Home 2018 Offseason Le’Veon Bell Not Worth Record Deal

Le’Veon Bell Not Worth Record Deal

by Chris Gazze

Le’Veon Bell’s talent and the value he adds to an offense is unquestioned. He is the top running back in the league and deserves to be paid like it. However, he is not worth the record deal he is asking for from the Steelers.

As expect, the Steelers placed the franchise tag on Bell for the second straight year guaranteeing him $14.5 million in 2018. It also appears as though the two sides are in a stalemate when it comes to contract negotiations.

Holdouts don’t accomplish anything when it comes to the negotiating with Pittsburgh’s front office. They never have and likely never will.

It doesn’t help that Bell reportedly turned down a five-year deal last year that would have paid him more than $3 million more than the second-highest paid back in the league. Now Bell expects at least $15 million per year.

It’s hard to argue his point of view. He’s not just the best running backs in the game, but he’s one of the best players in the entire league. He is a franchise player who can carry an offense.

Bell is going to touch the ball 28 times per game—and probably won’t lose a yard on any of them. His average of 129 yards from scrimmage per game is second to none. He can line up all over the field and is a devastating blocker. He wants paid for all of it.

However, his opinion that the Steelers underappreciated him is ridiculous.

The Steelers are a team that doesn’t shy away from paying players their worth. Last year they wanted to make him the highest paid running back in the league—by a lot. He declined.

They should make a similar offer this year. He deserves a large contract, but is he really worth nearly twice as much as LeSean McCoy or Devonta Freeman? Should the Steelers commit $15 million to a running back when there are rookies like Kareem Hunt or Alvin Kamara producing at an All-Pro level? When the Super Bowl included players such as LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, James White and Dion Lewis?

Talented, affordable running backs are found all over the league. Whether it is featuring James Conner, signing a free agent, or finding a rookie in the draft, there are numerous avenues the Steelers could explore.

Would there be a drop off without Bell in the offense? Probably. But with Ben, Brown, JuJu, and Bryant, the Steelers are still a contender. They’d also have cap dollars to invest elsewhere, specifically the defense—but that is another article for another day.

Brace yourself for a long offseason of posturing from Bell, but in the end, it won’t mean much. The Steelers aren’t going to blink in this situation and if Bell wants to agree to a long-term deal, it’s going to have to be to Pittsburgh’s terms, not his.

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4 comments

Vittorio Di Stazio March 10, 2018 - 11:25 pm

Ya know Chris you are like every other Steeler Fan that feels that without Bell the Steelers would be fine i would a full season of evidence to back it up oh but wait that data doesn’t exist so there goes that idea. Let me ask you and any other Steeler fans that feels that Bell is replaceable, say Bell is not on the field for the bad Monday Night game in Cincy in December do you really think the Steelers win that game or would they have failed to score a single TD that night? If Bell isn’t on the field for the win in Baltimore this past September probably not so that would make the team 11-5 and end up in the Wildcard round. I find it funny that fans see Bell as nothing more than a replaceable back. If that is the case then so is Big Ben and AB. If you as fans see Bell as a replaceable then your also saying the same thing about Ben and AB. Fans have this idea that the money should be spent on Defense and have this theory a FA will choose winning over a payday. If that was true then guys like Logan Ryan would be here and not in Tennessee. Sure you will counter with there are lower level FA’s that will come here on a cheap deal but if it was that simple then the Steelers would never have a problem in FA but that’s not the case is it?

Say what you will about Bell’s attitude and all that but don’t sit there on you computers and type “Bell is replaceable” cause if that’s true then Todd Gurley is replaceable, Ezekiel Elliot is replaceable and even Leonard Fournette is replaceable as well. You all want the multiback system but if you ask the Eagles and Saints to choose between each of there 2 backs they will tell you Ajayi and Kamara. Bell’s talent extends beyond running and catching it extends to pass blocking and blitz pickup something that most if not all the FA RB’s can’t do, they either run very well or catch very well. When was the last time anybody mentioned Carlos Hyde’s pass blocking or DeMarco Murray’s blitz pickup abilities. You counter with “then draft a RB who does that in the draft” i would agree with you if you believe he will not any LB or DB hit Big Ben and has his TRUST as well, if you can show me that it can happen then I’ll jump aboard the multiback system.

Chris March 11, 2018 - 4:37 pm

Vittorio, Bell’s probably the third most valuable player on this team behind Ben and Brown. Outside of breaking the big run, he does it all on offense. I think just about everyone wants to see the Steelers reach a long-term deal with Bell. The issue, though, is his asking price and when it is nearly doubled the the highest guy on the list, you have to question the value of the deal. The Steelers are prepared to make him the highest paid back in the league, by a good amount. That number wasn’t good enough and from the Steelers point of view, it’s tough to shatter the running back market with such a deal. There are other backs who are nearly as good who’d only be making a fraction of that price right now.

bob graff March 11, 2018 - 12:59 pm

With 15 million dollars they could replace Bell and get a ILB. Don’t get me wrong Bell has talent but he’s not exactly a team player/ leader. As a team we were near the bottom of the league rushing the football at 3.9 a clip. If you look at it that way, does that production even deserve to be rewarded or is it a liability? I know he lines up at WR but he really doesn’t catch many balls from that position Nor should he be paid as an elite WR because he’s not. I could be wrong, To me if your going to spend that kind of money it should be on someone who wants to be here and work for that 7th title. BTW congratulation L. Blount on that third ring.

Vittorio Di Stazio March 11, 2018 - 8:59 pm

You know one of the things i find absolutely funny is that Steelers fans think the 15 million dollars should net a ILB but you do realize that most if not all FA’s choose money and longevity over Chase for a Championship. Say they go after a Hodges or a Bowman or a Avery Williamson or somebody of that nature and they offer 3yrs-15million but another team offers 5yrs-25million who do you think that FA would choose as his new destination the Steelers or the other team. It’s easy for you as a fan that “yeah go after this guy and he will surely sign” but the reality is that’s not how FA works and you guys know that. The Steelers tried for Logan Ryan but got more money and term than what the Steelers could have offered.

Here is something else about valuable Bell is when it comes to the playoffs. With Bell they are 2-1 without Bell they are 1-3 so you tell me how exactly could this team survive without him come playoff time. Sure the whole thing about being paid like a No.1 RB and a No.2 WR is foolish but if you were him you’d be asking for the same exact thing. Yeah the team won regular season games without Bell but Deangelo is a power runner and nothing else. What boggles me is that fans think that by going a RBBC that almost nothing changes but have you forgotten that Bell has Ben’s complete trust in pass protection can you honestly tell me that James Conner, FA RB and a Rookie RB will have Ben’s trust is pass protection and making splash plays when needed or are just hoping that it well.

I’ll make it simple for every fan on this site you want me to believe in a RBBC then i need evidence to suggest that Ben is kept safe for a large majority of the passing plays that are called. That means should 1 or all 3 backs screw up in pass protection and Bens ends up hurt then that back(s) are sent to the bench for the rest of the season. Is that harsh maybe but either i be harsh on fans or go soft on them like most fans are these days.

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