Over and under that Le'vean Bell will pull the old hammy trick and miss 3-4 games this year

I am all in on this one, have seen it play out far too much. Too bad I like Le'vean.

 

Under

He has too much to show. I just hope the groin holds up.

 

And what's the under on the groin.........oh wait, never mind.

 

What is the "old hammy trick"? Are you suggesting his previous injuries weren't legitimate?

 

Do you think IF he wouldn't have had the off field problems they would have went ahead and just locked him up? I don't but just curious what everyone else thinks about this.

 

If I had a nickel for every time I've muttered that under my breath...

 

Yep. He would be the highest paid RB in the league by a long shot and I consider the Steelers to be pretty stingy when it comes to player contracts. His boneheaded decisions cost him a few million, at least by this organization. BTW-That's not a knock on the Steelers FO.

 

This time, the Steelers weren't willing to give him an excess up front. Rightfully so.

Next year I suspect they will use the other tag and see if the market dictates his worth. I'm thinking the market may be less than what he was just offered.

 

I believe they are very concerned about his injuries which is why they never locked him up.

 

Not sure about the "me" part. Both are "me" guys and AB goes out of his way to show it, on and off the field. But AB doesn't get hurt, he doesn't get suspended, his antics are a bit childish, but he always there. Bell, not so much.

 

Contract should be about potential not past performance. On the field, Bell's potential is limitless. But with his suspension history he also has the potential to not be available for the team, more so than other players, such as AB who've never been suspended.

Bell is set to earn nearly 4 times more this year than he's earned his entire career. That should be enough incentive to show up. If he injures himself working out on his own, he gets nothing.

I think he messed up not taking the deal offered. If he were to get injured this year, he may not be offered anything close to what he wants. If he goes out and has a 2000+ yard season, then so be it.

The problem with that to me is, should the outcome of the game no longer be in doubt, he should be pulled, same with Ben or AB. And that type of unselfish scenario usually doesn't contribute to those monster seasons. So, maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see him being offered much more.

 

Bell needs to prove he can make it through a season without getting hurt or suspended. The red flags in both of those areas are the reasons he didn't get the long-term deal, so sitting out some games won't help his cause.

I doubt he ever gets that money from the Steelers, not when they can simply franchise tag him again for next season. By then, he will only be 26, but he will be six seasons into his career. Given how short the careers of running backs tend to be, would he even be worth big money at that point?

 

In my opinion, Bell would have NO incentive to pull a fake injury, he would only prove one of the points of the Steelers front office. He hasn't made it through a complete Regular & post season yet, either due to injury or suspension..... that should be enough of a chip on his shoulder to prove himself and bust it out all season.

 

Not sure what you guys are talking about. The Steelers' offer to Bell averaged more than $12 million per year, with $30 million over the first two years.

With the deal Devonta Freeman signed, the franchise tag price for next year is going to go up, not down.

 

That won't matter, it'll be 120% of this years salary. The 2nd year franchise price is set in stone, as I understand it, 120% of the first year.

 

Should not have said franchise tag price, meant to say market value. Based on Freeman's contract, Bell will probably want more than he did this year. Of course, the Steelers will tag him and then let him walk after 2018. That is, if he lasts that long health-wise. He's on borrowed time as it is.

 

I would give Bell 15 mill this year under certain conditions such as if we win the super bowl, you actually play in it and have 150 all purpose
yards. If he gets suspended for any reason, he only gets the nfl minimum. If he gets inured and can't play his salary should be prorated.
Bell is a beast, when he is on the field but is no good to us on the bench.

 

Next year it's a win win. If he is hurt, suspended, etc, they cut him free. No big signing bonus from this year to deal with. If he is great, use the non exclusive tag. Then one of several things happen. 1) Someone else makes him an offer and we match it. The market has dictated his worth. 2) We don't match it and we get 2 first round draft choices. A good day. 3) He doesn't get an offer and he signs with us for a more favorable rate than offered this year. 4) He plays for the tag for $14MM and we saved $6MM over the 2 years. And we still have the ability to negotiate a new contract after that.

 

5. He declines to sign the tag tender, and he holds out. Result: ________?

 

He never plays football again and we pay nothing. I don't see that happening.