB might work to take them a long way.

Fire Arians wrote:

stlrtruck wrote:

jak341 wrote:

No matter how good he may be, no RB gets 15 million a year.

That may be changing as we're seeing the role of RBs become more involved in the passing game.  While it's not new, having a dangerous RB like Bell should help the passing game, especially as an out of the backfield specialist such as Bell.

It may not happen with Bell, but it's going to happen and probably within the next 5 years.  And if you think someone like Cleveland wouldn't pay to have someone like Bell, I'd say you're lying to yourself.

I'd rather the Steelers keep him on the roster at $15M, and find Ben's replacement in the draft.

I don't know, honestly if Ben doesn't play next year, it'd make more sense to let Bell go and let someone else pay him 15M.

Losing Ben would put the Steelers in rebuild mode, any way we look at it. Signing Bell to that much would make it that much more difficult to rebuild, basically putting us in cap hell. I do think the Steelers roster overall is good enough to reach the playoffs with a mid tier QB and Bell shouldering the load, but definitely not a SB caliber team. I'd rather the team spend 15M on a quarterback, or to keep the existing young talent here while we find a replacement (hopefully) for Ben.

I have no problem with this, if Ben doesn't retire.

If he retires, then I think Bell makes the incoming replacement's job somewhat easier.
If he doesn't retire, then we can let Bell take his $15M demands, and find his replacement.

HOWEVER, the league is getting to the point where RBs are going to start making what Bell is asking. Especially the top tier RBs. Because if I can run on you, then I can pass on you, and that means victories and victories SHOULD correlate in to Super Bowls! SHOULD being the operative word!