Derwin James

[steelz09]

I would trade Bell to move up for Barkley or James at this point. I might even throw in Martavis Bryant to make the trade happen.

Obviously, Bell can't be traded right now since he didn't sign the tag but I'm just saying....

The Steelers aren't going to budge on their Bell offer. Either he accepts the deal already offered or you can bet that he's gone after this year. I also think Bryant is gone after this year.

[Shawn]

sometimes I wonder if Bell's threats were hollow. Did he want to get tagged all along?

"don't tag me bro"

he gets 14.5 and doesn't have to report until the last minute like last year.

Honestly, I have thought of this...check this out. You know you have maybe until 30 to collect. Why not gamble on yourself with franchise tags...big money. Two years. You are set even even with injury. But, if you come out 26 million richer and still at the peak of your career and can sign a long term deal with a hungry franchise...you end up playing it like a genius. Bell might be the best negotiator of our times.

[feltdizz]

Honestly, I have thought of this...check this out. You know you have maybe until 30 to collect. Why not gamble on yourself with franchise tags...big money. Two years. You are set even even with injury. But, if you come out 26 million richer and still at the peak of your career and can sign a long term deal with a hungry franchise...you end up playing it like a genius. Bell might be the best negotiator of our times.

yes, while he doesn't have a long term deal he is being paid a nice sum of money to play RB. He is only 26. I know folks want to use the RB stats against him but I think he has 3 to 5 good years left in him.

[Captain Lemming]

sometimes I wonder if Bell's threats were hollow. Did he want to get tagged all along?

"don't tag me bro"

he gets 14.5 and doesn't have to report until the last minute like last year.

Like Shawn I too wonder this possibility Dizz.

While I don't think what I'm gonna propose is true, I would straight retire after the tag season and walk from the game loaded for life at 27.

[Captain Lemming]

yes, while he doesn't have a long term deal he is being paid a nice sum of money to play RB. He is only 26. I know folks want to use the RB stats against him but I think he has 3 to 5 good years left in him.

Only downside is if he gets seriously hurt or his game falls off a cliff.

Other than that, he will make more money if he puts up the numbers. But it is a real risk.

The drop in ypc is troubling, but he ended strong so I think that was more early season rust for not practicing.

Stupid teams will fight to overpay him. Numbers might work better for a team with small QB costs as I said in another thread.

But a healthy productive Bell will get paid. Again betting on himself.

[Steel Maniac]

With the 28th pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select. .................Darius Guice, runningback from the University of LSU.

[Northern_Blitz]

Honestly, I have thought of this...check this out. You know you have maybe until 30 to collect. Why not gamble on yourself with franchise tags...big money. Two years. You are set even even with injury. But, if you come out 26 million richer and still at the peak of your career and can sign a long term deal with a hungry franchise...you end up playing it like a genius. Bell might be the best negotiator of our times.

I think that this is the smartest path if you're a good enough player (and Bell is).

Didn't Revis do something similar? Play on a series of short contracts, then take a long one when he started to get worse?

[RuthlessBurgher]

Honestly, I have thought of this...check this out. You know you have maybe until 30 to collect. Why not gamble on yourself with franchise tags...big money. Two years. You are set even even with injury. But, if you come out 26 million richer and still at the peak of your career and can sign a long term deal with a hungry franchise...you end up playing it like a genius. Bell might be the best negotiator of our times.

No, that would be Kirk Cousins. He used this exact strategy, only the franchise tag numbers for a QB were $19.96M in 2016, then $23.94M in 2017, and then he signed a 3 year, $84M fully guaranteed contract, And unlike Bell, who at least holds the record for most yards from scrimmage per game in NFL history, Cousins cannot claim that he is the best QB in any way, shape, or form.

[Northern_Blitz]

Like Shawn I too wonder this possibility Dizz.

While I don't think what I'm gonna propose is true, I would straight retire after the tag season and walk from the game loaded for life at 27.

I posted a while ago that I would think it would make sense if Bell's threats to retire are legit. After seeing what Shazier is going through, Bell might realize that he's got more than enough in the bank. Even if he's blown everything and blows like 80% of his after tax income this year, he'd be set for life.

[RuthlessBurgher]

It's kinda odd how this thread was intended to be about what it might take to trade up for safety Derwin James...

[Steel Maniac]

Yeah..don't we have enough Bell threads?

[RuthlessBurgher]

Oh, and the fact that Kirk Cousins and Le'Veon Bell were teammates at Michigan State once upon a time doesn't exactly help. I'm sure Bell has been getting advice from his former college QB about the strategy of playing on the tag twice then hitting unrestricted free agency in your prime.

[fordfixer]

Only downside is if he gets seriously hurt or his game falls off a cliff.

Other than that, he will make more money if he puts up the numbers. But it is a real risk.

The drop in ypc is troubling, but he ended strong so I think that was more early season rust for not practicing.

Stupid teams will fight to overpay him. Numbers might work better for a team with small QB costs as I said in another thread.

But a healthy productive Bell will get paid. Again betting on himself.

on the up side even if he gets injured, he will still be able to fall back on his career as a Rapper.

[Captain Lemming]

Yeah..don't we have enough Bell threads?

You can NEVER have "enough" cowBELL

[feltdizz]

I think that this is the smartest path if you're a good enough player (and Bell is).

Didn't Revis do something similar? Play on a series of short contracts, then take a long one when he started to get worse?

yes. Sean Gilbert is Revis’ uncle and also his agent.

If you know anything about Sean Gilbert, he forced the NFL to have an all day hearing over being tagged twice.