Bell could sit out next year

[Ernie]

I like Bell. But, the Steelers didn’t set the market for RBs. They almost did, but Bell thought their offer wasn’t good enough.

Fine.

Let another team set a new high bar for RBs.

Thank you....

[Northern_Blitz]

Draft BA-RB and be done with it.
Use some of that 14 mil saved to pursue the best free agent inside linebacker available.

I'd agree with Lemming that the team might be better with an above average RB (or RB tandem) and an elite ILB (maybe even a CB or Safety)

Bell is an elite player, but I don't think it's worth giving him a long term contract where he earns more than 2x what the 2nd best back makes in a salary cap league. I'd tag him again next year (depending on options), then let him walk and take the 3rd round comp pick. Especially when RB is the easiest position for a young player to come in an play well.

It's worth remembering that DeAngelo was also leading the league in rushing for the weeks he replaced Bell over the years. If we put a competent player at RB, they will likely give us above average production. I think that the biggest drop off with Bell's ability to catch out of the back field, but hopefully JuJu can pick some of that up and we can figure out a better option at TE.

[feltdizz]

You said he was a "Top 3 back". Does that mean he's not "Levels above" the others? If not, how do you warrant paying him damned near double what the other guys are getting? You are one of those guys who typically puts the "Team" ahead of individual players. Don't let your emotions cloud your judgment on this one dizz.

Don’t get caught up in semantics. Bell is the best RB in the league.

I actually think you guys are more emotional about this than I am. Most folks didn’t think we would offer Bell the contract he turned down. I truly believe some of you are living in the past when it comes to Bells value to our team. I don’t think Bell and the Steelers are that far apart as most think. It’s aboht the guaranteed years being spread out. If they can find a balance I think he signs a long term deal next year with us.

A lot of ou guys wanted Conner to get more touches and he was injured after 40 touches yet folks act like Bell is close to the back side of his career after another stellar season. I like Conner but this idea that we can go out and find another RB duo next year is insane. For every Kamara and Hunt there are far more RB’s drafted who didn’t pan out.

[flippy]

45 guys in the NFL average $14M+ in salaries. Only 10 of those guys are in the playoffs.

Of non QBs only Calais Campbell, Fletcher Cox, Malik Jackson, AB, and Julio Jones are in the over $14M average salary category and still in the playoffs.

No RBs are close to those salaries. A RB would have to truly be special to earn this kind of money. Is Leveon that special?

He's a great player, but if we're honestly comparing him to other RBs, his best season was this season in terms of TDs. He had 11 TDs.

Over 5 years, Bell has hit pay dirt, 42 times averaging just over 8 TDs/season. Now he's been hurt in there, but it's still a fair average cause we pay him whether he's on the field or injured. Plus he has been suspended which hurts the team too.

By comparison, if we look at top RBs in terms of TD production, consider the following seasons:

LT - 31 TDs in 06
Alexander - 28 TDs in 05
Holmes - 27 TDs in 03
Faulk - 26 TDs in 00

There are 14 guys that have doubled Bell's TD production in league history. So in that context, does Bell warrant a monster contract? I'd say no. I'd say the Steelers were out of their mind and overly generous @ $14M/yr.

RBs are a dime a dozen. Heck Stevan Ridley had a season with 12 TDs in NE and he's come in and averaged more YPC than Bell this season in a limited role.

I'd rather go into 2018 with Ridley for a tiny contract + draft someone and have $14M to spend on a top CB or DL.

[Ernie]

Don’t get caught up in semantics. Bell is the best RB in the league.

I actually think you guys are more emotional about this than I am. Most folks didn’t think we would offer Bell the contract he turned down. I truly believe some of you are living in the past when it comes to Bells value to our team. I don’t think Bell and the Steelers are that far apart as most think. It’s aboht the guaranteed years being spread out. If they can find a balance I think he signs a long term deal next year with us.

Not much "Emotion" in being willing to let a guy go lol.

I'd like to see him retained though. What would you be willing to pay to retain his services?

[feltdizz]

I'd agree with Lemming that the team might be better with an above average RB (or RB tandem) and an elite ILB (maybe even a CB or Safety)

Bell is an elite player, but I don't think it's worth giving him a long term contract where he earns more than 2x what the 2nd best back makes in a salary cap league. I'd tag him again next year (depending on options), then let him walk and take the 3rd round comp pick. Especially when RB is the easiest position for a young player to come in an play well.

It's worth remembering that DeAngelo was also leading the league in rushing for the weeks he replaced Bell over the years. If we put a competent player at RB, they will likely give us above average production. I think that the biggest drop off with Bell's ability to catch out of the back field, but hopefully JuJu can pick some of that up and we can figure out a better option at TE.

DeAngelo was a very good RB. While folks say it’s easy to find RB’s it’s not easy to find RB’s who can protect Ben, catch out of the backfield and move the chains consistently.

I will add, do we really want to take a chance on putting all the responsibility on Ben to make this offense go at this point in his career? I think we lose at least 3 or more games without Bell last year.

He is a huge reason why our offense is so productive. It’s extremely hard to replace 80 receptions.

[feltdizz]

Not much "Emotion" in being willing to let a guy go lol.

I'd like to see him retained though. What would you be willing to pay to retain his services?

pretty much the same amount as he was offered but spread the guaranteed money over a few more years instead of front loading the deal. I really think it’s not the amount as much as it is the protection of the guaranteed money.

I would be fine with 14 mill per year on paper.

and yes, it’s just as emotional to want us to let a guy walk who is responsible for 40% of our offense because he wants to be paid like someone who is responsible for 40% of our O.

I don’t thing we our better without him. Folks talk about replacing Bell like it’s easy because people say RB is the easiest position to replace but that isn’t true at all. Sure you can find a guy who can take a handoff but that doesn’t mean he can make people miss, find holes that aren’t there and pick up blitzes or block LB’s.

[Ernie]

pretty much the same amount as he was offered but spread the guaranteed money over a few more years instead of front loading the deal. I really think it’s not the amount as much as it is the protection of the guaranteed money.

I would be fine with 14 mill per year on paper.

and yes, it’s just as emotional to want us to let a guy walk who is responsible for 40% of our offense because he wants to be paid like someone who is responsible for 40% of our O.

I don’t thing we our better without him.

You're gonna lose him at your offer... cuz "Im'a gonna get 15".

[feltdizz]

You're gonna lose him at your offer... cuz "Im'a gonna get 15".

We shall see. I hope we don’t lose him.

[Ernie]

We shall see. I hope we don’t lose him.

Nobody "Wants" to see him go. Let's go get #7 with LB, and worry about the off season later.

[Slapstick]

The Steelers generally do not guarantee money past the signing bonus and the first year. There is a reason for this.

Bell wants to be protected in his contract. The Steelers want to be protected from Bell’s contract. I’m not sure a compromise can be reached if Bell wants something that is 100% against the Steelers’ business model and salary structure.

And, if not, then allow him to negotiate with other teams. If he finds a team willing to give him what he wants, then more power to him and I wish him nothing but success in his career (except when he plays the Steelers). But, and this is also likely, he may not find a team willing to do that. That might be a reality check for him...

[Ernie]

45 guys in the NFL average $14M+ in salaries. Only 10 of those guys are in the playoffs.

Of non QBs only Calais Campbell, Fletcher Cox, Malik Jackson, AB, and Julio Jones are in the over $14M average salary category and still in the playoffs.

No RBs are close to those salaries. A RB would have to truly be special to earn this kind of money. Is Leveon that special?

He's a great player, but if we're honestly comparing him to other RBs, his best season was this season in terms of TDs. He had 11 TDs.

Over 5 years, Bell has hit pay dirt, 42 times averaging just over 8 TDs/season. Now he's been hurt in there, but it's still a fair average cause we pay him whether he's on the field or injured. Plus he has been suspended which hurts the team too.

By comparison, if we look at top RBs in terms of TD production, consider the following seasons:

LT - 31 TDs in 06
Alexander - 28 TDs in 05
Holmes - 27 TDs in 03
Faulk - 26 TDs in 00

There are 14 guys that have doubled Bell's TD production in league history. So in that context, does Bell warrant a monster contract? I'd say no. I'd say the Steelers were out of their mind and overly generous @ $14M/yr.

RBs are a dime a dozen. Heck Stevan Ridley had a season with 12 TDs in NE and he's come in and averaged more YPC than Bell this season in a limited role.

I'd rather go into 2018 with Ridley for a tiny contract + draft someone and have $14M to spend on a top CB or DL.

Don't forget J. Conner. He should factor into the future RB equation. I really like the 2RB model.

[Shoe]

If Bell were to "retire" or walk, the Steelers can feel good about their negotiations. It isn't like they low-balled the guy. They offered to make him the highest paid RB in the league, and not by a nominal, $1 more... by around 33%!

And I don't know why he is complaining about 400 touches, when he is the one asking for it and saying he feels great.

[feltdizz]

45 guys in the NFL average $14M+ in salaries. Only 10 of those guys are in the playoffs.

Of non QBs only Calais Campbell, Fletcher Cox, Malik Jackson, AB, and Julio Jones are in the over $14M average salary category and still in the playoffs.

No RBs are close to those salaries. A RB would have to truly be special to earn this kind of money. Is Leveon that special?

He's a great player, but if we're honestly comparing him to other RBs, his best season was this season in terms of TDs. He had 11 TDs.

Over 5 years, Bell has hit pay dirt, 42 times averaging just over 8 TDs/season. Now he's been hurt in there, but it's still a fair average cause we pay him whether he's on the field or injured. Plus he has been suspended which hurts the team too.

By comparison, if we look at top RBs in terms of TD production, consider the following seasons:

LT - 31 TDs in 06
Alexander - 28 TDs in 05
Holmes - 27 TDs in 03
Faulk - 26 TDs in 00

There are 14 guys that have doubled Bell's TD production in league history. So in that context, does Bell warrant a monster contract? I'd say no. I'd say the Steelers were out of their mind and overly generous @ $14M/yr.

RBs are a dime a dozen. Heck Stevan Ridley had a season with 12 TDs in NE and he's come in and averaged more YPC than Bell this season in a limited role.

I'd rather go into 2018 with Ridley for a tiny contract + draft someone and have $14M to spend on a top CB or DL.

TD’s are a terrible metric for RB’s. Blount had 18 TD’s last year as a Patriot. Most of them were due to GL runs after Brady marched them down the field.

I think the game tape, yard per game is a much better metric when it comes to Bells contributions to the team.

Some great RB’s on that list tho.

and arenwe really going to ise Ridleys YPC in 1 or 2 games this year? That’s a terrible way of analyzing data.

[squidkid]

i hope he blows out an acl on the last play of the super bowl after crossing the goal line to win it