Where will Le'Veon Bell end up?

[ATL96Steeler]

Not sure any team should be that motivated to pay him what he will want unless you're really bad and can just write off the expense for the first two years.

No contenders really make sense, but maybe not really bad. A team like Tampa...they have the cap space, and could use a big OFC anchor. I don't think the Muscle Hamster is the answer and I think the Bucs are seeing that as well.

Bell is a great player, and he is a difference maker, but trying to set some type of new pay scale for dual threat RB, he's pricing himself out of the contender market.

Which means not as much talent around him...teams can key on him more...less production, after the big contract.

 

[Tharvot]

If he leaves Pittsburgh? Cleveland is my guess.

That was my first thought. If a team is motivated to overpay, it's a trigger-happy GM with a HC who went 1-31 the past two years, who just happens to be in the same division as Pittsburgh with oodles of capspace.

Unlikely. Even though Bell is phenomenal, it's really unwise to offer a huge salary to a FA running back.

If CLE wants to utilize their cap space, they would be better served getting a vet QB to go along with Kizer (or whomever they draft) along with some help in the defensive secondary.

They do need a playmaker on offense, but given their draft capital, they can maneuver to get what they need w/o shelling out huge cash for a 2nd contract RB. Hell, if they're so inclined, they can maneuver the draft to get Barkley if they really want a splash playmaker at RB.

 

[Jikkle]

If he were to hit the open market I would peg him to the 9ers because he's exactly what Kyle wants and they have a ton of cap space to work with.

Kyle's quote on RBs what this:

“When you find a special one and you think that makes sense for your team, you should never hesitate to do that,” Shanahan said. “A big-time running back, whether it’s (Leonard) Fournette, whether it’s Adrian Peterson who was a top-10 pick, whether it was Terrell Davis in the sixth round, whether it’s David Johnson who I think was a third rounder or Le’Veon Bell I think is a second rounder, all those guys are worth top-five picks, but they were all found different places. … You’ve just got to find who you think that guy is. There’s lots of ways to do it.”

He considers Bell a back who would be worthy of a top 5 pick his larger point in the quote wasn't you don't necessarily have to use a top 5 pick to get a top 5 quality back and talented RBs are found in various rounds.

What I would do is just heavily front load his contract the 1st couple of years so it's far less of a burden on your salary cap when you need the money.

 

[redseat]

He's now saying that he wants to remain with the Steelers

 

[Fountain City Blues]

If he were to hit the open market I would peg him to the 9ers because he's exactly what Kyle wants and they have a ton of cap space to work with.

Kyle's quote on RBs what this:

“When you find a special one and you think that makes sense for your team, you should never hesitate to do that,” Shanahan said. “A big-time running back, whether it’s (Leonard) Fournette, whether it’s Adrian Peterson who was a top-10 pick, whether it was Terrell Davis in the sixth round, whether it’s David Johnson who I think was a third rounder or Le’Veon Bell I think is a second rounder, all those guys are worth top-five picks, but they were all found different places. … You’ve just got to find who you think that guy is. There’s lots of ways to do it.”

He considers Bell a back who would be worthy of a top 5 pick his larger point in the quote wasn't you don't necessarily have to use a top 5 pick to get a top 5 quality back and talented RBs are found in various rounds.

What I would do is just heavily front load his contract the 1st couple of years so it's far less of a burden on your salary cap when you need the money.

I think you can read into whatever you want the more you re-read the quote. It's a lot of words saying a lot of nothing when it comes down to it.

 

[redseat]

Le’Veon Bell says he never wants to leave Pittsburgh

Following the team’s gut-wrenching 45-42 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bell said “of course” he wants to return, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell.

“I never want to leave this city, but obviously, circumstances and things like that. But I definitely don’t.”

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Le’Veon Bell says he never wants to leave Pittsburgh

Following the team’s gut-wrenching 45-42 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bell said “of course” he wants to return, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell.

“I never want to leave this city, but obviously, circumstances and things like that. But I definitely don’t.”

If he's asking for 15M, those would be some kind of circumstances I'd say.

 

[redseat]

If he's asking for 15M, those would be some kind of circumstances I'd say.

Yup

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

He will stay in Pittsburgh. If they have to they will put the Franchise tag on him again.

BTW for Steeler's fans - Does Bell feel the same way about Todd Haley as Big Ben does?

Yes, but only partially. He was pretty vocal about his displeasure over his usage earlier in the season. Squeaky wheel got the grease though.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

If he's asking for 15M, those would be some kind of circumstances I'd say.

If PIT will have (future tense, because they are currently $6mil OVER the projected cap) the money to tag him at $14.5mil, then they can certainly pay him $15mil. Question is, for how long of a contract? He wants 5-7 years or some absurd shit like that. I'm thinking 3-4.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

If PIT will have (future tense, because they are currently $6mil OVER the projected cap) the money to tag him at $14.5mil, then they can certainly pay him $15mil. Question is, for how long of a contract? He wants 5-7 years or some absurd shit like that. I'm thinking 3-4.

It's not a can thing with Pitt IMO, it's a will they. At 15M we really have to start asking if any RB is worth it. That's money usually reserved for pass rushers, QB's, and the like I have doubts he leaves Pittsburgh when it's all said and done, however.

 

[dbldwn711]

I thought I read somewhere last year that Pitt offered him a monster contract in the neighborhood of the money he is now requesting and he immediately dismissed it. From what I've read the team has been more than fair to him.

I think they should franchise him, offer him a long term deal and if he turns it down then say to him that they will trade him. He would bring a ton of talent/picks in return. I think though if they tell him that then they call his bluff. He doesn't wanna go anywhere.

 

[northeastphillyguy]

I thought I read somewhere last year that Pitt offered him a monster contract in the neighborhood of the money he is now requesting and he immediately dismissed it. From what I've read the team has been more than fair to him.

I think they should franchise him, offer him a long term deal and if he turns it down then say to him that they will trade him. He would bring a ton of talent/picks in return. I think though if they tell him that then they call his bluff. He doesn't wanna go anywhere.

I think they offered him a front loaded deal.. As far as I am concerned, the crybaby can go live in his moms basement. After he buys her the house of course!

 

[Psych-Ward]

I thought I read somewhere last year that Pitt offered him a monster contract in the neighborhood of the money he is now requesting and he immediately dismissed it. From what I've read the team has been more than fair to him.

I think they should franchise him, offer him a long term deal and if he turns it down then say to him that they will trade him. He would bring a ton of talent/picks in return. I think though if they tell him that then they call his bluff. He doesn't wanna go anywhere.

They offered him 3 years at 42 million, guaranteeing 30 in the first two years and the third year had several incentive clauses. His agent said yes, and he said no. He wants 5 years 15 million each year + the incentives.

So he had his money, he just wants to be a greedy bitch. 3 years at that money with his injury record, and pot suspensions was more than fair. And beings the shelf life on a back like him isn't very long......

 

[Pattersonca65]

SF has the cap space but I don't think paying a free agent RB big money is the way they want to go right now. I think they will want to spend FA in other places.

 

[Breed]

Redskins maybe?

Where they promptly make him the starting QB.

 

[SteelersPride]

ur all ust naming teams

 

[dbldwn711]

They offered him 3 years at 42 million, guaranteeing 30 in the first two years and the third year had several incentive clauses. His agent said yes, and he said no. He wants 5 years 15 million each year + the incentives.

So he had his money, he just wants to be a greedy bitch. 3 years at that money with his injury record, and pot suspensions was more than fair. And beings the shelf life on a back like him isn't very long......

Thx @Psych-Ward. I agree that's a fair deal. I hear Bell when he says he gets 400 touches a year but honestly I don't know why Tomlin does that! First, the odds of him surviving that many touches in a season and not getting injured is small. He needs to spread the ball around a little more and not set himself up to fail with one guy getting that many touches. I'm not saying 50/50 but damn... Somebody else who can play. Again, the more balanced a team is the more dangerous it is.

Honestly, this past week, with all the talk about bell I looked at the pats running back situation and asked myself would I rather have bell or Lewis, White, Burkhead, Gillislie and Bolden? Clearly Bell is far and away the better player but having that depth, help on special teams, etc... Let's just say that IMO it's not as easy as just picking Bell.

 

[Mike A. S.]

Pretty sure it won't be the Steelers.

I'll pick San Fran or Seattle

Why are you pretty sure it won't be the Steelers? I would say quite the opposite.

 

[Psych-Ward]

Thx @Psych-Ward. I agree that's a fair deal. I hear Bell when he says he gets 400 touches a year but honestly I don't know why Tomlin does that! First, the odds of him surviving that many touches in a season and not getting injured is small. He needs to spread the ball around a little more and not set himself up to fail with one guy getting that many touches. I'm not saying 50/50 but damn... Somebody else who can play. Again, the more balanced a team is the more dangerous it is.

Honestly, this past week, with all the talk about bell I looked at the pats running back situation and asked myself would I rather have bell or Lewis, White, Burkhead, Gillislie and Bolden? Clearly Bell is far and away the better player but having that depth, help on special teams, etc... Let's just say that IMO it's not as easy as just picking Bell.

And I'm thinking that's why Pittsburgh only offered him 3 years, they intend on running him into the ground because of his talent. And yes he runs a lot, and yes he catches a lot of passes.....But is there another team out there willing to pay him that ridiculous money and work him like they do in Pittsburgh??? And the team that can afford him, do they have outs like AB and Juju to take the pressure off him??? Or will he be the only one on the team....if so, shut him down you shut down that team and the money goes down the shitter.