Breaking News: Bell not expected to show by deadline.

[Steelafan77]

“I want to confirm that Le’Veon Bell did not sign his Franchise Tender today and, as a result, he will not be eligible to play football during the 2018 season,” Colbert said in the statement. https://www.steelers.com/news/statement ... bell-x3344

Finally! Moving on....

[Legacy User]

....meanwhile, Conner still in concussion protocol.

Glad we don't have this annoying "unknown" hanging over the team anymore. Certainly won't miss the personality.

The only unknown is how will conner hold up in a 16+ game season. Hope we don't miss having another viable back.

[Legacy User]

Finally! We can move on. I read an article earlier which mentioned we should look into signing C.J Anderson as a backup...thoughts?

[Smashmouth21]

Rather pay $14.5 million for a top flight pass rusher or cover corner and use an early to mid-round pick on a RB than the other way around. Just sayin’.

[Pabst]

For all intents and purposes, Bell was offered $47m in guarantees from the Steelers (total guaranteed money plus the first 3 years salary). That's slightly better than what Todd Gurley received, and ~$8m better than David Johnson. The only other RBs that are close are Zeke, Fournette, and Barkley; all of whom are top 4 draft picks, and their entire contract is guaranteed.

I would be floored if Bell gets anything close to what the Steelers had offered.

[Pabst]

....meanwhile, Conner still in concussion protocol.

Glad we don't have this annoying "unknown" hanging over the team anymore. Certainly won't miss the personality.

The only unknown is how will conner hold up in a 16+ game season. Hope we don't miss having another viable back.

Conner can't actually 'get out' of concussion protocol until tomorrow.

[Obviously]

For all intents and purposes, Bell was offered $47m in guarantees from the Steelers (total guaranteed money plus the first 3 years salary). That's slightly better than what Todd Gurley received, and ~$8m better than David Johnson. The only other RBs that are close are Zeke, Fournette, and Barkley; all of whom are top 4 draft picks, and their entire contract is guaranteed.

I would be floored if Bell gets anything close to what the Steelers had offered.

There's always the Jets.

[blu]

The rb position has been devalued in the last few years & Bell's best years may easily be behind him as his patented delay move seemed to lose its specialness as its defended better. One must consider his injury & weed history & the fact that he didn't accept big money wanting a better deal & showed little loyalty to his team & teammates. Also very noticed by the rest of the league has been the fact that the low-salaried younger rb playing with the same team did as well if not better in his stead. Meanwhile, I was talking to someone at the gym yesterday about JC being the Steeler MVP. The response was that with 2,000 possible yds. from scrimmage that Conner could be the league MVP.

[Legacy User]

....meanwhile, Conner still in concussion protocol.

Glad we don't have this annoying "unknown" hanging over the team anymore. Certainly won't miss the personality.

The only unknown is how will conner hold up in a 16+ game season. Hope we don't miss having another viable back.

Conner can't actually 'get out' of concussion protocol until tomorrow.

OK good!

[steelmann58]

HE DIDN"T REPORT STORY OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE MEDIA CAN NOW PLEASE FOCUS ON THE RESTOF THE SEASON!!

[Pabst]

For all intents and purposes, Bell was offered $47m in guarantees from the Steelers (total guaranteed money plus the first 3 years salary). That's slightly better than what Todd Gurley received, and ~$8m better than David Johnson. The only other RBs that are close are Zeke, Fournette, and Barkley; all of whom are top 4 draft picks, and their entire contract is guaranteed.

I would be floored if Bell gets anything close to what the Steelers had offered.

There's always the Jets.

True. All it takes is one stupid franchise.

[Havoc]

I am glad Bell did not show. I understand the depth argument, but...

If Bell showed, it would have been a daily soap opera until the end of the season, and beyond. Weekly media questions to players and coaches about how everyone feels about the situation, usage/non usage of Bell etc... It would have never ended, and good chance it would been an emotional drain on the team. It's one thing to be unified as a team and rally around the roster as it currently stands, it's a very different animal if you bring Bell into that locker room. It could have been a mess with fans at Heinz on gameday too only adding to the circus.

Now, coaches don't have to decide what to do with Bell on the 2018 roster.

[DP39]

....meanwhile, Conner still in concussion protocol.

Glad we don't have this annoying "unknown" hanging over the team anymore. Certainly won't miss the personality.

The only unknown is how will conner hold up in a 16+ game season. Hope we don't miss having another viable back.

Conner can't actually 'get out' of concussion protocol until tomorrow.

OK good!

Exactly, Conner took a smack to the face. You could see it shook him a little, but was really no big deal. Tomlin said they weren't going to play him much after that anyway - based on score/game plan.

I think Conner is going to be fine and him being in the protocol was similar to Ben's situation a few weeks back. Not really concussed, just being extra, extra precautious.

[lifelongsteel]

Circle the F'in wagons!

[Minkah'n History]

Why didn’t this POS let the Steelers know he wasn’t gonna report? The team that stuck by his side through thick and thin. The Jets are one of the worst franchises in pro sports, I’m sure they’ll look past ething this loser has done, they will have over 100 million, and Woodie Johnson will spend it. Sad, because between the NYG and NYJ nobody wants to watch them.

[Thrillsseeker]

I am glad Bell did not show. I understand the depth argument, but...

If Bell showed, it would have been a daily soap opera until the end of the season, and beyond. Weekly media questions to players and coaches about how everyone feels about the situation, usage/non usage of Bell etc... It would have never ended, and good chance it would been an emotional drain on the team. It's one thing to be unified as a team and rally around the roster as it currently stands, it's a very different animal if you bring Bell into that locker room. It could have been a mess with fans at Heinz on gameday too only adding to the circus.

Now, coaches don't have to decide what to do with Bell on the 2018 roster.

Exactly.

I really hope this is the catalyst to put this team over the top this season!


Let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[955876]

I acknowledge that Bell inadvertently did the Steelers a huge favor, by ushering in the Conner era and not bogging us down with a bloated contract. Bell has not hurt the Steelers in any way

Agree fully with the first sentence.

The second sentence, will need to see how the season plays out. If (hopefully not) Connor gets hurt then we will be in a bad spot. So Bell’s greed and very misguided & ill-advised decision to miss the 2018 season could fuck us still in the end.

I’m pretty certain the smart GMs & owners out there in need of a RB will task their scouting departments to find the next James Connor long before they are willing to open the checkbook and pay dipshit the ridiculous money he and is idiot of an agent believe he’s worth.

[955876]

I am glad Bell did not show. I understand the depth argument, but...

If Bell showed, it would have been a daily soap opera until the end of the season, and beyond. Weekly media questions to players and coaches about how everyone feels about the situation, usage/non usage of Bell etc... It would have never ended, and good chance it would been an emotional drain on the team. It's one thing to be unified as a team and rally around the roster as it currently stands, it's a very different animal if you bring Bell into that locker room. It could have been a mess with fans at Heinz on gameday too only adding to the circus.

Now, coaches don't have to decide what to do with Bell on the 2018 roster.

Good points. And I don’t trust Tomlin to handle it either.

Anthem drama did the team in last year and that was but one game. A weekly “who is the starter game” seems a bit much.

This makes it a non-issue.

Hopefully Connors work load can be managed appropriately. He will be in unchartered waters soon in terms of carries.

[Thrillsseeker]

I acknowledge that Bell inadvertently did the Steelers a huge favor, by ushering in the Conner era and not bogging us down with a bloated contract. Bell has not hurt the Steelers in any way

Agree fully with the first sentence.

The second sentence, will need to see how the season plays out. If (hopefully not) Connor gets hurt then we will be in a bad spot. So Bell’s greed and very misguided & ill-advised decision to miss the 2018 season could fuck us still in the end.

I’m pretty certain the smart GMs & owners out there in need of a RB will task their scouting departments to find the next James Connor long before they are willing to open the checkbook and pay dipshit the ridiculous money he and is idiot of an agent believe he’s worth.

I agree.

Also, I can't wait to see that one dumb franchise that pulls the trigger and pays said dipshit more money than they should. Hell, with enough dumb GM and owners a couple of them may even get into a bidding war. Someone will and I hope it blows up in their face.

[Thrillsseeker]

I really hope to see the back up rb's get some more snaps through the back half of the season. I think with more reps they might surprise.

Time will tell. Hopefully Tomlin figures this out and doesn't run Conners' wheels literally off.

[Legacy User]

someone will over pay this dick ! but over paying for his silly ass won't be hard. hes past prime and head case. so will steelers receive anything at all for his silly ass? or just a lost headache?

[Legacy User]

Jason La Canfora
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As I have been reporting, Steelers prepared to apply transition tag to Le'Veon Bell in 2019. Total amount will be a max of $14.5M, same as this year, pending a likely grievance. We'll see what the market will bring in terms of offer sheets

[Legacy User]

Every indicator bares out that running back isn't a premium offensive position. Elite running backs do not elevate mediocre teams. They are an additional weapon for good teams, and have the ability to elevate elite teams. Bell has now transitioned from an elite offense that has the pieces in place to a potentially mediocre team that will not win just because he is there.

Think Barry Sanders. The Detroit Lions had one of the best backs EVER. How successful were they in the post season? Ten years with Sanders got them one playoff win. And that year he rushed for 1855 yards and 17 touchdowns. How important was he? Apparently not that much. How good was he? One of the best ever.

Lev might get paid next season, but I can't wait to watch him running for his life, instead of a rushing title.

[Legacy User]

Jason La Canfora
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@JasonLaCanfora
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As I have been reporting, Steelers prepared to apply transition tag to Le'Veon Bell in 2019. Total amount will be a max of $14.5M, same as this year, pending a likely grievance. We'll see what the market will bring in terms of offer sheets

Wait, what? That's not what we've been hearing and discussing. The transition tag allows the Steelers to match offers to retain his services. What does 14.5M have to do with the transition tag????

EDIT:

Nevermind.

Section 4. Required Tender for Transition Players:
(a) Any Club that designates a Transition Player shall be deemed on the first day of the League Year following the expiration of the player’s last contract to have automatically tendered the player a one year NFL Player Contract for (A) the Cap Percentage Average of the ten largest Prior Year Salaries for players at the position (within the categories set forth in Section 7(a) below) at which the Transition Player participated in the most plays during the prior League Year, which Average shall be calculated using the methodology as in Section 2(a)(i)(A) above; or (B) 120% of his Prior Year Salary, whichever is greater.

So the 14.5 is the automatic guaranteed tender that other teams can choose to beat.

[drmalba]

.
I hold no ill will towards Bell. I even like the guy, and I wish him success in squeezing out a few more good years like Adrian Peterson. Bell was imo, the best RB in the league from 2014-16, and I appreciate what he did for the Steelers even though he was injured for the playoffs. I don’t hate a guy for being injured. He didn’t want to be injured.

Good post. Bell is a special player and it sucks the economics of the situation ruined the chance to compete with him for another title. I do not bear Illl will for the guy and I find most of the hate/minimizing his considerable skills in these forums pretty damn unconvincing. I wish him best of luck and I'm sure someone will make him rich again.

We have a new raging badass now who "runs like he faced death" and I'm 100% behind him and the new RB stable now in our quest for #7.

[Orangesteel]

Is Bell the first player to ever go this route?

[Legacy User]

what angers me most of this bell fiasco is how he strung every one along the the whole shit show. coming after camp? no? coming after a few games? no. coming after bye? nope. just fucking around! come before deadline? ill play along and go to Pittsburgh to fuck with the fans and team more! no im not signing.
what a fucking prick!

[stillthere]

Is Bell the first player to ever go this route?

Sean Gilbert when god told him to sit out.

[stillthere]

A trip down memory lane for ya.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmKjgf2sNs8[/youtube]

[Minkah'n History]

.
I hold no ill will towards Bell. I even like the guy, and I wish him success in squeezing out a few more good years like Adrian Peterson. Bell was imo, the best RB in the league from 2014-16, and I appreciate what he did for the Steelers even though he was injured for the playoffs. I don’t hate a guy for being injured. He didn’t want to be injured.

Good post. Bell is a special player and it sucks the economics of the situation ruined the chance to compete with him for another title. I do not bear Illl will for the guy and I find most of the hate/minimizing his considerable skills in these forums pretty damn unconvincing. I wish him best of luck and I'm sure someone will make him rich again.

We have a new raging badass now who "runs like he faced death" and I'm 100% behind him and the new RB stable now in our quest for #7.

What’s convincing is his completely AVERAGE 2017...do you watch the games like Troy Aikman does? The guy was completely healthy and needed all those touches just to be average.

I’m thinking we weren’t making enough big plays with him because he can’t run for more than a 20 yard gain. His best years have been in the rear view. Let’s see that patient running style somewhere else while Conner just rips these holes with power. Is that convincing enough?