Report: Bell will

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I wonder if the Steelers were surprised by the Gurley and Johnson deals?

I think the FO knows what Bell means to this offense and it could be interesting when it comes to Ben’s extension. Do you pay Bell and go with the young QB’s?

I don't think that the Steelers were surprised by those signings, as a matter of fact (depending on what numbers you listen to) the Steelers offer would have been in line with them.

Gurley should have a higher value than Bell. He is two years younger, no injury history, no suspension history, less wear on the tires.

Gurley contract: 4 yr extension, AAV - $14.375M, SB $21M, Guar $45M

Johnson same age, less wear, just missed a full season due to injury, dual threat, no suspension.

Johnson contract: 3 yr extension, AAV $12.7M, SB $12M, Guar. $31.8M

Bell 26y.o. same as Johnson, lengthier injury history, more wear on tires, dual threat, suspensions.

The difference is that while contract numbers are public, negotiations are not.

Bell contract offer seems that everyone agrees 5 yr, AAV $14M. The unknown is the SB/guaranteed numbers. It's been reported guaranteed $10M. That seems highly unlikely as that would be inconsistent with every other negotiation they ever undertake. Maybe that was the SB, but I can't see it being the guaranteed offer. I've also heard guaranteed somewhere around $38M. Let's say that the guaranteed was somewhere in between - $24M. Is that a ridiculous offer in light of the other two? I wouldn't say that. It might be slightly lower, but the Gurley offer reset the RB market (something Bell was hoping to do. Gurley just beat him to it. I also believe that it is perfectly reasonable for Gurley at 24 to be guaranteed that much more over 5 years than Bell at 26.

[Real Deal Steel]

Seems to be some confusion

There were two offers to Bell. One in 2017 and one earlier this year just before the deadline.

He should have taken the one in 2017. That was the one his agent told him to take.

[feltdizz]

Last number I heard was 17 mill guaranteed for the first 2 years.

The Steelers don’t guarantee past the second year unless ta the QB. This is the reason Be didn’t sign those contracts.

Trust me, Gurley and Johnson are happy he didn’t reset the market with a 2 year guaranteed contract.

and an agent is always going to
want their client to sign an offer with big numbers because they get paid off those numbers regardess if he never receives all of it.

The agent works for Bell.. not the other way around.

[Slapstick]

Hmm... while I know we still lose games with Bell in the backfield I tend to lean towards our offense being better than 3 scoreless halves and 47 yards
vs the Rats.

It comes across like you believe Bell doesn’t have much of an impact on our offense.

If they abandon the run game, then yes, his impact is lessened considerably...

If the defense allows 6 passing TDs or even just two TDs in a period of six minutes, Bell is sitting on the sideline when that happens...

If Ben throws multiple INTs, Bell doesn’t help that, either...

Bell is a great player, but he’s a running back...

[pittpete]

This team is better with Bell than without.
Hopefully the team doesnt hold any hard feelings and we get back to winning football games.
Thats more important than anyones feelings

[K Train]

Last number I heard was 17 mill guaranteed for the first 2 years.

The Steelers don’t guarantee past the second year unless ta the QB. This is the reason Be didn’t sign those contracts.
.

The steelers are just better at protecting themselves this way

not like they get through the guaranteed portions and dump a player, they do restructure a lot and convert salary into bonus but they are very true to their deals as long as a player is performing, its not like they have a bad wrap for not taking care of their guys i would argue just the opposite

[feltdizz]

The steelers are just better at protecting themselves this way

not like they get through the guaranteed portions and dump a player, they do restructure a lot and convert salary into bonus but they are very true to their deals as long as a player is performing, its not like they have a bad wrap for not taking care of their guys i would argue just the opposite

I know it’s how we protect ourselves but it’s also how Bell protects himself as a player who has waited 6 years to test the market.

I get both sides sides but I think players aren’t going for the small guaranteed anymore, especially not elite RB’s.

I really think Kirk Cousins got in Bells ear about the real money vs the inflated contracts that rarely get honored towards the end.

Bell isnt 23. He is 26. This is his 1 chance to get a big payday.

[Slapstick]

Bell had chances to get a big payday...but he smoked it away or missed a drug test...

[feltdizz]

If they abandon the run game, then yes, his impact is lessened considerably...

If the defense allows 6 passing TDs or even just two TDs in a period of six minutes, Bell is sitting on the sideline when that happens...

If Ben throws multiple INTs, Bell doesn’t help that, either...

Bell is a great player, but he’s a running back...

Sometimes the best defense is long drives on offense.

[flippy]

If they abandon the run game, then yes, his impact is lessened considerably...

If the defense allows 6 passing TDs or even just two TDs in a period of six minutes, Bell is sitting on the sideline when that happens...

If Ben throws multiple INTs, Bell doesn’t help that, either...

Bell is a great player, but he’s a running back...

I was thinking about this and thinking, Bell and his agent should just start calling him a WR and saying he doesn't want to play RB. He can run any route and technically should be one of the top WRs that no one can defend.

[Slapstick]

Sometimes the best defense is long drives on offense.

Yep! And abandoning the run game along with off target passes kill those drives...

[Northern_Blitz]

Compared to Bell’s first four games last year, Conner has done what Bell did...

Either our offense turns the ball over six times or our defense puts us in a multiple TD hole...

Bell won’t stop that...

Maybe the first three but not the first 4.

Bell was basically unstoppable last year in week 4 against the rats.

[Northern_Blitz]

If they abandon the run game, then yes, his impact is lessened considerably...

If the defense allows 6 passing TDs or even just two TDs in a period of six minutes, Bell is sitting on the sideline when that happens...

If Ben throws multiple INTs, Bell doesn’t help that, either...

Bell is a great player, but he’s a running back...

Not sure your theory fits the data.

Both games against the Jags last year were games where we had turnovers early and got down big quickly. And the were against a team with a great D.

In the first game Bell had 93 total yards.

In the second, he had 155 yards and 2 TDs.

I don't see how you can reasonably think that having Bell in the field wouldn't make the O better... Or that he's not significantly better than Conner (who's doing better than I thought he would, but like Watt only really played well against Cle)

[Mr.wizard]

Not to mention the threat that Bell brings, I like Conner but you would have never seen the Ravens stay in a 2-deep look if Bell were in the backfield.

[Slapstick]

Not to mention the threat that Bell brings, I like Conner but you would have never seen the Ravens stay in a 2-deep look if Bell were in the backfield.

We saw the two deep look quite often in the first half of last year, with Le’Veon Bell, until Ben started playing better...