Le'Veon Bell's holdout

[Merlin]

Honestly, the pass the Pitt FO is getting here is mindboggling.

Disagree Mack. They made a football decision based on what they knew about the player (which is more than anyone else knows about him, be it other teams or fans of other teams on their message boards), and have gotten excellent production out of his replacement.

If anything the pass they're getting is the fact that they didn't trade a guy they knew they weren't willing to pay. Had they flipped him, they might have a very high pick in this draft to help reload a tired roster. And I'm not sure how they're reportedly willing to trade him, I mean that can't happen without the tag which I presume they won't be willing or able to use with that exorbitant cost.

 

[MadGoat]

I only read the first page so forgive me if someone else brought this up.

Those contract numbers are complete horseshit. The guarantee was barely $10M and the entire contract was worse than the Kaepernick contract in that it was basically a series of 1 year contracts.

Even the sports journos who know Pitt were shocked at the details of their offer. The others...either they know they're lying or they don't know they're passing on bad info and that's worse because it means they are so lazy they can't use google.

FYI the contract offer had $17 mil in guarantees, even Bell has admitted that, still a pretty weak effort on the Steelers part.

 

[dieterbrock]

I totally see and respect both sides on this. I totally get why Bell held out for more, and why he didn't want to risk injury. I also understand why Pittsburgh played hard ball on his guaranteed money. (suspension etc)
I just find the system flawed that after July 16th, there couldn't be any extension of contract. I don't see how it protects the player or the team at that point and frankly am surprised it hasn't happened more often that a player sat out

 

[kurtfaulk]

But they wasted it for this season. Their window is closing and they could sure use help on defense. Instead they were sticking it to bell.

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[kurtfaulk]

Because he got paid $0 for the season?

He doesn't care about that money.

Sure

Go ahead

Ok, why?

.

 

[Dxmissile]

Again, I wish I could find it, but I read something that said if he doesn't sign this tag it regresses value wise. Whoever said it could surely be mistaken though.

Naw that’s not true it’s been reported multiple times that his next franchise tag would be number 3 worth upwards of over 28 million. Bell played this perfectly imo the guy gets almost 400 touches a year he sits out this entire year it saves him wear and tear. Some team next year is going to pay him big money he’s a top 2 running back (Gurley #1) and he’s a slot receiver. Put him on the Patriots(ugggh) and that offense becomes scary hell or the Eagles point is a lot of teams can use a guy like that. My prediction 45-55 million guaranteed

 

[Dxmissile]

Let’s be real honest here do Bell deserve to get paid less than Gurley because Pittsburgh offer was shitty tbh

 

[Rmfnlt]

He'll get his money... it just isn't likely to come from PITT.

Like I said, that well is poisoned now. They called his bluff and they won (for now... let's see if Connor is a long term steal).

PITT had had it with him... some other team will snap him (and his large contract) up.

Risk removed from PIT and placed on another franchise.

It's a business.

 

[Ramlock]

He doesn't care about that money.



Ok, why?

.

Bell makes 0 dollars this year. That doesn't seem to be the brightest option.

 

[Prime Time]

View: https://twitter.com/EdBouchette/status/1062807013141430274

 

[LesBaker]

He's not worth 17MIL a year.

He wants to be overpaid. He wants to be paid more than any skill position player in the NFL and he isn't worth that much.

Fuck that. If I'm the Steelers I would tell him not to report and enjoy free agency.

 

[Mackeyser]

Your point about the Pittsburgh front office is duly noted, and one with which I agree. That being stipulated, Bell still should have signed the tag and played. He would have gotten $14.5 million, now he gets zero. It would have been up to Pittsburgh to either sign him to a long term deal again (which they very likely would not have done given their cheapness in this situation), franchise him again (and have him swallow up an enormous and unjustifiable amount of cap space, something else Pittsburgh would not have likely done), or let him walk and get a contract from a team who will pay Bell something closer to what he wants. Absent Pittsburgh's FO giving Bell what he wants, their only fiscally responsible choice after this season would have been to let him walk.

People can say he shouldn't have played and not risked injury. But by not signing the tag and playing, he gets paid exactly $0 instead of the $14.5 million he would have received, and very likely damaged his prospects for getting the type of contract he wants from another team.

$14.5 million and a chance to the long term deal he wants vs. $0 and less chance to get the contract he wants and one less year to make up for the money he decided to forgo this year ...

Well, sure. The only fly in the ointment is Earl Thomas.

No way Bell gets anything if he had a season ending injury.

I dunno if there was a win/win scenario because Pitt was intent on going cheap and had a history of riding Bell like a rented mule. Again, that also significantly diminishes his value.

 

[Mackeyser]

That's what they did, they didn't pay him. The contract for a guy with suspension/injury issues is different than for someone like Gurley. You have to be more careful.

He's got two strikes against him in the substance abuse category..........a third could be a season right? At least it would be a major suspension, maybe 8 games.



He's holding out for more money, so it is the money and he's on record saying that. It's part of what's alienating some of the Steelers players, fans and FO staff.

He reportedly wants 17MIL per year. He's not going to get that.

It’s Bell’s life and he doesn’t owe anyone anything.

I agree that he’s not going to get nearly what he thinks he can get.

But Bell’s not a bad guy for not wanting to risk some guarantees for a single season in which he would be put at tremendous risk.

 

[Juice]

I am ashamed how the public has vilified Bell in his quest to get the contract that he wants. If your body is your temple, and it's the vessel that making you jack, do what you have to do. I am sure some of his teammates might be pissed, but they also know that they might want to be in his shoes. He is in control, not the league, and I am proud of him for that.

 

[kurtfaulk]

freak that. If I'm the Steelers I would tell him not to report and enjoy free agency.

They already told him that when they offered him that shit contract and then went crying to the media about how much money they offered him. Fuckwits.

.

 

[LesBaker]

It’s Bell’s life and he doesn’t owe anyone anything.

Neither do the Steelers owe him a thing.

 

[Mackeyser]

Neither do the Steelers owe him a thing.

Yeah, but the Steelers are acting like he does.

Bell is going through the process as prescribed in the CBA.

 

[12intheBox]

I think people are forgetting what a talent Bell is. He is going to be a star for the Jets/Colts/Raiders/Dolphins/Argonauts

The CBA is the CBA - he played by the rules. He may never recoup his money but I’ll bet he gets more guaranteed than the Steelers offered and that’s what it’s all about in a league where your career could end on any play.

 

[OregonRamsFan]

No disrespect meant for Bell, but a contract to play is not just a contract. It’s your word. And that should be worth something. I don’t care if walking out on his team makes him more money. It’s about integrity and character. How can you look yourself in the mirror after walking out on your team that gave you the opportunity to be great? Gurley and his Rams teammates get it. We are lucky fans.

 

[dieterbrock]

No disrespect meant for Bell, but a contract to play is not just a contract. It’s your word. And that should be worth something. I don’t care if walking out on his team makes him more money. It’s about integrity and character. How can you look yourself in the mirror after walking out on your team that gave you the opportunity to be great? Gurley and his Rams teammates get it. We are lucky fans.

Bell wasn’t under contract though