Steelers noncommittal on Bell's availability for Week 1
http://www.thescore.com/news/966928
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http://www.thescore.com/news/966928
(via http://thesco.re/theScore_app )
Bell may not be ready week one
- Thread starter antdrewjosh
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If that's the case, I'd definitely try to sign him to a more friendly deal now rather than wait. Might be able to save a million or two per year.
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POP
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Rumors are that the Rooneys are not looking to sign a blockbuster deal with Bell to begin with; he is viewed as fairly easy to replace.
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"“Bell is somebody we would like to continue to have on the team for the long run,” Rooney said, via Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I don’t think we are sitting here waiting to see something from Le’Veon. I think we’ve seen enough. It is going to come down to how his contract fits in with others. It is kind of a jigsaw puzzle.” Link
That doesn't sound like he's viewed as 'easy to replace'. And what else is he going to say - it has to fit.
Le'Veon Bell will not be easily replaced by Williams or any other running back in the NFL. He has the most unique skill set in the entire league as a running back, IMO. I hope they don't make that mistake.
Papillon
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If they viewed him as easily replaceable, they'd let him play out his contract and see how his knee holds up before entertaining the ideas of a long contract
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I agree with this...he has proven to be great when teams (the Bungalholes) aren't trying to retire him by taking his legs out. Great vision, hard to bring down, good speed out of the hole, and great hands. Those are a dime a dozen....NOT!
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I don't think this is necessarily surprising. Sometimes guys rush to get back and they aren't the same. I'm fine with Bell waiting so he can get back to 100 percent and hit the ground running.
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I think Bell is over-rated. Dont get me wrong he is a great back and a 3-down back, but I dont think the teams scoring would drop down much w/o him. Bell's patience is sometimes a downfall. If the line regresses or we play against a stout defensive front Bell will be going nowhere. If he loses a step due to injuries his patience may become more of a liability because he wont hit the hole fast enough. He also does not have break away speed like peterson. He does block very well and is a great safety valve, but i would not break the bank on a RB.
Trade bait. Deuce Staley v. 2.0 in the sweatsuit. Who knows if he'll ever be healthy for a full season?
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I view Bell as a very good, but replaceable player with injury issues and off the field problems. Running Backs burn out quickly. I for one do not want to give Bell a large new deal for the reasons mentioned
Williams who was picked up for a very low salary in free agency added more power and speed out of the back field.
Yeah let's get rid of a top 3 running back because a soon to be retired running back did a decent job replacing him. Mind you who was also hurt and didn't play in the playoffs..off the field problems??? One incident and now he has off the field problems?? Bell stays in fantastic shape and his injuries were unlucky. Bell will be ready next year and if he has to miss the first game or two to ensure he will be 100% that's fine. Williams did a good job but he is not Bell. He is not close to Bell. Sometimes I wonder what games you guys be looking at.
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GTDome
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Williams did not approach what Bell brings to the game.
Bell plays a replaceable position, but does so irreplaceably. He needs to be secured. In fact, this is the offseason to do it - those injuries really lower a price tag.
Bell plays a replaceable position, but does so irreplaceably. He needs to be secured. In fact, this is the offseason to do it - those injuries really lower a price tag.
Also another thing Bell brings is with all the touches he gets he doesn't fumble!!!
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Economics. What is Bell going to command as a free agent, assuming he not injured and has not more off the field issues? 10+ million? We can't afford that right now and even if we did Bell's injury history makes such a deal extra risky. Do you agree with what I wrote?
Take note, DeAngelo Williams replaced Bell and upgraded the team in some areas as a free agent. His cap number this year is $2,565,000
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The Steelers are a passing team now as well as the league being a passing league. Gone are the days where you need that 100+ yard rusher week in week out. I'd love to have Bell back for the right price and you might be able to get him for the right price factoring in his injury history. I just think if it comes down to signing Bell or AB, I'd pay AB all day. I'll probably get **** for this but I'd even take paying a premier pass rusher or shut down corner over Bell for a similar price.
For perspective, take a look at the 1000 yard rushers from this past season:
1. Peterson 1485
2. Doug Martin 1402
3. Gurley 1106
4. McFadden 1089
5. Chris Ivory 1070
6. Latavius Murray 1066
7. Devonta Freeman 1056
Out of those teams, only Minnesota made the playoffs and a lot of that can be credited to their stellar defense and AP happens to be the best RB in the game and is paid like it. McFadden and Freeman didn't even begin the year as starters. Deangelo was #10 btw who also was a backup until Bell was injured. This doesn't even include Thomas Rawls, Ryan Matthews/Sproles, David Johnson, Danny Woodhead or CJ Anderson who all began the season as backups or in a committee and arguably outperformed their starting counterparts when given shots. The point is, RB's are becoming more plug and play than ever, so why spend big money on one when having a top 10 rusher apparently does not automatically equate to team success?
I love Bell and he's exciting to watch when he's playing, I'm just cautioning against overspending when it's clearly not necessary. AB is much more of a high priority to re-sign than Bell.
For perspective, take a look at the 1000 yard rushers from this past season:
1. Peterson 1485
2. Doug Martin 1402
3. Gurley 1106
4. McFadden 1089
5. Chris Ivory 1070
6. Latavius Murray 1066
7. Devonta Freeman 1056
Out of those teams, only Minnesota made the playoffs and a lot of that can be credited to their stellar defense and AP happens to be the best RB in the game and is paid like it. McFadden and Freeman didn't even begin the year as starters. Deangelo was #10 btw who also was a backup until Bell was injured. This doesn't even include Thomas Rawls, Ryan Matthews/Sproles, David Johnson, Danny Woodhead or CJ Anderson who all began the season as backups or in a committee and arguably outperformed their starting counterparts when given shots. The point is, RB's are becoming more plug and play than ever, so why spend big money on one when having a top 10 rusher apparently does not automatically equate to team success?
I love Bell and he's exciting to watch when he's playing, I'm just cautioning against overspending when it's clearly not necessary. AB is much more of a high priority to re-sign than Bell.
and we got lucky to get DeAngelo.
Ben Tate says hello.
Josh whateverhisnamewas waves from a distance.
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What will the Franchise tag salary be when Bell hits free-agency? Aside from Peterson, who are the highest paid backs? The Steelers might have more leverage than it seems when Bell hits free agency.
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Tate was signed during the end of the season off the street as we were down to our 4th RB again at that point. That was literally scraping the bottom of the barrel. Hardly the same as bringing in a solid free agent signing in the offseason.
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GTDome
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No, Williams did not present an upgrade from Bell in any way or to any degree on the field. None, nada.
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I love deangelo Williams, but exactly where did the team upgrade with him as the lead back? If anything, they regressed because they lost bells superior ability to catch the football. You are also aware that he's going to be 33 next season and in the final year of his deal, right?
Williams is not an upgrade over Bell, but when Bell went out it made us put the ball in Bens hands more and that's a good thing. With Bell we averaged 21 points per game, without Bell we averaged 31 points per game.