NFL - NEWS & NOTES

I'm really looking forward to this game tonight! Should be a fun one!

 

Rams looking for revenge. For the past 3 years the Vikings have had their number.

 

If Bell is traded, can’t his new team franchise tag him next season?

 

Based on all that's happened...the Steelers have no reason to agree to pay him more. He could also demand a no trade clause be included with the tag and then sign it but the Steelers really have no reason to agree to that and are fools if they do.

According to what I've read...with each passing week the Steelers are saving those 855K game checks against the cap. So far they've saved something like 2.5 million. Right now the Steelers have something like 7 million in cap space.

And if I'm not mistaken....they can rollover their savings into 2019.

The only person being penalized right now is Bell. The Steelers are saving cash flow.

It's definitely complicated...but the Steelers come out ahead, based on the current situations, in just about every outcome.

 

According to what I'm reading that cap space is free until he signs. And with each passing week they gain more space. And if Bell were to miss the entire season....Pittsburgh would be able to rollover about 19 million in cap space.

 

Yes, but it would still be his third designation, which would mean they would have to pay him 144% of his previous years salary (which would be based on the $14.544M, even if he waits to sign week ten lowing what he actually made in 2018).

Franchise tag $ 20.94M in 2019.

The more likely option is to transition tag him, which would pay him 120% of his previous years salary...that's actual salary, so, if he waits until week ten he will make $5.45 m and the 120% will be less than the average of the 10 largest salaries, so the transition tag will end up being what ever than average of the largest 10 salaries is.

Both numbers are extravagant. The transition tag would allow him to negotiate with other teams, and the new team that traded for him could match the offer or let him go while getting no compensation for that player (I do believe he doesn't even factor into compensatory picks at that time).

 

Correct and I agree

Correct

Correct

Well, that depends on who is making this statement...

Bell's end game is to get to the negotiating table injury free, so in his mind, he isn't losing at all. He expected the Steelers to give him 35 touches per game to wear him out this season..that's what this is all about.

Again, it's in the eye of the beholder

The Steelers have enjoyed having to deal with the circus, which may have led to their 1-1-1 current situation, which is worse than the Bears 2-1 current situation. I can't say they would have been 3-0 if they weren't in this situation, but I also can't say how the rest of the year will turn out with or without Bell. If they lose Connor to injury, next man might step up, or may not, which makes Bell's absence hurt drastically. If he shows up and causes issues in the locker room, it could cost them the playoffs.

No one knows at this point who will/could win.

There are 100's of situations, I would put the Steelers "winning" at about half of those...

Missing the playoffs is the losing end of this stick. We won't know for quite a few more weeks if that happens...even if it does, we won't know if this is what directly led to it happening.


It sure makes for interesting conversation though. It's quite fascinating to an outsider who doesn't really have skin in the game.

 

No, if the tag is issued, the team must have the cap space available as if he is signed. Each week, that space is lowered as you already pointed out.

As a cap "loan", this is a great thing for Pittsburgh...if he doesn't sign at all and Conner continues to play as well as he has.

 

Bell is being penalized because he isn't making any money. That's true in everyone's mind.

Bell is losing time. Sitting out an entire season while you're in your prime isn't really a great idea. And he's putting himself in a position where being tagged again could be a realistic possibility. Not ideal, if you're Bell and your end game was a long term deal.

Well the Steelers were a circus already. That locker room hasn't been solid and it's unlikely ever will be under Tomlin. This definitely makes it worse. I'm not sure how the Bears get mentioned in a conversation that has nothing to do with them.

You can't prove a negative so trying to guess what would happen if he were playing or if he wasn't is moot. Conner is definitely not Bell but he looks decent and has shown flashes he could be pretty good.

And this is why there are very few outcomes, if any, that the Steelers don't ultimately win this situation.

The one downside could be missing the playoffs. But with a rollover in cap money....the Steelers could set themselves up to rebuild their team a little quicker than a lot of other teams can.

 

Panthers signed Eric Reid

 

Pp

Is he going to help them get their kneeling down?

 

He will definitely help their defensive backfield. Reid is really good.

It's not too often you can lose a starter and find an upgrade on the free agent market.

 

Good thing we had the greatest defense ever that season or we would have missed the playoffs.

 

And they won't take just anything because they'll likely get a 3rd round comp pick in 2020 when he leaves in March. It makes it a damn near impossible trade unless a contender with cap room loses a running back to injury. That's a pretty small window.

 

It isn't a penalty if it's YOUR choice.

Is everyone that retires being penalized?

Because I was comparing them to another team in the league, and what makes more sense than comparing them with the team of the person I am talking with?

the Bears were the perfect example, because no one expected them to 2-1 at this point except possibly Bears fans. The bears are trending upward, while the Steelers so far are trending downward.

 

And that's why he holds all the cards because he appears perfectly willing to do just that (stay home and make nothing). I think he's pretty confident the Steelers aren't going to tag him again next year so if he wants to he'll probably just wait until March.

 

Huh? After 3 games?

 

That's not holding all the cards....that's holding a pocket 2-7 offsuit and betting like you have pocket kings.