The Pittsburgh Steelers and Le’Veon Bell were unable to reach an agreement before the July 17 deadline, meaning Bell will play the 2017 season under the franchise tag.
Normally, handing someone $12.12 million for a single season is a clear sign that you want them to stick around. Offering him a reportedly $12 million a year for a long-term deal is an even bigger indication. But depending on how Le’Veon Bell and his rookie backup play this season, the need to get a long-term deal done may be less significant next offseason.
Now, saying that Steelers rookie, James Conner, is going to be good enough in his rookie year to consider not signing Bell is a little absurd. Bell is arguably the best running back in the NFL, and even if Conner has a phenomenal season, he’s not going to be on Bell’s level for years.
This could affect Pittsburgh’s willingness to negotiate to the platform Bell wants, though. After reportingly offering the running back $12 million a year annually, and still being turned down, it’s easy to say that it isn’t the Steelers who are being unreasonable, but Bell himself.
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Player’s attitudes cost them more than they help them in this league. History has shown that just because you think you deserve insane amounts of money, guarantees, and bonuses, doesn’t mean you actually do. And in Pittsburgh, there eventually comes a time where they move on from someone who isn’t willing to compromise as much as they are.
This doesn’t mean Bell is now a primadonna and has become less valuable in Pittsburgh. He’s still the 2016 team MVP, likely the NFL’s leading rusher in 2017, and could be the most talented player on the team.
The problem is that Pittsburgh only has over $31 million in salary cap space next offseason, and names like Alejandro Villanueva, Stephon Tuitt, Ross Cockrell, Eli Rogers, and a ton of others to resign. Plus, Bell’s franchise tag in 2018 would be around $14 million, and no one knows if he’s going to be comfortable pushing out another year and making over $26 million in two seasons.
This is where Conner comes into play. If Bell isn’t willing to accept a reasonable offer next offseason, plays through the tag again in 2018, and Conner shows he’s a force for two seasons, Pittsburgh could give the job to the younger back.
At that time, Bell will be 28-years-old, heading towards the latter part of his career, and will have a young and exciting back behind him. Add the fact that Conner is already a hometown hero, and you create a situation that does not play out well for Bell.
This is all hypothetical thinking, but a very realistic situation. 2017 means a lot on the future of Bell and the Steelers, but how next offseason, James Conner’s performance, and the 2018 season play out could be a significant factor in the future of the Steelers’ backfield.
Even if everyone wants Bell in Pittsburgh until he retires, sometimes you need to make the smart business decision. If Bell wants to believe he doesn’t need to compromise, then chances are he’s not going to feel any different next offseason.
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With even less salary room in 2018, Pittsburgh is going to have to start thinking of other options. Depending on how Conner plays this season, he could be the deciding factor in the Steelers efforts to bring back their All-Pro running back.