Will The Steelers Finalize A Long-Term Contract With Bell Today?

[Slapstick]

Yes or no?

[Steel Maniac]

I doubt it.

[RuthlessBurgher]

If it gets done, I'll predict 4 years, $44 million with $16 million guaranteed.

[Oviedo]

I really think it is a down to the wire coin toss. The Steelers have to be really think hard about this one because it is:

a. A RB...life span in NFL well documented
b. A RB with injury issues
c. A RB with dope issues

That said I hope they sign and Bell is a superstar. As Ben ages we need Bell to be great

[feltdizz]

If it gets done, I'll predict 4 years, $44 million with $16 million guaranteed.

I think the bonus will be higher. I read somewhere that bonus money has to be paid back if a player is suspended. Makes sense to use it as a way to get Bell to stay clean.

[feltdizz]

I really think it is a down to the wire coin toss. The Steelers have to be really think hard about this one because it is:

a. A RB...life span in NFL well documented
b. A RB with injury issues
c. A RB with dope issues

That said I hope they sign and Bell is a superstar. As Ben ages we need Bell to be great

a. What's the span for great RB's?

Just asking ing because I seen this get thrown out a lot but the span for a RB is higher than a QB. I agree about prime years but overall I think the argument is bunk.

[Shawn]

If it gets done, I'll predict 4 years, $44 million with $16 million guaranteed.

I agree that if it gets done it would have to look like that. Bell wouldn't accept less. But, I don't think the Steelers are willing to put that kind of money into Bell without him getting through at least one where he plays 16 games.

[SteelCrazy]

No, it gets done next year if he can stay healthy and trouble free.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I think the bonus will be higher. I read somewhere that bonus money has to be paid back if a player is suspended. Makes sense to use it as a way to get Bell to stay clean.

I picked $16M guaranteed because AB's new deal had only $19M guaranteed included in it, and I don't see the team giving LB more guaranteed money than they just gave AB, when AB has proven to be WAY more reliable than LB.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Contract structure could be major impediment for Le’Veon Bell, Steelers
Posted by Mike Florio on July 17, 2017, 12:09 PM EDT

It’s easy (but hardly cheap) to determine the basic parameters of a long-term deal with the franchise tag as the starting point. In Pittsburgh, it may not be easy to structure it that way for running back Le’Veon Bell.

The Steelers like to pay out all fully-guaranteed money in the first year, with none of the money guaranteed in year two. For example, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger received his full $31 million guarantee in the form of a signing bonus. Ditto for receiver Antonio Brown, who has no guarantees beyond his $19 million signing bonus.

For Bell, the standard franchise-tag formula calls for his $12.1 million franchise tender for 2017 plus a 20-percent raise for 2018 ($14.52 million) to be fully guaranteed at signing. That’s $26.62 million in full guarantees. Given the way the Steelers do business, that means a signing bonus of at least $25 million.

And that may be more than the Steelers are willing to do for a running back. So then the question becomes whether Bell will accept some other structure (for example, $15 million paid out in 2017 and another $11 million or so in injury-only guarantees for next year) or whether he’ll say, “Screw it. I’ll take $12.1 million this year and either a 20-percent raise or a shot at the market next year.”

Both Kirk Cousins and Trumaine Johnson have demonstrated for all players the value of going year to year. For Bell, a year-to-year game of tag for two years gets him to $26.62 million. The question becomes what alternative amount or structure he’d accept to have a longer-term deal in Pittsburgh.

Since the Steelers don’t want to fully guarantee money beyond year one of any long-term deal, what’s the point of any multi-year contract with the team? If any player should be willing to seriously consider going year-to-year, then, it’s a player in Pittsburgh.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/07/17/contract-structure-could-be-major-impediment-for-leveon-bell-steelers/

[Eddie Spaghetti]

just not seeing this deal getting done, hope im wrong as LB is a fantastic player

a screwy RB market combined with LBs issues made this one a tough one to get done

can always rent him for another year at 14 million if you decide to go that way

[Slapstick]

Contract structure could be major impediment for Le’Veon Bell, Steelers
Posted by Mike Florio on July 17, 2017, 12:09 PM EDT

It’s easy (but hardly cheap) to determine the basic parameters of a long-term deal with the franchise tag as the starting point. In Pittsburgh, it may not be easy to structure it that way for running back Le’Veon Bell.

The Steelers like to pay out all fully-guaranteed money in the first year, with none of the money guaranteed in year two. For example, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger received his full $31 million guarantee in the form of a signing bonus. Ditto for receiver Antonio Brown, who has no guarantees beyond his $19 million signing bonus.

For Bell, the standard franchise-tag formula calls for his $12.1 million franchise tender for 2017 plus a 20-percent raise for 2018 ($14.52 million) to be fully guaranteed at signing. That’s $26.62 million in full guarantees. Given the way the Steelers do business, that means a signing bonus of at least $25 million.

And that may be more than the Steelers are willing to do for a running back. So then the question becomes whether Bell will accept some other structure (for example, $15 million paid out in 2017 and another $11 million or so in injury-only guarantees for next year) or whether he’ll say, “Screw it. I’ll take $12.1 million this year and either a 20-percent raise or a shot at the market next year.”

Both Kirk Cousins and Trumaine Johnson have demonstrated for all players the value of going year to year. For Bell, a year-to-year game of tag for two years gets him to $26.62 million. The question becomes what alternative amount or structure he’d accept to have a longer-term deal in Pittsburgh.

Since the Steelers don’t want to fully guarantee money beyond year one of any long-term deal, what’s the point of any multi-year contract with the team? If any player should be willing to seriously consider going year-to-year, then, it’s a player in Pittsburgh.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/07/17/contract-structure-could-be-major-impediment-for-leveon-bell-steelers/

So, $19 million guaranteed in year one is somehow worse than $10 million in year one and $9 million in year two?

I just don't think that's a particularly smart take by Florio...

[RuthlessBurgher]

Jason La Canfora
(@JasonLaCanfora)

Steelers still locked in heavy negotiations w/ Le'Veon Bell. Expect it to go down to the wire. To me, RB would be silly not to do deal now

1 hour ago · Twitter

[RuthlessBurgher]

Jeff Darlington
(@JeffDarlington)

It won’t surprise me if Steelers/Bell get deal done in next 2 hours. In '14, Bell’s agent (Adisa Bakari) did last-hours deal w/ Forte/Bears.

2 hours ago · Twitter

[feltdizz]

It's going down to the wire. I still think it gets done. I hope it gets done!