It doesn’t sound like the Steelers are expecting Le’Veon Bell to show for training camp. The franchise-tagged running back, like last year, may well report to his team after the preseason concludes.
The Steelers and Bell could not come to terms on an extension, again, but Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports Pittsburgh did offer more than the $10MM guaranteed that was reported last week. Bell did not believe the guaranteed money was sufficient, but La Canfora notes Pittsburgh’s proposal featured “exponentially greater” guarantee figures than $10MM.
This offer was part of a five-year, $70MM proposal, and JLC confirms the $45MM over three years — which would have topped Todd Gurley‘s since-agreed-to deal that will pay him $40MM through 2020 — component of the Steelers’ final offer.
However, a sense among Steelers brass was Bell would turn down any deal proposed, per La Canfora, because of the allure of free agency come March. This is a bold move on Bell’s part, due to his throwback workload (406 touches last season — in 15 games — the most a running back’s accumulated since Chris Johnson in 2009) and injury risk that comes with the Steelers’ brand of usage. But Gurley’s extension provides a clearer road map for a team looking to sign Bell.
La Canfora doesn’t believe the Steelers are expecting Bell to be back in 2019, though the 26-year-old back is expected to communicate with Mike Tomlin and likely new OC Randy Fichtner while he’s away from the team.
Last year, GM Kevin Colbert called for Bell to end his holdout and report in order to make necessary preparations for the season. This year, the longtime Steelers decision-maker isn’t as direct but remains insistent Bell showing up for camp will help him early in the season. Bell struggled out of the starting blocks in 2017, failing to exceed 100 yards from scrimmage in all three of the Steelers’ September games.
“Unfortunately, we have to go through it again,” Colbert said, via La Canfora. “The fortunate part is at the end we will have Le’Veon Bell on our team. Ideally, the earlier he gets here the better it will be for him and obviously for us, because I don’t think he got off to the kind of start (last season) he would have gotten off to had he worked for his team for a week or two, whatever that would have been.
“You just need that timing; you need that football conditioning. He’ll show up and be in great physical condition, but that can never equate to great football conditioning until they go through this.”
I’m sure someone will pay Bell stoophud money when he hits free agency. But, I’m sure PIT would offer a fine contract and the benefits of playing in a stable and familiar environment could outweigh the extra salary.
I’d take the money if I were him, he’ll need it later in life with the pounding he’s taking physically, but there is something to be said for not selling out to a poopy team.
My prediction is bell gets traded at the trade deadline. I feel the Steelers crap the bed and decide to trade bell.
That’s such a bad prediction in what will probably be the worst division in the nfl
Move on and quit talking about him! If some team wants to give him 100 million who really cares? As long as it’s not the Pittsburgh Steelers! Great back but enough is enough!
I have #2 pik in fantasy. Gurley going one, can I take bell????? At some point it will impact his production. Post your opinions please. Zeke, david johnson, hunt….can’t take giants rookie…
I don’t do the fantasy thing but I will point out that 14 teams rushed more than the Steelers who will be getting the ball to Antonio Brown as often as possible. I would consider a RB like LeSean McCoy who will be a workhorse while the Bills rookie QB gets adjusted to the pro game.
Zeke
Take Bell if you want. He’ll probably start a little slow but he’s a monster after that. I also like David Johnson but it’s been a year and who knows with new offense and qb. I love kamara not sure I could pull the trigger on him that early.
Who knows . Hurley may not go 1. I would go David Johnson, he’s a great receiver and running back, same as Bell but had the class to come to camp.
I like David Johnson but you have to take Bell. If he knows he is leaving he will put up big time numbers both receiving and rushing and Steelers will run him into ground if they think he is leaving.
I have to disagree with what Colbert said. Being an elite running back is all about having great instincts and periphery vision and you can’t develop those in training camp.
Everyone needs reps bro. You can’t simulate nfl speed
How showing up for camp isn’t mandatory is beyond me. No other sport can you just show up day one of the season and expect to play. Hopefully he gets off to a slow start again and come free agency his offers are lower than he expected due to poor performance and high usage. This guy has a wildly inflated opinion of his own value.
If money is his first priority than he needs to go now. No one wins in this situation