Le'Veon Bell - 2018

Obviously I think how they approach off season negotiations with Bell will depend somewhat on how this postseason goes. But I found this site/compilation interesting and it seems to agree what many on this board have been saying for a couple years now........what is Bell's true market value? What is a reasonable and fair deal for both sides. Personally I think the one Pitt made last year to him was more than fair, but if Bell is hung up on $15 mil/year minimum, he won't play here next season and the real pisser will be that he signs somewhere else after the relationship sours in Pitt for probably $10-12 million per year............with Pitt fans livid that he didn't just re-up with them long term.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/leveon-bell-12329/market-value/

Pitt basically gave Bell what he wanted for 2-3 years in their final offer, with $30 million in guaranteed money the first two years, and $42 in the first three.......that's a $15mil/season average his first two years, and $14 mil/yr the first three. Pretty standard back load like most contracts. Doesn't mean they have to re-negotiate or cut him after three years, just that it gives Pitt options and insulates them against future injury, declining performance, or suspension. For those in media and other players (that will not be named here), Pitt has NEVER........NOT ONCE.......cut ties with a player they've signed long term after one year, so claims that Pitt didn't make a serious offer and could simply release him after one year were ridiculous. After three years......maybe - but that's standard for any big contract now for any big name player at any position. Teams will usually reassess after 3-4 years, and at that point a player is usually underwater and teams gain more leverage and flexibility in restructuring or extending once more depending on their cap situation.

Bell is NOT going to get $15 mil/year..........either an average, fully guaranteed, etc.........doesn't matter. He isn't going to get it because that market just isn't there for ANY BACK right now, no matter a team's cap situation or current personnel. They aren't going to pay double the next highest paid back in the league for a guy who will be 26 next year, with a history of injury and suspension. Pitt said that injuries and suspension risk did NOT factor in the offer they made Bell last Spring, but lets face it...........other teams WILL...........as they should. Only teams with sufficient space to throw "mad money" at Bell are the 49ers, Colts, Browns, Jets, Vikings, and Texans. Problem is 2-3 of those teams have BIG question marks at QB, or are needing to resign one or more of theirs (49ers/Vikings) as a free agent, which won't come cheap. The Jets and Browns are a mess. So how many teams are realistically a place that don't have a feature or combination of backs - AND would make a large offer to Bell and/or be a place that he'd like to go and wallow in mediocrity.

I know money talks, but unless PRIDE is really that big a sticking point with Bell, I can't see him leaving Pitt with what is in place now and potentially for the next year or two in tact and instead going somewhere else for $1 million/year. And unless he goes somewhere in TX or FL where there is no personal income tax, a large chunk of that difference might simply go to taxes in states like CA, WA, IL, MI, NY, MA, NJ, DC, MD, and MN that have MUCH HIGHER income tax rates. PA is pretty low at a flat 3% of income. For you and I that may not be the difference in a decision to live there, but for someone making $10+mil/year, its the difference between paying $300k/year in state/local taxes, and $800+k/year. That is how any agent/financial adviser will look at and explain it.

Depending on how this postseason goes, I'd make him the exact same offer again and tell him its fair, and that if it isn't good enough, he's welcome to look elsewhere and explore and the offer will remain there for him. You can't overpay significantly for someone that LIKELY won't be here more than 2-3 years. If he keeps getting 400+ touches a year, it WILL catch up to him before he's 30. I don't care how well he takes care of his body and stays in shape. No position takes more yearly abuse now than a feature, 3-down back that seldom comes off the field. They run, catch, and/or pass block every single down.

 

Sounds about right. Please dont let him be greedy. An extra mill at his pay grade may come at the cost of more injuries and shorter career if he shortsightedly signs with team that has a lesser offensive line (which of course is most teams)

 

3 years 42,000,000.00 , crap just throw in the other 3,000,000.00 and give him his 15,000,000.00 average he wants. Guarantee the first two seasons except for suspension and we are good to go.

 

I was gonna say the thing. While he may want more, if it's just $3M all in the last year unguaranteed then they can easily come up with a deal that works where somehow he gets to $15M. I'm not saying they will or it's right but considering the rejected offer, and his performance then this statement "Bell is NOT going to get $15 mil/year..........either an average, fully guaranteed, etc.........doesn't matter." is ludicrous.

 

Originally, I thought $15M was too much for Bell, but if the Steelers win the SB this year, I'd seriously reconsider and try to sign him prior to the draft. $15M for what he does and means to the team, I'm starting to think he is worth it. If he doesn't re-sign with Pittsburgh, then hit the draft for his replacement (Rashaad Penny).

 

Pay the man! I think he's the key to the Steelers eventual transition to another QB.

And Go Jags! Can't have the Bills going to NE

 

I say pay him as well. The team has to have a deal in place so he comes to camp. Look how long it took him to get his legs under him by not reporting. World champions or not, it's better to hit the ground running. The Steelers could win it all this year but they have just as much of a shot next year and Bell is a big factor in that.

 

You guys are missing the point..........he isn't WORTH $15 million/year...........nobody is. So why should the Steelers offer him that? Nobody else in the limited number of suitors he has is likely going to either. The Steelers have NOT gotten to where they are by paying players 30-50% above what their market value is. They can't with Bell either, regardless of what he means to their offense. Their offer last year of $12 mil/per WAS FAIR (more than according to the above site), so I'd make the same offer this Spring assuming nothing drastic happens between now and then.

 

AB is worth $17M but Bell isn't worth $15M? Gotta disagree on that.

 

Well not to get too technical but AB really isn't getting paid $17M per year. It's referred to that only because he signed a 4-year extension and the new money in the contract was 68M but it's actually spread out over 5 years. Per year he is averaging 14.4M.

2017 - 19M signing bonus, 910k salary = 19,910,000
2018 - 7.875M base, 6M roster bonus = 13,875,000
2019 - 12.625M base, 2.5M roster bonus = 14,625,000
2020 - 11.3M base = 11,300,000
2021 - 12.25M base = 12,250,000

Total $71,960,000 in payments for 5 seasons ('17-'21) = $14,392,000 per season

So if they gave Leveon 4yrs, 60M he'd actually be costing the Steelers more money on both a yearly basis and also against the salary cap.

 

Ok, $14.4M. Then the question goes... are Bell and AB equally valuable to this Steelers team? I say yes. Even more so now, since AB isn't as expensive as I originally thought.

 

Depends who wins the Tenn/KC game, if Tenn wins go Bills, that would send Tenn to Pittsburgh.

if KC wins than yeah I guess go Jaguars. That sends KC to NE. No way Buffalo or Tennessee even come close to beating NE.

KC has kinda been the forgotten team in the AFC, I think they are the best of the 4 teams in the Wilcasrd round

 

Cant they just franchise tag beloved Bell one more time?

 

More Bell




Get It Done

 

Look what the Oakland raiders are giving Chucky. What does this have to do with Bell? Simple it proves there are owners out there stupid enough overpay for anything.

 

I disagree. I will think Bell is a product of the o-line and passing weapons. And as proof I offer 32yr old DeAngelo Williams in 14 starts ('15, '16)...

1750 yards, 15 TDs.

 

DeAngelo had one good game in 2016 where had 26 carries for 143 yards 5.5 yards per attempt. The rest of the season he 72 carries 200 yards and a 2.78 yards per carry. Williams is also nowhere near what Bell is as a receiver out of the backfield catching 58 passes in his two years with the team.

 

I'm a big DWill fan. Was hoping he would step in once Conner went down. To a certain extent, Bell is a product of Bell. His team situation is great, and that also plays into his worth. He wouldn't be able to justify his price if the overall team success wan't there. Does he fit this system? YES. So much so that he very well may be worth his price tag.

 

DWill is too old now. I liked the way Ridley ran the ball last Sunday, they’re fine at this point with the current backups at RB.

 

I was surprised to see the bulk on Ridley. I didn't remember him being that solid in New England. Ridley is fine by me.