Subscribe
Follow Us
Both Le'Veon Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers were optimistic about their negotiations regarding a long-term contract this offseason. Unfortunately, things have seemingly taken a turn for the worst after Bell's recent post on social media.
As a result, there is some speculation that his time in Pittsburgh could be coming to an end. According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, he could be on the same path as the one Kirk Cousins took while he was with the Washington Redskins:
Article Continues BelowIt could make sense, then, for Bell to follow in Cousins’ footsteps, sign the franchise tender this year, and hit unrestricted free agency next year. Like Cousins, Bell would benefit from the NFL rule that makes a third franchise tag so expensive as to be almost impossible: Washington was never going to put the franchise tag on Cousins this year, and Bell is even less likely to get the franchise tag next year. If Bell plays out this season in Pittsburgh on the one-year franchise salary of $14.56 million, he’ll become a true unrestricted free agent next year.
Cousins had proven his status as a legitimate franchise quarterback with Washington and wanted to be paid as such over the past several seasons. However, the team was hesitant to commit to a lucrative long-term deal and decided to franchise tag him for two consecutive years. The prospect of placing a third straight tag was too rich for anyone's taste and, as a result, he ultimately wound up signing the richest deal (in terms of annual value) in NFL history with a formidable team like the Minnesota Vikings.
That said, Bell poses a similar case as Cousins does. The only difference is that he is arguably the best player at his position. Regardless, there are always risks that come with not playing under a long-term contract, especially for a running back. If the Steelers are serious about keeping him, it's now or never.
