Changed my thoughts about the Bell contract

[Mr.wizard]

This is true... the RB's get more touches than anybody besides the QB. Most teams do it effectively by committee (and for far less than 15 million a year).

I agree with you, but the teams with Elite guys give them touches because they aren't as dynamic when those guys aren't on the field. So it is hard to lump those guys in with the running back by committee guys when you are talking salary, I don't fault Bell for asking what he's asking for, I think for what he does he is worth every penny. Will the Steelers sign him, I don't know, but If the Steelers can make it happen I sure would rather have Bell than a running back by committee.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

One huge advantage of RB by committee is that one injury won't ruin your season.

[Steel Maniac]

Do they "add rings" to their fingers?
What about the other "dynamic" backs who "set the market" in recent years?

I can think of two.
What happened when Chis Johnson and Adrian Petersen got paid big bucks at the time?

Are Willie Parker and Blount better backs than those guys? No.
AP in particular was a BEAST.
But elite backs arent as crucial to success as other positions.

History proves it.

Elite backs are fools gold people. Pay big bucks to positions that correlate to championships, save elsewhere to pay those positions.

Boom.... because some are enamoured with their man crush more then us getting a ring.

[Steel Maniac]

I don't buy that, besides Ben nobody touches the ball more or accounts for more of our offense than Leveon Bell why would we not want an elite guy in that spot? Your judging Bell because he has an "RB" next to his name on the depth chart and not by what his actual role encompasses.

And when was the last team who won with the highest paid running back?? I rest my case.

[Northern_Blitz]

Boom.... because some are enamoured with their man crush more then us getting a ring.

I think that this mischaracterizes the argument (at least the one I'm making).

I think Bell is going to be worth a huge contract (because that's what the market would pay him).

But, I don't think we should pay it to him (because I think doing so would make it less likely for us to win).

[Steel Maniac]

I no longer believe anyone would give him more then the 14 mil a year we offered. I believe that that is a myth now. Not even the redskins would do that. That’s an assumption. But, we will find out next year for sure.

[feltdizz]

Are folks really suggesting we should assemble the same team as 2008 to win a SB?

Just because we won in 2008 doesn’t mean that roster is the perfect way to win in 2018.

Our OL was trash, Ben was sacked 40+ times... should we trash our OL to win a SB?

The point is to find the best players and assemble a team that gives you the best chance to win.

[Mr.wizard]

And when was the last team who won with the highest paid running back?? I rest my case.

Are you saying you can't win with a high paid running back? I just don't follow, we are talking about paying for an elite player who is making up a huge portion of our offense.

[Ernie]

Are you saying you can't win with a high paid running back? I just don't follow, we are talking about paying for an elite player who is making up a huge portion of our offense.

That's the thing though... Bell doesn't have to get a high number of touches for this team to be successful. There are more than enough weapons on this team to compensate for a decreased "Bell workload". Id love to see us spread the ball around a lot more this year.

[Mr.wizard]

That's the thing though... Bell doesn't have to get a high number of touches for this team to be successful. There are more than enough weapons on this team to compensate for a decreased "Bell workload". Id love to see us spread the ball around a lot more this year.

I don't know if it was by design that Bell gets so many touches, it's just the fact that our downfield passing game is so good, Bell gets a lot of great matchups with the linebackers so he is targeted a lot by Ben. Also with safeties having to stay out of the box it opens up opportunities for the run, so Ben could possibly be checking to a run play.

[Ernie]

I don't know if it was by design that Bell gets so many touches, it's just the fact that our downfield passing game is so good, Bell gets a lot of great matchups with the linebackers so he is targeted a lot by Ben. Also with safeties having to stay out of the box it opens up opportunities for the run, so Ben could possibly be checking to a run play.

That is undoubtedly part of it...

Some of Bell's touches are straight up "Over-kill" though. He had 36 combined in our win over Cleveland a year or so ago.

[Slapstick]

Are you saying you can't win with a high paid running back? I just don't follow, we are talking about paying for an elite player who is making up a huge portion of our offense.

This is true...however, the issue is this:

Is paying one elite player at that position on offense the best use of resources?

Because, if two average to above-average players can produce in a similar fashion for much less money, then it allows for more spending on other, more impactful positions...

[Steel Maniac]

This is true...however, the issue is this:

Is paying one elite player at that position on offense the best use of resources?

Because, if two average to above-average players can produce in a similar fashion for much less money, then it allows for more spending on other, more impactful positions...

Boom....................

[Ernie]

This is true...however, the issue is this:

Is paying one elite player at that position on offense the best use of resources?

Because, if two average to above-average players can produce in a similar fashion for much less money, then it allows for more spending on other, more impactful positions...

"Boom" x 2...

and this should be the post that puts this thread to bed lol

[steelz09]

This is true...however, the issue is this:

Is paying one elite player at that position on offense the best use of resources?

Because, if two average to above-average players can produce in a similar fashion for much less money, then it allows for more spending on other, more impactful positions...

.....

BOOMx3