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If the Steelers want to trade Bell, nine teams have over 15M in cap space

14,54 million times 120% =17,448,000

I would then non exclusive him and get those two number 1's. Jets and Colts can give him that guaranteed front loaded contract he desires.

Either his agent failed to disclose that they wanted a high front, or the the Steelers thought they could change their minds. Either way there should be no misgivings moving forward for either side.

My greatest want and unrealistic is to have him sign his tag this year then trade him.


But really the 3 million dollar difference IMO is still not out of the range of a possibility.3mil differential is peanuts to the Steelers.
 
non-exclusive tag is calculated by adding the franchise tag cost together from the five previous seasons and dividing it by the sum of the salary caps from the five previous seasons to get a percentage-of-cap number that is then multiplied by that year's cap.

Got it? Actually, the non-exclusive franchise tag is worth either that number, or 120% of the player's salary from the year before, whichever is greater.

The long story short is that these are generally pricey one-year deals.

Players who receive the designation can sign their franchise tenders right away or shop for another team to try and get an offer sheet. If another team signs a franchise player to an offer sheet, the original team has a chance to match it. But if the original team doesn't match the offer, the new team must give up two first-round picks as compensation in order to steal the franchise player away.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...ive-non-exclusive-explained-article-1.2985100
 
The Steelers know that Bell isn't coming back next year. I fully expect they will run the living **** out of him this year. I hope they do.
 
ayep


Steelers offered Bell 5 years, $70M

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports the Steelers offered Le'Veon Bell a five-year, $70 million contract prior to Monday's 4 PM ET deadline.

Per RapSheet, the offer contained more than $30 million over the first two years, but Bell has opted to instead play on the $14.544 million tag for the second straight year before hitting free agency at 27 years old next March

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1018986055884779520
 
Trading Bell now would be insane. The only way it could even be considered is if the trade ended up with the steelers getting back David Johnson, Todd Gurley, Zeke Elliott, or Saquon Barkley,

I don't understand this notion that you have to "get something" for a player that likely won't re-sign next season. If it's a backup or a role player, i get it. But a key starter? Makes no sense at all.

What do you get for Bell. How about a chance to win the Super Bowl?

Bell is more than a RB. I don't give a **** if another RB can can replicate Bell's rushing stats. What they can't do is replicate his effect on the pass game.

Tape,

Bell’s 655 receiving yards represented only 15 percent of the team’s total passing yardage

Bell had just 5 catches over 20 yards and 22 catches that covered 3 or fewer yards, including eight for negative yardage for an over all 7.7 yards per catch.

What effect does he really have on the passing game? Some, just not as much as fans might think.

The Steelers need to ask themselves this question. Would they rather have Bell, disgruntled and possibly out of football shape to start the season, and get a 3rd or 4th round compensatory pick wen they lose Bell in free agency OR trade him now and get a player and possible a 1st or 2nd round pick?
 
in 2017, Bell caught more passes in the playoffs than AB.

That's the effect I think he really has on the passing game.
 
Tape,

Bell’s 655 receiving yards represented only 15 percent of the team’s total passing yardage

Bell had just 5 catches over 20 yards and 22 catches that covered 3 or fewer yards, including eight for negative yardage for an over all 7.7 yards per catch.

What effect does he really have on the passing game? Some, just not as much as fans might think.

The Steelers need to ask themselves this question. Would they rather have Bell, disgruntled and possibly out of football shape to start the season, and get a 3rd or 4th round compensatory pick wen they lose Bell in free agency OR trade him now and get a player and possible a 1st or 2nd round pick?

Bell won't be out of shape, but he won't be in football shape either. That was proven last year, and he's a year older.

One problem with all this is - after Bell, then what? With running the wheels off his *** this year, we're not going to see what we have in Conner or Samuels. I just hope we can find a way to utilize both those guys so we can see where we stand after this season, since Bell won't be back.

and, i'd like to point out that Bell's had two of five seasons end due to injury. He's a colossal idiot for not taking that contract offer and getting at least $30 mil. Though those last three years making a paltry $13.3 mil per must have chapped his ***.
 
in 2017, Bell caught more passes in the playoffs than AB.

That's the effect I think he really has on the passing game.

Caught more passes? Okay Brown had 132 yards and 2 TD's. McDonald also had more yards receiving than Bell. I would argue without Martavis Bryant long TD catch just before the half, this game isn't as close. That key play was better than any single play Bell did.

When it was 3rd and short and 4th and short, Bell failed to covert when the team needed him.
 
Bell won't be out of shape, but he won't be in football shape either. That was proven last year, and he's a year older.

One problem with all this is - after Bell, then what? With running the wheels off his *** this year, we're not going to see what we have in Conner or Samuels. I just hope we can find a way to utilize both those guys so we can see where we stand after this season, since Bell won't be back.

and, i'd like to point out that Bell's had two of five seasons end due to injury. He's a colossal idiot for not taking that contract offer and getting at least $30 mil. Though those last three years making a paltry $13.3 mil per must have chapped his ***.

I agree with what you said, I just think Bell is going to be a distraction unless the team is doing well and he's doing well. If either he or the team is not doing well, he'll sulk. Bell knows he'll be a free agent next season, and might " check out / not give 100% " in some games to preserve his body.
 
I agree with what you said, I just think Bell is going to be a distraction unless the team is doing well and he's doing well. If either he or the team is not doing well, he'll sulk. Bell knows he'll be a free agent next season, and might " check out / not give 100% " in some games to preserve his body.

I don't think it's in his best interest to half *** it. It's not going to matter though, because when he doesn't get a first down, drops a pass, misses a block, fans are going to be on him like flies oN ****. I expect 100% out of him because every down will count to him getting paid next year. If he tanks it, it could be disastrous when ask for $16M+ year by Team A or B.
 
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I think the idea is that he doesn't want to be here, he was offered a more than fair deal than anyone at his position would recieve, and he rejected it. If he doesn't want to be here I don't want him on the team, and I'd rather deal with the bumps of the young bucks in the backfield than give the ball to the guy who shows up and thinks he just starts. He is distant from the team, and I won't reward him for just showing up for the season. I don't see how he won't be a cancer regardless of his talent.
 
There is zero reason to believe that Bell will be a 'locker room cancer' or 'sulk' or 'check out'. He's in a contract year, and he ******* knows it. He sees the payday at the end of this season, and will do everything he can to produce THIS YEAR. The way you guys make up situations that aren't there, just confound me. Besides, where in the past has he shown these qualities? The dude is a competitor.

And Coach, for the 15th time, Bell is not holding out. He's doing nothing against his contract, because he hasn't signed it. He is not getting fined or reprimanded, because he is not under contract. He will chose to return after the 3rd preseason game, just like he did last year, when camp broke.
 
I don’t think that it’s a matter of LevBell not wanting to be here. Why wouldn’t he? He’s got an excellent OL, great blocking FB, excellent receivers and a top QB. I think he loves being a Steeler.
It comes down to guaranteed money plain and simple. He wanted more guaranteed money from the team and that is his reason, but not because he wants out of here.


Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
14,54 million times 120% =17,448,000

I would then non exclusive him and get those two number 1's. Jets and Colts can give him that guaranteed front loaded contract he desires.

Either his agent failed to disclose that they wanted a high front, or the the Steelers thought they could change their minds. Either way there should be no misgivings moving forward for either side.

My greatest want and unrealistic is to have him sign his tag this year then trade him.


But really the 3 million dollar difference IMO is still not out of the range of a possibility.3mil differential is peanuts to the Steelers.

You are not looking at correct info. 3rd tag is either 144% of the previous year or it is whatever the highest franchise tag amount is at any position. There is almost no way that they will franchise him next year because it will be in the neighborhood of 25 million dollars.

They can transition tag him for 17 and a half million dollars but you don't get a compensation pick and all you get is the opportunity to match the deal. If he has a pretty good season maybe they do Transition tag him hoping that no one will make a substantial offer
 
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I think that some RBs could replicate Bell in the passing game if given the chance. The problem is the Steelers do not use players efficiently. Also you have to forget about the stats. Removing Bell and his distractions may have a positive effect that no stats could replicate. I know at my job one co-worker can bring the whole morale of the building down. If that person leaves or quits the whole atmosphere of the workplace changes. Its hard to say how other players really feel about Bell, but I would bet anything more than a few resent him for rejecting the deal and not having to put in the work at training camp. That alone could cause heavy tension

some could replicate his receiving, but would not also replicate his rushing and vice versa. Meaning Bell can do it all and there are damn few who can be a true 3 down back. I basically listed them above.

look at the saints. Mark Engram is a good runner and Kamara is a great receiver. They have 2 guys that they have to swap in and out to get what Bell delivers.

In this age of specilization on defense, it is a HUGE advantage to have versatile guys that can do anything. When Bell is in there, the defense has to play run and pass equally. It puts them in a bind with subbing in a nickel CB as well. Unless it’s a long situation, they almost have to keep their LBs on the field and that gives a big advantage to the steelers pass game. A LB will end up covering Bell or a TE or a slot WR and that’s money for the steelers.

Contrast with the saints. Kamara comes in and you go nickel. Kamara can still run but he’s not a great inside runner. You now have tendencies on the saints and can get that extra DB on the field to match up better.
 
Bell catches dump off passes out of the back field. It is rare he gets catches when he is actually running routes. He gets some though. Dump off passes out of the backfield can go to any RB that can catch the ball and if Ben looks their way. We have been so dependent on AB and Bell for touches. I would rather we had a good TE and we spread the ball more to other players and only use the dump off passes a handful of times during the game. It will make our O more unpredictable.
 
Tape,

Bell’s 655 receiving yards represented only 15 percent of the team’s total passing yardage

Bell had just 5 catches over 20 yards and 22 catches that covered 3 or fewer yards, including eight for negative yardage for an over all 7.7 yards per catch.

What effect does he really have on the passing game? Some, just not as much as fans might think.

The Steelers need to ask themselves this question. Would they rather have Bell, disgruntled and possibly out of football shape to start the season, and get a 3rd or 4th round compensatory pick wen they lose Bell in free agency OR trade him now and get a player and possible a 1st or 2nd round pick?

If you don’t understand Bell’s impact on the passing game, i can’t help you.
 
If we trade Bell it will be because we have completely tank the first half of the season and cannot make the playoffs. And some team will have had their starting running back go down. And we'll probably get like a 3rd round pick, maybe a second
 
Bell catches dump off passes out of the back field. It is rare he gets catches when he is actually running routes. He gets some though. Dump off passes out of the backfield can go to any RB that can catch the ball and if Ben looks their way. We have been so dependent on AB and Bell for touches. I would rather we had a good TE and we spread the ball more to other players and only use the dump off passes a handful of times during the game. It will make our O more unpredictable.

Bell can run WR routes downfield and he does occasionally. That’s all it takes to make a defense have to respect it. Bell helps JuJu and the 3rd WR and TEs get open.

Are the steelers dependent on AB and Bell or are they just getting the ball to their best players?

Martavis disappeared the last 2 years. JuJu was a rookie learning his way. McDonald and James are competent but not great receiving TEs. There would be something wrong if AB and Bell were not the top targets.

JuJu got better and better. He will get more targets this year. McDonald is a better receiver than James so if he can stay healthy, he may get more targets this year.
 
Bell can run WR routes downfield and he does occasionally. That’s all it takes to make a defense have to respect it. Bell helps JuJu and the 3rd WR and TEs get open.

Are the steelers dependent on AB and Bell or are they just getting the ball to their best players?

Martavis disappeared the last 2 years. JuJu was a rookie learning his way. McDonald and James are competent but not great receiving TEs. There would be something wrong if AB and Bell were not the top targets.

JuJu got better and better. He will get more targets this year. McDonald is a better receiver than James so if he can stay healthy, he may get more targets this year.

That's what I am saying. If AB is healthy, JuJu plays like he did last year and improves a little and if McDonald can play most of the year, I see no way Bell gets as many touches. AB should still get 100 catches but I don't see Bell being our No. 2 WR. That should be JuJu or McDonald.
 
It’s not about the touches. It’s about how the defense must match up with Bell. When Bell is in there, the steelers have the matchup advantage whether the defense is base or nickel.

If defense stays base, then they need 2 DBs to cover AB, they need a combo of LB and DB to cover Bell. That will leave an easy matchup for JuJu or a TE. And AB will still beat that double.

if defense goes nickel, then steelers have advantage running the ball. AB still gets doubled. Bell still draws a DB. JuJu in slot has advantage over the nickel DB. MCDonald has good matchup vs LB.
 
ride him all the way jet extra ounce of juice
 
If you could trade him for two decent LB's I'd take it because Lord knows the Steelers aren't real good at finding them in the draft.
 
If you could trade him for two decent LB's I'd take it because Lord knows the Steelers aren't real good at finding them in the draft.


I'd be concern that they would recognize a good LB currently playing.

Not sure what individual is responsible for the deterioration of the defense, but the front office has to know, and needs to address it no matter who that person is.
 
I'd be concern that they would recognize a good LB currently playing.

Not sure what individual is responsible for the deterioration of the defense, but the front office has to know, and needs to address it no matter who that person is.

I think it's mostly the front office (and Shades) that's responsible for the deterioration of the defense.
Durpee, Uncle Jarvis, Worilds, all wasted high draft picks.
 
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