The Steelers are putting negotiations with star running back Le’Veon Bell on hold while the team continues to navigate free agency and prepare for the draft, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. GM Kevin Colbert indicated that his club will resume talks with Bell’s reps “eventually,” and he hopes Bell will report to training camp.
Colbert added, “We’re not intentionally ignoring [Bell’s contract]. More urgent business needs to get taken care of. We will reassess where that is. He’ll reassess where his interests are as well. I anticipate us continuing that process once we get through the free agency period and maybe even through the draft. The draft can change things on both sides.”
We heard several weeks ago that Pittsburgh was getting closer to meeting Bell’s asking price, but obviously the team has not gotten there yet. Bell, of course, was hit with the franchise tag for the second consecutive season earlier this month, and while he will receive a healthy $14.544MM if he plays out the 2018 campaign under the tag, he is still looking for long-term security at a rate that the Steelers do not seem to be willing to pay.
Nonetheless, both Fowler and Mark Kaboly of TheAthletic.com (Twitter link) believe it is unlikely that the Steelers rescind Bell’s franchise tag. If they did, it could leave Bell in a tough position, as many teams have already spent their free agent budget, and even those that have not done so would probably be just as unwilling as the Steelers to satisfy Bell’s contract demands. Therefore, Bell may have to simply sign the franchise tender at some point prior to the start of the season. He has indicated previously that he will not attend training camp if he does not get a multi-year deal to his liking, even though his early-season performance in 2017 was not up to his usual standards, perhaps because he also skipped last year’s training camp.
Colbert’s comments that the team cannot divert its attention from free agency right now may raise some eyebrows given the Steelers’ small amount of cap room, but Kaboly tweets that Pittsburgh may not be done in free agency if a player it likes unexpectedly becomes available.
The Steelers also have several other in-house matters to resolve. Colbert said that the team could still extend Ben Roethlisberger‘s contract this offseason, which was mentioned as a possibility last month (Twitter link via Fowler). Big Ben’s current deal keeps him under club control through 2019.
Also, Kaboly tweets that no decision has been made with respect to Bud Dupree‘s fifth-year option, which must be exercised by May 3, but Fowler tweets that Colbert seems open to exercising it.
Trade to the giants for the number 2 pick?
He’s not worth that high a pick. He’s not a Giants type of guy. Giants already have a talented headache who wants all the money in Beckham, Jr. I think a good trade partner would be Washington.
That trade is about as foolish as one could make. The Giants would be far better served to just draft Barkley at 2 and save that money for other pieces. I wouldn’t even bet on a first rounder if you guys tried to trade Bell.
Bell would certainly bring a first rounder. Especially to teams with cap space that could afford to pay him closer to what he wants.
Jets come to mind. Maybe SF.
Not a chance in hell.
No team will give up a high pick for one disgruntled franchise tag season. Good, cheap players via the draft are too valuable these days. He might bring a decent package if he was signed to a multi-year deal.
Trade him to Philly for pick 32 and a 4th and a player with a lil salary so they can fit him under the cap
Trade to the Browns for 2 first rounders.
Lol
Giants wouldn’t take this clown on nit their style
He’s so overrated as it is. He’s a great back but too much baggage. Let him walk …
overrated? #1 in carries, 10th for WR in receptions. i dont get how he isn’t easily rated as #1 rb
I think he’s overvaluing himself (like most players do) but he absolutely is a top 2 RB in all of football. Steelers offense would take a huge hit without him in the backfield
As I said he is a great back. But the Steelers offense was fine without him when Deangalo Williams was in. There are several RBs in the league you could drop into that offense and have similar result. Maybe not as good but close. I said he is great but not irreplaceable. There are several backs that put in that system would have similar running and receiving results … Forte, D Johnson, K Hunt, M Gordon, D Freeman or T Coleman .. and more. The Steelers would be just as good or so close you couldn’t tell with any of those guys in the same offense. That’s why I say he’s not worth it.
How is he overrated???? That statement mad absolutely 0 sense
I wound love to see Pittsburgh draft Guice at 28 and let Bell walk next year.
Guice ain’t getting past Detroit.
Move on and let the baggage st the station
I wonder if the Lions or 49ers would be interested & giving up 1st round picks for him. But at this point I wouldn’t mind taking anybody’s Top 20 pick. Anything later than that would have to be more maybe a 3rd as well
49rs should say no because Ball is a type of player who’s great but thinks he runs everything with a young QB that doesn’t work
I wouldn’t believe a thing Colbert says and he is so hypocritical he should really be in politics. Bell will run, not walk away from the Steelers the first opportunity he gets and who could blame him? He’s seen how the organization treated James Harrison and he doesn’t want to get shafted the same way.
That’s a crock: Harrison wasn’t getting the playing time and started becoming a distraction. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Patriots back channeled him like they probably did with Blount and told him he had a job in Foxboro if he could get himself released.
What do you think the word “hypocritical” means?
He keeps using that word….I don’t think it means what he thinks it means…..