Since the Pittsburgh Steelers' disappointing end to the 2017 season, the team has shifted their attention toward their pending contract situation with star running back Le'Veon Bell. There had yet to be any real movement toward working out a new deal between both sides that had led to the possibility that he could be placed with the franchise tag.

Bell had previously voiced his displeasure on several occasions with being placed under that designation after playing under it last season that included possible threats of holds or retirement. According to Ian Rapoport of The NFL Network, the Steelers had decided to once again go this route for the time being with the 25-year-old.

The decision to go this route may simply be a ploy to keep him off the open market where he would have received plenty of attention around the league that would have seen several lucrative offers presented to him. Instead, Pittsburgh has a chance to exclusively work out a new long-term deal without having to worry about competing against the other teams for his services.

Although the deadline to work out a new extension with Bell is on July 16, the Steelers may have to work quickly to hammer out a contract due to his previous comments that he doesn't want to play under that designation again. He has more than proven to be worthy of a huge contract given what he has shown through his first five years in the league as arguably the best running back in the league.

He is coming off another highly productive campaign where he finished third in the league with 1,291 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns and a career-best 85 catches for 655 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. His 85 receptions are the most by a running back in a single season in team history. Meanwhile, his 1,946 total scrimmage yards were second in the NFL and the third most in a single season in franchise history.

Bell is a complete package running back that has proven to be just as dangerous a receiving option out of the backfield as to being a pure runner. This designation could be just a temporary move in order to provide the front office more time to work out a new deal for their star running back. In the meantime, Bell is out of the mix from the free agency picture.