Le'Veon Bell

[Northern_Blitz]

Le’Veon Bell Claims Steelers Had Interest In Trading For Him

By Alex Kozora
Posted on October 31, 2019

Le’Veon Bell made a pretty surprising claim today, saying the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of several teams inquiring about him prior to this week’s trade deadline.

He appeared on Sirius Radio’s 17 Weeks, a podcast hosted by Jalen Ramsey, Cole Beasley, and Bell, to talk about trade rumors that swirled about. He confirmed the rumors were true and rattled off the teams who came calling.

“I found out through my agent he had talked to the Jets and there were teams like Houston, the Packers, the Kansas City Chiefs,” Bell said. “And surprisingly the Steelers were all in the mix in trying to trade for me.”

If the link to the podcast doesn’t work, you can hear the comments via FS1’s Speak For Yourself, at about the one minute mark.

It’s unknown how close the Steelers were to doing a deal and ultimately, Bell remained a Jet.

Bell has struggled in New York this season running behind a patchwork offensive line, a revolving door at quarterback, and an offense that’s struggled to get him the football. Signing Bell to a long-term deal reportedly wasn’t head coach Adam Gase’s idea. That was driven by then GM Mike Maccagnan who was fired by the team on May 15th, two months after Bell inked his four year, $52 million deal.

Pittsburgh never wanted to lose Bell. The only reason why he left was to seek a top-market deal and structure that would be more player-friendly than what the Steelers traditionally offer. With him receiving less money on the market, and any guaranteed money in a trade counting against the Jets, not the acquiring team, it makes sense the Steelers would still have some level of interest.

Chalk it up to another attempt of Kevin Colbert being aggressive. This year, he’s already traded up for Devin Bush and sent next year’s first rounder for Minkah Fitzpatrick. How close was he on getting Bell back in black and gold? We’ll probably never know though it’s fair to assume the Steelers had less draft capital to work with than the other teams Bell mentioned in the podcast.

And if the Jets do ultimately trade Bell, which seems likely to happen at some point in the relative near future? Pittsburgh might come calling again.

https://steelersdepot.com/2019/10/le...ading-for-him/

It kind of makes some sense since he signed for less than we offered.

But I would have thought we'd consider that ship sailed

[hawaiiansteel]

Le’Veon Bell on trade talk: I didn’t take offense, I understand the business

Posted by Michael David Smith on October 31, 2019

Jamal Adams and Le'Veon Bell were the highest-profile Jets players whose names surfaced before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Adams was furious that the Jets would even consider trading him, but Bell said he understood.

Bell told reporters today that young players like Adams sometimes take things personally that older players like himself realize are just business.

“If I was a 24-year-old, I probably would have felt the same way,” Bell said. “But as a guy who went through free agency and had to sit out a whole year, I understand the way the NFL does business. I understand the whole business aspect of it. So I didn’t take offense to it.”

Bell added that he does not think General Manager Joe Douglas went behind his back to talk about trading him, an allegation that Adams made.

The reality is, Bell is right: Every player could be traded for a good enough offer, and if Adams doesn’t realize that, that just shows that Bell knows the business better than Adams does.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/10/31/leveon-bell-on-trade-talk-i-didnt-take-offense-i-understand-the-business/

[Moonie]

It must be true. There's no way a guy like Bell would ever lie about something like this.

[SteelBucks]

It kind of makes some sense since he signed for less than we offered.

But I would have thought we'd consider that ship sailed

Would be getting him back on the cheap.

[Disco1981]

It must be true. There's no way a guy like Bell would ever lie about something like this.

He's so full of ****...We have Conner and Samuels still on the cheap, no cap room, no draft capital...Oh, And all the **** he talked on his way out of town...I will give Tomlin some props for keeping Bell and Chestio in check for as long as he did...2 of the biggest Clowns in the league

[Steel Maniac]

I won’t believe it until Colbert confirms it.

[ikestops85]

I don't believe it either (see SM, we can agree on some things) but I don't see him as a clown either. Bell knows the system and he felt he was worth more than the Steelers were willing to pay. I don't recall him trashing the Steelers like #84 did. He handled it like a business decision. Sure the rap songs were a little over the top but so what. I have no ill feelings toward Bell. I think he is a great talent but we obviously don't have the cap room for him to rejoin us.

[NorthCoast]

Bell didn't conduct himself in a professional manner during negotiations.

My, how some have such short memories... or maybe selective.

[SteelBucks]

Bell burned every bridge out of Pittsburgh. Good bye and good riddance.

[Moonie]

Bell took some childish cheap shots on the way out - channeling Brown. And the whole bit with showing up in Pittsburgh and then leaving was wrong too. He’s not as lousy a human being as Brown, but who is? Bell is still a jagoff, and I enjoy seeing him and the Jets flounder in swill of their own brew.

[whatever]

I won’t believe it until Colbert confirms it.

Agreed.
I call BS all the way.
The move didn't make sense on so many levels.

[ikestops85]

Bell didn't conduct himself in a professional manner during negotiations.

My, how some have such short memories... or maybe selective.

Well, it's true my memory is going. I just don't remember being pi$$ed off at him like I was at Brown. Of course I could be wrong.

[NJ-STEELER]

actually we offered bell more money and a chance at a ring but he's a dumbass who thought he was gonna break the bank

and also likely he lost his shot at the hall of fame unless he and the jets offense turn it around

[Captain Lemming]

Agreed.
I call BS all the way.
The move didn't make sense on so many levels.

Doesnt make sense TO ME either.
But they tried their hardest to sign him for LESS than we'd owe now AND we are suddenly thin at the position.

I'd hate the move but it would not shock me one bit if Colbert expressed interest.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Bell burned every bridge out of Pittsburgh. Good bye and good riddance.

I don't think he burned any bridge. Business is business. AB is the one that burned his bridges.