Le'Veon Bell

[ATL96Steeler]

The WR2 argument is lacking. Sure he had the 2nd highest receptions on the team, but at 6.7 ypc with LBs in coverage is hardly a unique phenomenon. If he had been lining up out wide for 20+ snaps per game (which he has not, only averaged just over 1 per game) then the argument would have more merit. He lined up at WR (slot & wide) a total of 20 times the entire year. Doesn't appear to be a WR2 in my book. That's like calling Martavis Bryant our RB2 since he ran reverses. Bell is a heavily used outlet valve, not a WR2.

This in bold ^^^^^ hits the nail squarely on the head!!!

He's not lining up vs a slot defender even....80% of the time a LB is covering him...the WR2 argument is weak!

Bell feels some kind of way about this dual role and the pay for it...I get it...I do, I'm sure Faulk and others before him that excelled at running and receiving felt the same way...but, it's the payscale of the NFL...it is what it is. I think Bell could land a bigger deal than what the Steelers are offering...it's no guarantee the market will be the same in '19...I'd like to see him cash in...it's too bad that he feels the highest paid RB in the league is "settling".

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Le'Veon Bell is are 2nd best weapon/threat on offense. We don't have him, we have no running game. It's that simple. No Bell, to running game. We are left with a 2nd year player who's had 2 surgeries on the same knee and we are gonna just switch up the way we have our running game why, because we won't spend an extra $2.5 mill a year on the BEST RB possibly in the league?

You assume there would be no plan B...I think there would be a plan B...Connor wouldn't be expected to carry the load.

The extra $2.5mil per...with 0 funds allotted to Bell currently, they have $5mil in cap space after the Tuitt/DeCastro restructures...so if I understand this correctly they are going to have to make some cuts just to do execute the deal they've offered him.

I know you would cut Haden...and probably go CB at 28...that would free up $8mil...if I'm wrong tell me, but I don't think there would be any money for a ILB or FS in FA so that position has to be a rookie or on the roster...I think Mitchell and Wilcox have to go to find the $2.5.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Le'Veon Bell is are 2nd best weapon/threat on offense. We don't have him, we have no running game. It's that simple. No Bell, to running game. We are left with a 2nd year player who's had 2 surgeries on the same knee and we are gonna just switch up the way we have our running game why, because we won't spend an extra $2.5 mill a year on the BEST RB possibly in the league?

He is the 2nd best, even arguably THE best weapon on the offense... Wasn't disputing that. Only disputing that he isn't a WR2.

I get that why he's valuing himself that high, I do. But I would even understand it WITHOUT the WR2 nonsense talk.

It seems as though Colbert is trying to reach a deal that can allow the team to explore FA. If they cave and give up the $2-3mil more per year then they are kissing their chances of shoring up the defense goodbye. There's no way they can fix the defense with the draft alone. That would be foolish to expect that. If they "pay the man" then we should get ready to expect similar results as last season. Flashy offense and putrid defense that will ultimately collapse in the postseason.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[Yo Tee]

You assume there would be no plan B...I think there would be a plan B...Connor wouldn't be expected to carry the load.

The extra $2.5mil per...with 0 funds allotted to Bell currently, they have $5mil in cap space after the Tuitt/DeCastro restructures...so if I understand this correctly they are going to have to make some cuts just to do execute the deal they've offered him.

I know you would cut Haden...and probably go CB at 28...that would free up $8mil...if I'm wrong tell me, but I don't think there would be any money for a ILB or FS in FA so that position has to be a rookie or on the roster...I think Mitchell and Wilcox have to go to find the $2.5.

Plan B is either an unproven 2nd year RB just coming off his 2nd knee surgery on the same knee, a rookie RB that we would have to draft, which would take away from our LB and FS/CB need or sign a FA RB to a 1 or 2 year deal and split the carries with him and Conner. When you compare those scenarios with the scenario that we "overpay" for Le'Veon Bell and continue to get his production....I'm choosing to "overpay" the best RB in the league who also happens to be the best receiving RB in the league as well.

Right now, look at who are RBs are. James Conner and Roosevelt Nix. That's without signing Bell and letting Toussaint go through FA which I think we should. I don't understand this confidence in James Conner. 3 years, 2 knee surgeries on the same knee. 1 carry in the NFL and he's ready to "share" the load with another RB? Who are we the Saints now? RB committee? The perfect reason to NOT let Bell go is this conversation right now. In order to get what we need from our RB, we would need to have a RB by committee situation because in order to get the production we need, we need to replace 1 guy with at least 2. Do what needs to be done, but get the deal done. This team is not the dominant team it's been without Le'Veon Bell and it SURE as HELL isn't the dominant team it's been lately with 2 RBs expected to do, not exactly what Bell did, but CLOSE to it. You gotta be confident there's no sophomore slump with JuJu because without Bell, he's the #2 choice. You gotta be confident that Eli is gonna be healthy because without Bell, he's the #3 weapon on offense. You gotta be confident that James Conner can actually stay healthy and run the ball ALL. YEAR. LONG. Because without Bell, he's RB #1 or RB #1.1. This offense isn't the same without Le'Veon Bell. The Shazier injury showed just how different our defense is without him and now we gotta fill that hole. Let's not create the same size hole on the offense and be fucked all around.

 

[Yo Tee]

This in bold ^^^^^ hits the nail squarely on the head!!!

He's not lining up vs a slot defender even....80% of the time a LB is covering him...the WR2 argument is weak!

Bell feels some kind of way about this dual role and the pay for it...I get it...I do, I'm sure Faulk and others before him that excelled at running and receiving felt the same way...but, it's the payscale of the NFL...it is what it is. I think Bell could land a bigger deal than what the Steelers are offering...it's no guarantee the market will be the same in '19...I'd like to see him cash in...it's too bad that he feels the highest paid RB in the league is "settling".

What's too bad is the team he's excelled for for 5 years doesn't respect his proven abilities enough to give him a long term contract. He's not just a RB. He's a dual threat that, without him, changes how our offense looks, operates and how other teams perceive our offense.

 

[Yo Tee]

He is the 2nd best, even arguably THE best weapon on the offense... Wasn't disputing that. Only disputing that he isn't a WR2.

I get that why he's valuing himself that high, I do. But I would even understand it WITHOUT the WR2 nonsense talk.

It seems as though Colbert is trying to reach a deal that can allow the team to explore FA. If they cave and give up the $2-3mil more per year then they are kissing their chances of shoring up the defense goodbye. There's no way they can fix the defense with the draft alone. That would be foolish to expect that. If they "pay the man" then we should get ready to expect similar results as last season. Flashy offense and putrid defense that will ultimately collapse in the postseason.

You know who I'd love to have right now....James Fuckin' Harrison. He'd fill a hole real quick that's for sure.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

You know who I'd love to have right now....James Fuckin' Harrison. He'd fill a hole real quick that's for sure.

What hole would that be?

I'd love to have James back and for the coaches to actually use him, but I don't view the OLB position as a hole right now. It would help the run defense though.

 

[Yo Tee]

What hole would that be?

I'd love to have James back and for the coaches to actually use him, but I don't view the OLB position as a hole right now. It would help the run defense though.

Move someone form OLB to ILB. Harrison was itching to play last year and we just sat him for the whole season. I'm sure he would've jumped right into that ILB spot we have open. I'm sure Matakevich would love an opportunity at ILB on the defense as well. He's a beast on special teams. I know it's a different beast, but you never know what you got until you give it a chance.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Move someone form OLB to ILB. Harrison was itching to play last year and we just sat him for the whole season. I'm sure he would've jumped right into that ILB spot we have open. I'm sure Matakevich would love an opportunity at ILB on the defense as well. He's a beast on special teams. I know it's a different beast, but you never know what you got until you give it a chance.

The only player I view as flexible enough to do that is Watt. But he's the future of that position and I don't think the Steelers want to jeopardize that just to plug a hole. Look at what happened to Clay Matthews when GB moved him inside. Didn't work out so well.

 

[Yo Tee]

The only player I view as flexible enough to do that is Watt. But he's the future of that position and I don't think the Steelers want to jeopardize that just to plug a hole. Look at what happened to Clay Matthews when GB moved him inside. Didn't work out so well.

IDK, I just don't like the direction this team is heading. Two big holes in the defense, our QB might only have 2 years left and we refuse to pay our RB to keep him. We have no solutions for our QB future or our current RB situation and we are too stubborn to make some out of the box moves to fix it and get the shit done that we need to get done. Feels like the team and most of its fans have just gotten in this stale state of mind and I hate it.

 

[Yo Tee]

Source: Steelers officially franchise Bell again

Steelers shot themselves in the foot. Tag is worth $14.5 and now Bell wants just that. If they're willing to pay him $14.5 for 1 year, why not pay him that for 3-4 years?

 

[Ewa PGH Fan]

You know who I'd love to have right now....James Fuckin' Harrison. He'd fill a hole real quick that's for sure.

Harrison doesn't play Special Teams and the young guys all do. They don't have room for a late game pass rushing specialist right now. That's why he was cut in the first place, I don't think that's changed any.
NE did and still may and there may be some other teams too but the last time he left Pittsburgh and signed with Cinncy he was unhappy with his playing time too. I think that's just his personality.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Plan B is either an unproven 2nd year RB just coming off his 2nd knee surgery on the same knee, a rookie RB that we would have to draft, which would take away from our LB and FS/CB need or sign a FA RB to a 1 or 2 year deal and split the carries with him and Conner. When you compare those scenarios with the scenario that we "overpay" for Le'Veon Bell and continue to get his production....I'm choosing to "overpay" the best RB in the league who also happens to be the best receiving RB in the league as well.

Right now, look at who are RBs are. James Conner and Roosevelt Nix. That's without signing Bell and letting Toussaint go through FA which I think we should. I don't understand this confidence in James Conner. 3 years, 2 knee surgeries on the same knee. 1 carry in the NFL and he's ready to "share" the load with another RB? Who are we the Saints now? RB committee? The perfect reason to NOT let Bell go is this conversation right now.

Overpaying Bell...fair...he's a great player. With Bell, FA help is going to be minimal so upgrade at FS and ILB would have to come from the draft...I don't think they're any better than last year on DEF unless they strike gold twice.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

What's too bad is the team he's excelled for for 5 years doesn't respect his proven abilities enough to give him a long term contract. He's not just a RB. He's a dual threat that, without him, changes how our offense looks, operates and how other teams perceive our offense.

Maybe I don't understand respect.

Other not just RBs have been paid like RBs...he hasn't invented anything here. I can applaud his effort for wanting to raise the bar...but it's a hard cap league...the team is offering you long term money at the top of the position....what is that if not respect?

If he wants to wants to champion a cause for dual threat RBs...okay, but you do that when you're Kirk Cousins...next year he can reset the bar.

 

[Yo Tee]

Maybe I don't understand respect.

Other not just RBs have been paid like RBs...he hasn't invented anything here. I can applaud his effort for wanting to raise the bar...but it's a hard cap league...the team is offering you long term money at the top of the position....what is that if not respect?

If he wants to wants to champion a cause for dual threat RBs...okay, but you do that when you're Kirk Cousins...next year he can reset the bar.

Are you okay with a Steelers running game right now without Le’Veon Bell?

 

[Yo Tee]

Overpaying Bell...fair...he's a great player. With Bell, FA help is going to be minimal so upgrade at FS and ILB would have to come from the draft...I don't think they're any better than last year on DEF unless they strike gold twice.

If you cut all the dead weight, you got money to pay Bell and then some.

Cut Haden, Mitchell, Wilcox, DHB and Grimble.

 

[Yo Tee]

That’s a good question. What more does the guy gotta do?

Back to back 1200+ rushing yard seasons, 3 pro bowls in 5 years, averaging over 1000 rushing yards a year, averaging 63 receptions a year, finished in the top 5 in rushing yards in 3 of the last 4 years, 10th in receptions last year, 2nd in all-purpose yards last year, 6th in receiving/rushing TDS last year.

And we are supposed to be okay with the organization not signing him long term? We are supposed to think he’s asking for too much? We as fans should be asking what the team has done to accommodate Bell.

This is the last I’ll say about it because most of you on here are okay with not having a running game or you trust Conner which is fine, but that trust is blind trust because we don’t know what he can do aside from his college tape and his preseason film playing against the 2s. 2 knee surgeries on the same knee in 3 years gives me 0 confidence.

 

[Psych-Ward]

Move someone form OLB to ILB. Harrison was itching to play last year and we just sat him for the whole season. I'm sure he would've jumped right into that ILB spot we have open. I'm sure Matakevich would love an opportunity at ILB on the defense as well. He's a beast on special teams. I know it's a different beast, but you never know what you got until you give it a chance.

Odd same could be said about Conner, but you don't wanna discuss that.......
And don't give me the lame shit about his knee surgeries...how many has Bell had???

 

[Psych-Ward]

If you cut all the dead weight, you got money to pay Bell and then some.

Cut Haden, Mitchell, Wilcox, DHB and Grimble.

So cut 2 guys from an already weak secondary, sell the rest of the farm to buy Bell and Harrison....because thats who you want....Maybe Bell should learn defense also. Because with the way you are throwing it all away, there will be no defense.

You do understand this is a team sport right???