• Please be aware we've switched the forums to their own URL. (again) You'll find the new website address to be www.steelernationforum.com Thanks
  • Please clear your private messages. Your inbox is close to being full.

Interesting... Do the Steelers "Exploit Bell?"

wig

wig

Well-known member
Forefather
Contributor
Joined
Jun 10, 2014
Messages
11,072
Reaction score
13,225
Points
113
Listening to a podcast and one of the hosts asks the question "If the Steelers try to sign Bell to a 4 year $8 mill per year contract, are they "exploiting" him?"

I'm thinking... No. He's kinda put himself in a position. If he performs well after a couple seasons, he's free to re-negotiate based on extraordinary production and a clean record. If he screws up, the Steelers haven't over-invested in a guy with a terrible track-record.

Ultimately, Bell has kinda created his own mess. Sure - he's talented. But his contract hopes have kinda gone up in smoke. (Puns for everyone!)
 
I would say 4 years at 8 million he wouldn't sign. But a 5 year for 25 with incentive pay for production and games played would might be up his alley. And a rider in his contract that he has to pay back prorated portions of his bonus money every time he gets suspended for drug violations.
 
Nope he put himself in this position. He has no leverage now
 
Bell wouldn't sign that as he'd get more on the open market. I'd prefer to tag him for a year, make him prove himself and then look into a four-year deal.
 
At this point, I just tag him in 2017 and that's it.

And from here on out it's all Bell, all the time. 375 touches or bust in 2017. Run the tires off him.

Running backs want the ball? Here you go..... just don't let the door take off any more tread looking for that big deal somewhere else.
 
To my knowledge if a player gets suspended you get your cap space back and save his wage. So I think the sticking point will be guaranteed money. Between his knee and his Chronic he has to be realistic about guarenteed money wherever he goes.
 
SteelerSask said:
To my knowledge if a player gets suspended you get your cap space back and save his wage. So I think the sticking point will be guaranteed money. Between his knee and his Chronic he has to be realistic about guarenteed money wherever he goes.
Click to expand...
those 4 games would cost him over $200,000.
 
SteelerSask said:
So do the Steelers recoup the base salary portion of that 200 k on their cap?
Click to expand...

Yes. But remember he's on the suspended list so we will have another player on the 53-man roster and HIS salary will then be counted against the cap.

It's only a "savings" if the guy you get is cheaper than Bell (which I don't think it will be for many people).
 
FordFairLane said:
I would say 4 years at 8 million he wouldn't sign. But a 5 year for 25 with incentive pay for production and games played would might be up his alley. And a rider in his contract that he has to pay back prorated portions of his bonus money every time he gets suspended for drug violations.
Click to expand...

That was 4 years at $8 mill per season($32 mill total). I would guess $5 mill per season would be way low. T
 
SteelerSask said:
To my knowledge if a player gets suspended you get your cap space back and save his wage. So I think the sticking point will be guaranteed money. Between his knee and his Chronic he has to be realistic about guarenteed money wherever he goes.
Click to expand...

No large guaranteed $. You'd have to be insane to agree to that. And, if he has a problem, definitely tag him. That will give us a season and 2-thirds of use, after him being missing from injury and weed for so long.

If they can't agree on a new deal after 2017, we will have a replacement by then, draft a RB high(ish) in 2018. It's just too freaking bad if he doesn't like it.

He shouldn't have made moron decisions to begin with.
 
Run him for 300+ carries...make him EARN his next paycheck. They have given him many chances.


Then draft Christian McCaffrey in 2017
 
stillwright said:
That was 4 years at $8 mill per season($32 mill total). I would guess $5 mill per season would be way low. T
Click to expand...
5 million was my nice contract lol. If there's not a lot of guaranteed money and stipulations about behavior. I wouldn't have signed him for 8 million a season before this mess. Maybe before the dui and Blount thing but no way no how now.

There's very little value for the running back position. I'd rather
let him walk next year and draft Ed McCaffreys kid out of Stanford.
 
deljzc said:
Yes. But remember he's on the suspended list so we will have another player on the 53-man roster and HIS salary will then be counted against the cap.

It's only a "savings" if the guy you get is cheaper than Bell (which I don't think it will be for many people).
Click to expand...
Not thinking about the 200 this year. That barely pays half season of a practice roster guy. I guess what I'm saying is anyone who goes forward with him could pay little guaranteed money and if he gets suspended for a season you recoup the 8 to 10 million. You would always need a strong second like they have in Williams now though.
 
stillwright said:
That was 4 years at $8 mill per season($32 mill total). I would guess $5 mill per season would be way low. T
Click to expand...

There yaz go,.........doing the math. Might actually get a few here to believe you actually know something.............(sarcasm)

FordFairLane said:
5 million was my nice contract lol. If there's not a lot of guaranteed money and stipulations about behavior. I wouldn't have signed him for 8 million a season before this mess. Maybe before the dui and Blount thing but no way no how now.

There's very little value for the running back position. I'd rather
let him walk next year and draft Ed McCaffreys kid out of Stanford.
Click to expand...

Will Ed McCaffery's kid be available at 1.32 pick???



Salute the nation
 
steelerscotty said:
If being paid 32 million is being "exploited", please, exploit the **** out of me!
Click to expand...

They pay him enough already to buy the finest bud in tahn.

 
If getting $8M to work 6 months out of the year is exploitation I want to be exploited like that.
 
deljzc said:
At this point, I just tag him in 2017 and that's it.

And from here on out it's all Bell, all the time. 375 touches or bust in 2017. Run the tires off him.

Running backs want the ball? Here you go..... just don't let the door take off any more tread looking for that big deal somewhere else.
Click to expand...

If you run him into the ground to spite him you run the risk of it backfiring as he is more likely to be injured or buggered when you need him most - playoff time.
 
I know many are advocating to Franchise him, but remember that will be 12+ mil.
That is a lot of money to tie up in a guy that could potentially be gone the next season.
I realize the guy is a special talent. Either sign him long term or let him go.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
Bell wouldn't sign that as he'd get more on the open market. I'd prefer to tag him for a year, make him prove himself and then look into a four-year deal.
Click to expand...

A four-year deal? No way. Not a fan of dead money cap space, which can happen here.
 
I'm on record for saying this was a bone head move by Bell..that being said just like some one said he is a special talent. So my question is this. With him being so young 24 can we afford to be patient with him same thing goes for Bryant. These guys are special players on the field. We were patient with Ben. I know different situations but they all boiled down to young guys(special talents) who needed time to mature. Because let's face it if these guys were average players they would of been cut already including Ben. But because Ben was Ben the Steelers were patient with him. Can't we do the same with Bell and Bryant. Let them dictate their future with the team. Meaning let them control their future with the Steelers by either staying clean and maturing or they league will suspend them anyway. We have all the leverage when it comes to contracts. Use it and see if these guys can mature the way Big Ben did..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top