Pittsburgh Steelers: Le’Veon Bell as good as gone

Given the reported failed negotiations between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Le’Veon Bell, the running back appears headed out after 2018.

Monday was the deadline for players that teams NFL teams had placed the franchise tag on to sign a long-term deal with that team. The most hopeful case for that to happen was for the Pittsburgh Steelers and running back Le’Veon Bell. However, when the deadline rolled around, no deal was done.

That means that Bell will almost surely play the 2018 season on the franchise tag, making $14.5 million for the year. If he’s on the field, the safe bet from what we’ve seen to this point is that he’s going to be productive. Few backs in NFL history combine the prowess that Bell has as both a runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield.

However, it’s also worth noting that all signs point to this being Bell’s last season with the Steelers.

Following the failure to get a deal done on Monday, two things came out that are of note. First, we saw Bell offer a message to Steelers fans on Twitter:

From what the running back is saying and has said, you can’t question his desire to continue putting on the black and gold. At the same time though, his mention of business and the language used thereafter made it also clear that he’s about the money and wants to get paid heftily and with a substantial amount of security (a.k.a. guaranteed money).

That’s where the other bit of information comes into play. According the NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport, the Steelers’ final offer to Bell was a five-year, $70 million contract with about $30 million in guaranteed money. For those who need the math done, that’s an average of $14 million per year for the next five years in comparison to the $14.5 million he’ll make on the tag.

All of this combines to paint a pretty bleak picture in regards to Bell’s future in Pittsburgh. Yes, the Steelers increased the offer that they gave the running back last year. However, it’s clear by the fact that they didn’t get a deal done heading into 2018 that they just might not be seeing eye-to-eye with their star in the backfield.

It’s hard to fault Bell for wanting to get paid and find security on a purely human level. Even if his previous claims about wanting to get compensated like a top-tier wide receiver are a bit far-fetched, he’s still an elite running back that could be worth what the Steelers offered him. But it’s clear that he wants more than what this team is going to be willing to give him.

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And what’s important to note about this is the simple fact that some team in 2019 free agency will undoubtedly be willing to overpay and/or meet Bell’s demands to land him. Talents of his caliber aren’t available hardly ever on the open market, so it’ll likely be a free-for-all to land his services. Given that and the situation we’ve seen unfold in Pittsburgh, the 2018 season may well be Bell’s farewell tour with the Steelers.