Bell to be franchise tagged, per Rapoport

Good player but not worth a long term deal. Statistics show what happens to players who touched the rock as much as he has early in a career.

I think he’s a good player also think he had a good o-line in front of him and his production is inflated because no other back carries the ball on this team.

Also wish he produced more explosive plays

Anyway it’s not that I want him off the team it’s just that I would take a lesser rb and that cap space any day over signing him long term.

 

I want Bell on the team, just not at 14.5 million.
If he's not going to be in camp then I don't want him at all.
I want a player who wants to be there with his teammates doing the necessary groundwork for a possible championship season.

At this point I'd draft/sign another running back and either rescind the tag or wait till he signs it then trade him.
JMO

 

You need to prepare-build an Offense that can score on the defenses that Saints, Vikings, and Eagles have built this offseason...if you can get that far.
So gonna need a healthy, happy Bell.
Or another phenom.

 

We are doomed.

 

we always are lol

 

Glenn, this is crazy I respect your opinion and your feelings but holy cow do I disagree. First off I can understand so many people's feelings about Bell wanting so much money however I don't care what other people are making.....a line form my childhood here, if everyone jumped off a bridge would you???? Lol, just keeping it light back on topic...where everyone is wrong about the amount of money Bell wants is that they look at him as a RB only. Bell is so much more, 2 players in one hence the 300+ carries and the 80+ receptions. McCoy made 10 mil last year and wait till this rookie class comes up for contracts. Fournette, Gurley, Kamara are all going to make Bell's demands look silly......count on it, this RB position is about to get a major change.

This is nothing new you and I have gone back and forth and round and round on this until we are both blue in the face. The problem I have is wanting to cut bait with Bell now. We have 2 good years of Ben left and nobody to step in for Bell right now. Say we draft Guice and pull the tag on Bell there is no sure thing that Guice and/or a FA can step in for Bell. However we know what we have with Bell and we know the relationship Bell has with Ben and that puts this offense as one of if not the best in the league, why would we want to take a step back with so little time left with Ben? I am all for drafting a replacement this year but no way do I want Bell gone this year.

So many here were mad cause Bell was the reason we couldn't sign players for our needy defense. Well I guess that was wrong as we not only signed guys to them positions but also improved vastly. We return 20 of our 22 starters, we gave Bell a ton of money for one year and signed guys for them other 2 spots. We are now in position in the draft to go BPA which will only make us better next year. We are a favorite with Bell here to win it all next year so why would we want to change that? Do I like the fact that Bell is going to sit out no but oh well this is a business to these guys, to you and I it is a game so we all are looking at it different.

In the end Bell is here and that is our best chance at #7 but after this year he will be gone and it is time to move on from this whole situation.

 

Except new details or rather a change of things already known came out yesterday with Bell saying he wants AB money for the yearly and it isn't about the garunteed money. So he is looking at 17.5 a year now. Colbert's said prior to this they want him to finish his career in Pittsburgh but nothe a priority to get the deal done now they are focusing on other things for the team like the draft. So how the heck do you focus on the draft to the point you need to when you have such a massive problem hanging over you? ILB and S might not be a need now but without clarity at the RB position can you skip a potential franchise RB because of the Bell situation or grab one when the next Troy P is sitting there (really isn't one I know) so yeah what a clusterfrak

 

Your missing the point of my response, no way in heck do I want the Steelers to draft and guy this year and either pull the tag or try and trade(which is not even an option) Bell when he signs. All the other stuff you mentioned is nothing new and we all have gone back and forth on it. Bell has wanted big money then he wanted guaranteed money now he wants Bell money. IMO this is part on his negotiations we are not in the room and we have no idea what is being talked about. All we can do is talk about what we hear from the media and the team and how much of it is true, when you buy a car do you pay the first price? I don't I haggle and hope to get the best deal and unfortunately for us that is what has been going on here for the last year and a half.

 

I understand your point. I'm just saying it's hard to finalize your draft board with the amount of uncertainty they have at the position. You are right there is no trading him now at least not with regards to getting a higher pick.

 

I understand your feeling too but really does it change our board? Imo we need a RB anyways in this draft with or without Bell. Conner is a great story but is nothing more than a change of pace back imo and with Bell's injury and suspension history what is wrong with having a strong back up?

 

14.5 million is a lot of money. There's really no good reason to miss camp. JMO

 

I agree but he isn't the first and he won't be the last right? And by no means am I agreeing with it but I also understand it is a business and I also know how important he is to this offense. Being mad that he is sitting out I get but saying you want to see him gone is another, especially when he was like 30% of our offense. JMO

 

If they are looking at rb in the first it does because that is the difference between Shazier and Spence.

 

Like I said if he skips camp I would be done with him ,but hey that's just my opinion.
I believe the Steelers will ultimately do what's in the best interest of the organization and hey that's really all that matters

 

Considering many have said this is the best draft of RB's in awhile(I don't agree) that may not be true. I have said I like Penny and Ballage both have been climbing but there are others as well like a Freeman. Don't have to always be a first rounder to fit the system, look at Hunt from last year as an example.

 

And by no means am I knocking your opinion I respect it but I am on the exact other side of it, lol. Like you said and said pretty good, in the end they will do what's best.

 

I agree with a lot of this blast but I also disagree with it. I agree this will be his last but I disagree we don't need to draft one. Your take on RB being a plug and play position is fine but not in this offense. That is why Bell is so valuable because he does things that most can't and the relationship with him and Ben you can only replace with time and that is something Ben don't have much of. The reason Bell catches so many balls is cause Ben holds it looking for the open guy and Bell slips out for the dump off cause they just know each other so well. That imo is stuff you just can't plug and play. and I know you and I have went back and forth over this and I get where your coming from but I hope you see my side as well.

 

I think the whole Ben scrambling is long gone too and that is why I feel Bell is getting more catches. I have seen Bell pick up the blitz and feel the rush coming and slip out to be that safety valve and I am pretty sure it is not by design. This is what I am saying is special cause some how him and Ben are on the same page and they hook up. Now can that be replaced sure but it will take time and we just don't have that, imo.

I have been wrong before (VW) when going back and forth with you on guys but as far as Conner goes he just don't fit this system. He is imo a change of pace back a guy that can come in and take carries away from Bell but I just don't feel he can be the lead dawg. I feel we need a guy in the draft a Penny, Ballage or Freeman who can fill the lead dawg role when Bell leaves and still have Conner as a #2. Dude I am rooting for Conner his story is great and he is the kind of guy you root for not a guy like Bell but in the end it is all about production. If you get time look into Jordan Chunn from Troy and let me know your opinion I have slcked a bit....a lot on film watching but the little I saw makes me think of a nice late round gem, but I need more info on him.

 

14 mil but not 17 mil. Bell, is the best back in the NFL today. But, he has to be reasonable and considerate as well.

 

Give him $14M. Give him another 400 touches. Let him go and use the money on replacements and help elsewhere. I'm fine with this stuff for 2018 but I don't want a RB with mileage and injuries getting major money going forward.

 

He’s one of the most versatile backs but he’s not the best back in the nfl. Of course your stats are going to be up when no other rb touches the ball the entire season.

His patient style of running is sometimes annoying and counterproductive. I remember when deangelo Williams started and i preferred his style as to bells.

 

Rb, wr, and blocker. Don't let the asking price distort what you see on the field. Let him hit the market and see how many teams bite.