The Pittsburgh Steelers are fools not to hand Le’Veon Bell $14 million per year in a long-term contract.
Somehow, someway, the story of Le’Veon Bell has hit complete chaos. It started with people disliking his demands for $17 million. Totally understandable, because frankly, he’s not redefining the running back market by that much money. No one is, right now, because no one is worth it.
$14.5 million a year is understandable, though. It’s a number he should be aiming for, and one the Steelers should be considered. But for some reason, not every agrees that Bell, a running back who nearly touched the ball over 400 times last year, is worth less than his franchise tag.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer, Gerry Dulac, addressed his thoughts on the Bell contract situation, earlier in the week. Like many, he’s probably seen enough of Bell to keep a clear mind when talking about him. That hasn’t stopped most from admitting the running back should be getting paid, though. Not Dulac.
"“Look, running backs like (Ezekiel) Elliott make a young QB like Dak Prescott better,” Dulac wrote. “Todd Gurley makes a young QB like Jared Goff better. Same with Leonard Fournette and Blake Bortles. But Le’Veon Bell does not make Ben Roethlisberger better. Ben and (Antonio Brown) make Bell better, and he wasn’t even ‘better’ last season. I could find 10 RB’s to put back there and the Steelers chances of going to the Super Bowl would be no different.”"
Doesn’t make Ben Roethlisberger better. Apparently, 85 receptions for 655 yards and two touchdowns isn’t productive enough to help his quarterback. Despite having the third most receiving yards on the team, this do-it-all running back wasn’t improving his quarterback, but being improved by him.
Which is true, don’t get it wrong. Roethlisberger certainly makes life easier for Bell, and Antonio Brown drawing so much attention clears room for the running game. There isn’t a question about it. But if you’re going to say Bell isn’t worth $14 million because he’s a superstar on a team with three superstars, you’re not realizing how much farther back this offense is without him.
You lose Le’Veon Bell and then what? If he’s not worth $14 million dollars a year, what is he worth? Or what is a running back in general worth? If Bell isn’t the one improving this team as much as others are improving him, then what running back at what price tag is acceptable to have on this offense?
That’s the issue. Bell makes this team better overall. Without him, the offense loses a portion of their game plan they cannot replace in less than two or three years. Even if James Conner or Jaylen Samuels were the next coming of Adrian Peterosn, you cannot put a new player in the backfield and expect them to be a star in one season. Certainly not at the level Bell plays at.
Whether he’s making Ben better or Ben is making him better, the team overall needs both. It isn’t about whether or not he’s the best player on the team that should decide if he’s worth the money, but rather his value for that team.
Bell makes the Steelers offense who they are. Without him, they have a hole that is irreplaceable for the time being. Therefore, his value to the franchise is worth a reasonable amount for a star running back.
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As the market grows, players will continue to inflate the value of the position. That’ll start with Bell. Not at $17 million, but at $14.5. A number that is more than reasonable. A number that Bell is worth. Whether he’s the best player on the team or not.