Can the Steelers Tag Bell Again
Fowler: Bong knows his value (1:14)
Jeremy Fowler says that Le'Veon Bell values himself at $14.five million per year or more than and will not play at a lower price. (1:14)
PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers have informed Le'Veon Bell that they will apply the franchise tag to him for the second consecutive twelvemonth in the absence of an unlikely bargain past Tuesday'south deadline, Bell told ESPN.
The Steelers have increased last twelvemonth'southward long-term contract offer but Bong has adjusted his contractual flooring to $xiv.v one thousand thousand per year to align with his running back tag. He won't play for a contract that averages less annually, he said.
"Nosotros're not coming to a number we both agree on -- they are too low, or I guess they feel I'm too high," Bell said. "I'm playing for strictly my value to the team. That'south what I'one thousand asking. I don't retrieve I should settle for annihilation less than what I'1000 valued at."
Bell said he wasn't bluffing when he told ESPN in January that he'll contemplate retirement if asked to play on the tag some other twelvemonth. All options are on the tabular array for Bell, who doesn't plan to sign a tag any time soon and would likely skip training campsite one time again.
"I just have to decide if I'm going to play when the fourth dimension comes," Bong said.
Bell, 26, confirmed he turned down last year's contract offer worth $42 million over the outset three years with an average of $13.three 1000000 over the life of the deal. Even his mom wanted him to sign it. Bong almost did.
Since then, the Steelers are closer but non quite where Bell wants them to be with an offer -- though Bong said both sides are negotiating in earnest.
Bell plans to stick to his number -- which he isn't revealing -- and is accounting for everything. Asked virtually his criteria for assessing that worth, Bell explained:
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He's putting up more than yards per game than whatever NFL histrion (his career average of 128.9 yards from scrimmage per game is the all-time since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger).
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He plays every down and basically fills the role of 3 backs.
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His presence keeps the defense off guard because he can line upward anywhere on any play, "causing constant mismatches every single downward," he said.
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He'south an elite pass-blocker and No. 2 receiver.
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The Steelers are undefeated when he gets 25 or more carries.
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His game will historic period well considering he makes plays not solely off athleticism, but "with my mind," he said.
"I'm the i to bet on myself. And I'll do it again," Bong said. "I empathize how the Steelers do contracts. Last year, I was pounding the table on guaranteed coin. That's not the case. If I'm not getting guaranteed money, I want a lot more upward front. ... Information technology'south year-to-year with the Steelers. Substantially if I sign a four- or v-year deal, I'grand playing 4 or five franchise tags.
"Before I said I felt nosotros would get i done, and this year nosotros are a lot closer than final year. In expert spirit, I feel we tin can get something done. Just unless something drastic changes, it won't be [this week]."
Bell is office of the "Killer B's" trio for the Steelers, alongside quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Antonio Brown, whose long-term contracts combine to pay about $37 1000000 per year. Bell wants to join them.
"Both of those guys got what they deserved," Bell said. "I feel I'grand side by side in line."
Bell tweeted Monday evening that he wants "zero more than than to end the rest of my career" in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh: the metropolis that took in a 21-year old kid from pocket-sized-town Ohio, the urban center I battled thru adversity in, the urban center that I became a man in. I love everything about being a Pittsburgh Steeler, and I desire goose egg more than than to finish the rest of my career in Pitt! #26Forever moving-picture show.twitter.com/mhs2ikpK71
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) March vi, 2018
Bell believes the Steelers understand his worth merely he senses his negotiations are viewed through the prism of the running dorsum market, in which Atlanta's Devonta Freeman is the game's highest paid at $8.25 million per yr. Freeman has averaged 96.ix yards from scrimmage per game over the by three seasons.
Bell said the constraints of the running back market aren't his doing and don't encapsulate his profile equally a player.
"They are using it as me existence compared to another running back or my status or what Devonta Freeman has. I can't control what he'south done on the field," Bell said. "I merely tin can control what I remember I'm worth and what I've done on the field. That'south where the problem lies. 'Freeman'south making this, we can't requite you this.' ... To me, that'southward non fair. I didn't sign Devonta's deal. That's the position I'thou in. I want to brand my own determination."
That decision will get bigger if he finds himself without a bargain in late July. Bell said the Steelers might encounter him in Week ten, just in fourth dimension to pick up his accrued NFL flavour.
"It'd definitely be hard to pass upwards," Bell said of the $14.five one thousand thousand.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22657079/leveon-bell-pittsburgh-steelers-gets-franchise-tag-again
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