Le’Veon Bell‘s arrival window was believed to be in between the Steelers’ Week 6 and Week 8 games. He remains away from the team, however, continuing a drama-filled year.
The Steelers have received interest from other teams regarding their holdout superstar and have barely a week left to trade him. Of course, Bell would have to show up and sign his franchise tender in order for that to occur, and he may not be interested in doing that.
With the purpose of his holdout being to maximize his 2019 free agency value, Bell does not want to be traded, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link). The five-year veteran running back does not want to learn a new offense in a short time; he wants to return to the system he knows, deliver production down the stretch to set him up for free agency.
Some in the NFL would not be surprised if Bell shows up shortly after the 3pm Oct. 30 trade deadline, reporting to the Steelers in advance of their Week 9 game, per Rapoport.
Bell, in fact, will not report to the Steelers this week, Jim Trotter of NFL.com reports (Twitter link), giving this post-deadline arrival rumor legs.
The 26-year-old Steeler could do this and avoid being traded, and with another afternoon coming and going with Bell away from his team, a post-deadline arrival possibility increases.
Bell’s agent, Adisa Bakari, spoke to the Steelers about the specifics of a two-week roster exemption, indicating perhaps his client is moving closer to a return. Art Rooney II also doesn’t expect Bell will be traded. So, Bell may well not have a bridge team prior to free agency but instead use his presumably final Steelers stretch to finalize his offseason stock.
He’ll be a Jet March 2019
Why? He could stay in PIT if he just wants to lose to New England every year.
Because literally all Le’veon cares about is money. If that wasn’t the case he would be playing right now.
If all he cares about is money why is he throwing away nearly a mil a week sitting at home?
Let’s say he misses 8 game checks. If he gets a 4 year deal from a team he will need an extra 2mil per year to make up the money he lost. That’s 2mil in top of the market setting contract he expects
Because he’s banking on being healthy for the long-term contract he wants, which I’m sure he’ll want to be the top paid RB and close to the top paid WR as well.
Long-term strategy on his part, not short term (this seasons salary only)
But in the long run he LOSES money
Not necessarily, say he doesn’t hold out he plays this year and he tears his ACL he LOSES money in the long run.
All the pothead ex-Steeler RBs end up in New England.
I dont really see a scenario where this all plays out well for Bell. Hes been wanting to set a new market for rbs and instead may end up hurting it
I really think Bell is hurting his stock. Not by much. But I don’t think he’s going to get as big of a number as he wants. Just by the pure fact of him holding out so long. What’s to stop him from signing a big contract. Playing great for a new team then holding out because he wants more money in a couple years.
Have you ever heard of the NY Jets? They’re desperate and they have loads of money to spend in ’19.
He’ll set the market, because they’re stupid.
He isn’t hurting his stock as much as he would be if he suffered a significant injury
@dust44 you mean like…pretty much every other top tier player?
Dust44 is spot on. He will be a high risk of becoming one of the highest RBs in the game, if not the highest and then holdout because other RBs got a higher contract in a couple of years. Bell holding out this long will hurt the potential length of his future contract. His agent is a glutton.