Does Bell Really Want a Long Term Deal?

[Oviedo]

Put this in another thread but maybe worth its own discussion

I'm actually beginning to wonder if Bell really wants a long term contract. He obviously has interests outside of football and will have made about $30M before he is 30 years old. That is generational money no matter who you are.

I would not be shocked if Bell tests free agency next year and doesn't get near what he hopes he will and then decides to retire. If you look at the big picture and get over the football obsession as a fan, it is probably a good play on Bell's part. He leaves healthy and rich.

[hawaiiansteel]

he does, just with a lot of guaranteed money.

[Iron City Inc.]

KDKA stated he was offered 15 mil per but I'm not sure how many years or how much was guaranteed but that is a boat load of $$$.
He would have reset the market for rb's.

[feltdizz]

I'm sure he does...

hawaiiansteel summed it up perfectly

[Northern_Blitz]

My guess is yes. But who knows. He may try to follow the Revis model when you try to string together a bunch of 1 year deals while you're an elite player and only go for longer term when you start to decline. My guess is that is the best way to optimize lifetime earnings (as long as you don't get severely injured) because your deal keeps going up at the rate of the inflation of the cap.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Bell will be with a team that gives him the most up front money. That will ensure that he can be with a team at least 3 or 4 seasons before they can cut him without doing significant damage to the team's cap.

People also need to keep in mind that the next CBA is only a few years away. There might be a long strike or hold out if an agreement isn't reached. This is probably another factor in Bell's decision to get as much money as possible now.

[NorthCoast]

Bell will be with a team that gives him the most up front money. That will ensure that he can be with a team at least 3 or 4 seasons before they can cut him without doing significant damage to the team's cap.

People also need to keep in mind that the next CBA is only a few years away. There might be a long strike or hold out if an agreement isn't reached. This is probably another factor in Bell's decision to get as much money as possible now.

That negotiation will be VERY interesting for both sides. The decline in NFL attendance could accelerate with a long hold out, players wanting guaranteed $$$, fewer games, something's gotta give.

[hawaiiansteel]

That negotiation will be VERY interesting for both sides. The decline in NFL attendance could accelerate with a long hold out, players wanting guaranteed $$$, fewer games, something's gotta give.

what the players are really going to want is reduced power for Roger Goodell.

[Northern_Blitz]

Bell will be with a team that gives him the most up front money. That will ensure that he can be with a team at least 3 or 4 seasons before they can cut him without doing significant damage to the team's cap.

People also need to keep in mind that the next CBA is only a few years away. There might be a long strike or hold out if an agreement isn't reached. This is probably another factor in Bell's decision to get as much money as possible now.

I hadn't thought of that. The NHL will probably have another work stoppage (because they lock them out every time) and I think that Betman has advised teams not to give out guaranteed money

[feltdizz]

That negotiation will be VERY interesting for both sides. The decline in NFL attendance could accelerate with a long hold out, players wanting guaranteed $$$, fewer games, something's gotta give.

On the radio today they made a good point. MLS attendance is better than most NHL teams and probably half of the NBA.. but soccer doesn’t translate well when it comes to TV and the ratings are horrible.

The TV ratings are the driving force and the NFL keeps signing mega deals. Even though ratings were down 10% last year the NFL still had 20 of the 30 highest rated prime time shows last year.

NFL makes 7 BILLION a year off their TV deals.

ESPN is losing money and chord cutters are the real problem once this deal is up.