Le'Veon Bell - 2018

2 Years isn't what he wants though. The Tag and then another contract is financially much more appropriate for someone in his position than just essentially a 2-year contract.

 

I never said he wanted 2 years and they didn't offer him two years but that's how these contracts are judged. Peterson got 32M in the first two years of his big deal.

 

I didn't either. I am just saying why it doesn't make sense for him.

 

It doesn't make sense for him ONLY if he went into the negotiations with the idea that Fully Guaranteed Money was his #1 priority. Because they checked off every other box.

 

p.s. And two years of guarantees from a future club doesn't guarantee more than two years either.

 

That's not what I mean. He has the tag already guaranteed. That is off the table. Now any deal needs to include that plus more than a year of guaranteed money. It makes no sense not to.

 

That wasn't necessary for all the other guys I mentioned. Different people I guess. Some want to strive for championships. Others want to make as much as they can and set precedent. The Steelers put themselves in this situation by tagging him the 2nd time. They should have let him hit the market and see what he could get. I don't believe there is as much money out there as he thinks.

 

Like I said in the other thread...

In 13 starts DeAngelo Williams (age 32,33) amassed 1,413 yards (977 rush, 436 receiving) and 14 TDs. Bell is a talented guy who gets to play with a stud offensive line and phenomenal skill players. Also had a very good play caller.

 

It's not all the same. This situation is rather unique. Almost like a Kirk Cousins than other RBs. Not exactly and doesn't need fully guaranteed but it's closer.

 

He wanted half..........he got somewhere between 10-20 million (depending on who you read) in "fully guaranteed" at signing. It DOESN'T MATTER........all that matters is what was promised to him in the first three years of the contract in base pay, roster bonuses, and pro-rated signing bonus. He was getting ALL OF THAT. Doesn't matter if its $10 million at signing, $20 million at signing, or 50% of the total contract at signing. Pitt doesn't cut players they extend long term until after 3 years (minimum) and that's only if their play drastically decreases or they can't stay on the field (Woodley cut just before year-4 of his big deal) due to injury or suspension. He wasn't getting cut before then, given Pitt there was a far greater likely they pay out that contract entirely.........MAYBE asking him to restructure or take a cut year-5. His agent should know that, HE should know that, and its understandable. The argument this week by his agent on the radio that guarantees needed to be higher is crap.

Its been reported by more than one that number in total compensation was $45 million over the first three years. Bell was going to get that no matter what. THAT is essentially what he turned down..........and all while playing on a (likely) contender and stable franchise during that time.

Good luck elsewhere donkey, I still bet no team offers him the money he claims he wants. Nobody is going to give a RB a fully guaranteed contract after 800 touches the past two seasons. There are only a handful of teams after this recent draft that even have a need for a workhorse back AND have the cap space to make an offer approaching what he wants next year.............the Jets, Colts, Texans, Lions, Browns, and 49ers. Have fun with that LeVeon. Of that group only one I might consider would be Texans, and that's only if Watson rebounds this year.

There are others, but they are already invested heavily at the position and unlikely to make an offer - Bills, Rams, Bengals, Cowboys, Cardinals, Giants, Titans, Bears, Chiefs, Pats, Falcons.

 

Although you never know, for sure . . . I think you can safely remove the Browns from that list. They signed Carlos Hyde in free agency, drafted Nick Chubb in the 2nd round and just gave Duke Johnson a new contract. Granted, NONE of those three are a LeVeon Bell on the field but, I don't think John Dorsey is willing to give up 25% of his cap space on a head case with a history of suspensions.

 

There isn't, and we'll all see that next year when he signs somewhere for $12 mil per year. Will then come back and say first two years are fully guaranteed, or higher signing bonus than Pitt offered, or such nonsense. If he signed with Pitt he was getting every penny AT LEAST thru year-3 unless he had catastrophic injuries in consecutive seasons, or went crazy and got multiple suspensions. Pitt isn't cutting ANY PLAYER it has signed long term (and they have the track record to demonstrate that) in the first three years of any extension. Just doesn't happen. If he was scheduled to earn $45 million the first three years of his deal.......he was getting that.

 

Forgot about Chubb, you can add the Browns to the second list, but thanks for helping me make my point..........There are only a few teams with even the cap space or inclination to make a big signing at RB with a player like Bell, and if I were him I wouldn't want to play at this point for or feel I had a chance to contend with. Texans (maybe), Lions (maybe), and San Fran (maybe). And two of those three on the list, he would be paying a MILLION MORE per year in STATE income/local/sales taxes (CA-San Fran & NY-Jets), so that additional money he's demanding isn't going in HIS POCKET.

 

If he was getting every penny through year 3 then he should have been offered as much on paper.

 

Bell is just pigheaded, he says he wants to be a Steeler for life and the Steelers offered him a Steeler for life contract. Bell doesn't get the big picture, if he played out this contract he would have had enough money for at least 5 years after retirement. I know 70 million should last a lifetime but he seems like the type to spend it off quicker than the checks can hit the bank.

 

You give the Steelers too much credit.

 

No, I think they are paying cash. So they aren’t using credit at all.

 

Siragusa and Yanda both rehabbing from ‘17 season ending injuries