Le'Veon Bell

[Bridgeburner]

@FaCe-LeE-uS Yeah. The timing does seem right. I'm not sure I see the Steelers budging much on this. Almost feels like they are ready to dig in.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

@FaCe-LeE-uS Yeah. The timing does seem right. I'm not sure I see the Steelers budging much on this. Almost feels like they are ready to dig in.

Whatever the case, I just hope they get it done behind closed doors as smoothly as possible. So sick of the media fueled drama. 2017 was exhausting. You know hundreds of writers have their holdout articles at the ready for when any news surfaces about the situation.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Whatever the case, I just hope they get it done behind closed doors as smoothly as possible. So sick of the media fueled drama. 2017 was exhausting. You know hundreds of writers have their holdout articles at the ready for when any news surfaces about the situation.

No kidding.

The entire year was one thing after another. And it's not going to stop lol. Saw a news blurb earlier today that Ben was passing around a **** star with Donald Trump in 2011.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

No kidding.

The entire year was one thing after another. And it's not going to stop lol. Saw a news blurb earlier today that Ben was passing around a **** star with Donald Trump in 2011.

LMFAO... What the hell?

Ben Roethlisberger mentioned in interview with adult actress discussing affair with Donald Trump

 

[thedddd]

^ Yeah that was funny. Ben can't seem to get out of the s**t.
As for Bell what worries me is that I think he has 3 years left, on top of the Ben window until retirement. If they can sign him so that he gets paid for 3 years (front load and dump when the wheels fall off), then great. But if the deal will put them in trouble past 3 to 4 years then he might be gone.

My reasoning for 3 years is most RB's fall off the face of the earth at 30 but due to his past health issues, can't stay off the blunt train and workload it will come sooner vs later.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Bell might be one of these transcendent talents that don't fall off as soon as others though. I have the same concerns. No doubt. But you almost have to assume you're going to eat it at the end of a big contract. Just minimize that or prepare for it.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

@Bridgeburner @thedddd

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall in the Roethlisberger household once that story hit the media waves. Wonder if the Mrs. knew of that previous transgression. After all, they got married in 2011, same year this supposedly happened. If she wasn't aware, would have loved to hear his explanation...

"So what's this I hear about you 'taking care' of some pornstar that Trump was pussygrabbing?"

"Well....honey....I plead the fifth"

 

[Superbelt]

I'm not interested in rolling the dice that Bell can keep playing at a high level for 3 more years, not with his injury history. I know his replacement will be a step down, but it's not impossible to find a good runner who can excel behind this offensive line. The main concern is finding someone who can pass block.

Non-Exclusive Tag and trade him away. Great talent, but he's not world breaking. Not worth cap breaking.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Bell might be one of these transcendent talents that don't fall off as soon as others though. I have the same concerns. No doubt. But you almost have to assume you're going to eat it at the end of a big contract. Just minimize that or prepare for it.

Having watched a lot of RBs age in this league...the saying that father time is undefeated is very much true for RBs around that 30 mark...what is fascinating about the NFL is they don't have to drop off much...a half step makes a huge difference in hitting the hole or not.

Often times the RB can't no longer shake that 1st guy or get the edge like the used to....they don't totally drop off the cliff, heck I wouldn't mind Gore as a complementary RB to Connor.....Bell's style of running might work for or against longevity...I'm not sure. His big thing is 2 major knee injuries...that had to shave something off the backend of his career.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Having watched a lot of RBs age in this league...the saying that father time is undefeated is very much true for RBs around that 30 mark...what is fascinating about the NFL is they don't have to drop off much...a half step makes a huge difference in hitting the hole or not.

Often times the RB can't no longer shake that 1st guy or get the edge like the used to....they don't totally drop off the cliff, heck I wouldn't mind Gore as a complementary RB to Connor.....Bell's style of running might work for or against longevity...I'm not sure. His big thing is 2 major knee injuries...that had to shave something off the backend of his career.

Yeah. Good point on the knee injuries. I wasn't really thinking of that. Probably because he returned from each one better than before haha. That's gotta have a long term effect though, like you said.

 

[Mr. Outstanding]

While I love Bell, it just seems that he hasn't done enough for us to earn a long term contract. I'm taking into consideration the injuries, the complaining and showing up to games late, the fact that before a big game he's tweeting about his salary, and the few times he's been suspended. He's great but not irreplaceable.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

While I love Bell, it just seems that he hasn't done enough for us to earn a long term contract. I'm taking into consideration the injuries, the complaining and showing up to games late, the fact that before a big game he's tweeting about his salary, and the few times he's been suspended. He's great but not irreplaceable.

Welcome to the Hoop Mr. Outstanding!

Bell carries a lot of baggage for sure. He's proven to be selfish in the past and there's not much evidence to believe that he's changed in that regard. But in terms of "not doing enough", I would have to strongly disagree. He averages 130 scrimmage yards averaged per game. That's a helluva impact. And in 2017 when the team just went 13-3, Bell touched the ball 406 times in the regular season. He's a workhorse.

His availability draws questions, but the last 2 seasons he has been healthy (aside from the most important AFCCG in '16) so his injury history doesn't concern me as much.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

While I love Bell, it just seems that he hasn't done enough for us to earn a long term contract. I'm taking into consideration the injuries, the complaining and showing up to games late, the fact that before a big game he's tweeting about his salary, and the few times he's been suspended. He's great but not irreplaceable.

Welcome to the Hoop MO.

On the field, Bell is all that if you will, hard to challenge that I think. Can that part be replaced? Absolutely, but Bell is a special talent, you don't replace the productivity 100%, but you can move on. I've seen enough of Connor now to know that in a tandem backfield the running game is not going to drop off the map.

The other stuff about Bell...can he stay off the weed is the main one. Once he signs this big deal, I don't think we're going to hear a lot from him on that front.

 

[Mr. Outstanding]

Thanks for the welcome everyone

Bell carries a lot of baggage for sure. He's proven to be selfish in the past and there's not much evidence to believe that he's changed in that regard. But in terms of "not doing enough", I would have to strongly disagree. He averages 130 scrimmage yards averaged per game. That's a helluva impact. And in 2017 when the team just went 13-3, Bell touched the ball 406 times in the regular season. He's a workhorse.

As far as production on the field I can't argue. He has been great in that regard, and I believe has the potential to be a HOF. My biggest concern is that someone can be a great talent, yet destroy a team in the locker room. At that point is the talent worth the headache? I just think he needs to prove he can be an adult before we sign to a long term deal. While Antonio Brown has been an issue for controversy in the past his stuff is mostly just his big personality and that can be managed.

This could lead to another topic which is not the purpose of this thread, would it be better if Tomlin was more of a disciplinarian and controlled the locker room better?

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Thanks for the welcome everyone


As far as production on the field I can't argue. He has been great in that regard, and I believe has the potential to be a HOF. My biggest concern is that someone can be a great talent, yet destroy a team in the locker room. At that point is the talent worth the headache? I just think he needs to prove he can be an adult before we sign to a long term deal. While Antonio Brown has been an issue for controversy in the past his stuff is mostly just his big personality and that can be managed.

This could lead to another topic which is not the purpose of this thread, would it be better if Tomlin was more of a disciplinarian and controlled the locker room better?

The character concerns have a lot of merit. I'm sure that has weighed heavily on the minds of the Rooneys, Colbert & coaches over the last year or 2. I think the decision to tag him last year & offer him a deal was telling us that none of them are concerned with him on that front anymore. If the character concerns were still an issue then they wouldn't be trying to negotiate a deal right now. They obviously know a lot more than we do about Bell's character. The image Bell paints us through social media isn't the same for how he treats his employers. I doubt he would be a poison to the locker room at all.

Its easy to think that Tomlin needs to take more control of his team in terms of discipline, but I think its more complicated than that. Tomlin certainly has the reputation of a players coach, but he has the track record of "righting the ship" so to speak that proves he is more than capable of getting the team focused. But that begs the question to why they would need that re-focus in the first place. Nevertheless, the days of hard-nosed coaching are almost extinct.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Thanks for the welcome everyone


As far as production on the field I can't argue. He has been great in that regard, and I believe has the potential to be a HOF. My biggest concern is that someone can be a great talent, yet destroy a team in the locker room. At that point is the talent worth the headache? I just think he needs to prove he can be an adult before we sign to a long term deal. While Antonio Brown has been an issue for controversy in the past his stuff is mostly just his big personality and that can be managed.

This could lead to another topic which is not the purpose of this thread, would it be better if Tomlin was more of a disciplinarian and controlled the locker room better?

Bell..."yet destroy a team..." I don't see that in Bell. Yes, he's been a selfish ass about the money, but his biggest issues or concerns about a long term contract are injury and potential suspension...he's never really shown to be locker room issue.

Tomlin...there is something to this. Tomlin "reportedly" is known to be more of a "players coach", until you cross him. The reality is Tomlin treats the players like men, until they need to be treated like kids. Sure a superstar like Brown is going to be handled differently than a WR4.

BB is known to be this rigid no nonsense guy, but when Brady had his day in court over deflategate, BB said little to nothing, and Gronk says things that might get lessor a Patriot waived.

On the flip side...players around the league want to play for Mike Tomlin...he can draw free agents.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Nevertheless, the days of hard-nosed coaching are almost extinct.

Exactly. You beat me to it.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

The character concerns have a lot of merit. I'm sure that has weighed heavily on the minds of the Rooneys, Colbert & coaches over the last year or 2. I think the decision to tag him last year & offer him a deal was telling us that none of them are concerned with him on that front anymore. If the character concerns were still an issue then they wouldn't be trying to negotiate a deal right now. They obviously know a lot more than we do about Bell's character. The image Bell paints us through social media isn't the same for how he treats his employers. I doubt he would be a poison to the locker room at all.

Its easy to think that Tomlin needs to take more control of his team in terms of discipline, but I think its more complicated than that. Tomlin certainly has the reputation of a players coach, but he has the track record of "righting the ship" so to speak that proves he is more than capable of getting the team focused. But that begs the question to why they would need that re-focus in the first place. Nevertheless, the days of hard-nosed coaching are almost extinct.

There are a few hard nosed HCs around, BB, Rivera in CAR, Payton in NO is off the Parcels tree, but you're right, they are almost extinct. One reason I question if Cowher could be as effective.

 

[Gooch1034]

His patient running style wouldn't work too well without a good OL blocking for him so how many teams with good OL's would be in a position financially to add Bell?

If Ben is going to stick around another year or 2, I would hope the Steelers pay Bell but if Ben retires, losing cheap would be better for the future. At least until the Steelers find a long term QB to replace Ben.