OT: Steelers line turning on Le'Veon Bell

RobertWeathers · Sep 8, 2018

Peachhead said:
Connor is much more the style of a big bruising old-school Steeler RB than Bell is. Bell is gonna Wally Pipp himself.

I agree. If Connor is giving them what they need on the ground then that is a distinct possibility.

From what I can tell, the Squealers 2019 cap outlook isn't that rosey either.

As good as Bell is, his attitude sucks and if they give him a long term deal it'll force them to make drastic decisions on other players as they only have ~30 or so players under contract in 2019.

From a Patriots PoV, Bell signing a long term deal is in our best interest.

Patriot Missile · Sep 8, 2018

I dont blame either side for this scenario. Can see Bell’s side of it. I’m not going to pretend to know what it’s like to have 15 million thrown in my face and just sign the deal because its the most money I’ve ever seen in my life. He wants to max out his time and effort in the NFL and he’s not the only player that does it. He’s 26 or 27 and historically has until he ‘s 30 to be productive in this league. Why risk 3 or 4 years pay vs 1 if you have a career ending injury on a 1 year deal?

Definitely see the Steelers side if it as well. If they think they can be close or as effective with another rb then why pay? Loyalty? Not much of that nowadays.

Mack Herron · Sep 8, 2018

AlexB · Sep 8, 2018

Theoretically, if Bell reported, but refused to play more than a certain number of snaps or get more than a certain number of carries to limit "wear and tear", is there anything Steelers could do? I think they'd still be obligated to pay his franchise tag salary

supafly · Sep 8, 2018

AlexB said:
Theoretically, if Bell reported, but refused to play more than a certain number of snaps or get more than a certain number of carries to limit "wear and tear", is there anything Steelers could do? I think they'd still be obligated to pay his franchise tag salary

They could trade him. I’m sure there are a solid handful of teams with plenty of cap space who would love the opportunity to have Bell as their bellcow back, and would be willing to part with a high round pick to do so.

Of course, he’d have to sign the tag first, but that would be nothing more than a formality. I’m sure there would be a wink/nod agreement in place on a long term deal. At this point, Bell seems to feel disrespected by the organization and his teammates. I wouldn’t be shocked to find out that he’d welcome a new environment.

DaBronxPats14 · Sep 8, 2018

varjao said:
Season hasn’t even started and Tomlin already lost control over his locker room lol

Maybe Antonio Brown can video their locker room on his phone.

Ring 6 · Sep 8, 2018

supafly said:
They could trade him. I’m sure there are a solid handful of teams with plenty of cap space who would love the opportunity to have Bell as their bellcow back, and would be willing to part with a high round pick to do so.

Of course, he’d have to sign the tag first, but that would be nothing more than a formality. I’m sure there would be a wink/nod agreement in place on a long term deal. At this point, Bell seems to feel disrespected by the organization and his teammates. I wouldn’t be shocked to find out that he’d welcome a new environment.

I can’t making anyone would trade anything for a guy who refuses to play under the tag, abdcwgen he eventually does his priority will be limiting his workload.
How do you trade for him if he won’t play? A trade won’t change that.

denverpatsfan · Sep 8, 2018

If they were playing the Pats in week 1, I would bet he would be signed...

PATSYLICIOUS · Sep 8, 2018

I used to be a fan of Ramon foster but I think he’s spent too much time under Tomlin and slowly becoming an idiot as well.

TommyD4207 · Sep 9, 2018

denverpatsfan said:
If they were playing the Pats in week 1, I would bet he would be signed...

Well, either that, or just lure DeAngelo Williams out of retirement.

DeAngelo Williams was this generation's Johnny Hector.

supafly · Sep 9, 2018

DaBronxPats14 said:
Maybe Antonio Brown can video their locker room on his phone.

As Tomlin reiterates his plan to stay low key, in the background. You can’t make this stuff up.

DarrylS · Sep 9, 2018

Thread makes me mindful of the whole Butler brouhaha as discussed "intelligently" ad infinitum on sportstalk radio, the only thing that made sense to me during that whole clusterf..ck, was an sports insurance agent came on and told us all how for about $250K a player could insure his season against serious injury for a $25 million insurance policy.

He comes back for the $15 million Tag and gets a serious injury he can still walk away with $40 million, most of which will be tax free.. I dunno not sure I can come close to agreeing with Bell is doing, all the turmoil it is creating in Pitt brings a sinister smile.

RobertWeathers · Sep 9, 2018

I wonder what Bell thought of this:
3y/$39m/$30m guaranteed

Cardinals sign David Johnson to three-year extension

Ice_Ice_Brady · Sep 9, 2018

Conner having a huge game. Not surprised. Great offensive line and an offense with dangerous passing game weapons.

$14m???

TheRainMaker · Sep 9, 2018

Ice_Ice_Brady said:
Conner having a huge game. Not surprised. Great offensive line and an offense with dangerous passing game weapons.

$14m???

Seeing Conner light it up is nice to see. Bell will report soon as his leverage is going down the toilet.

fightingirish595 · Sep 9, 2018

Bell was not even that efficient last year. League adjusted to his style

The Brandon Five · Sep 9, 2018

Lol @ Bell's agent. Conner just put a nail in the coffin of whatever deal he thought he could get.

PATSYLICIOUS · Sep 9, 2018

First game went how I think the Steelers time without bell will go. They have great run blocking and Connor had a fine game, but still a step down from Bell. Connor did well overall, but his fumble was huge and he ran pretty tentative afterwards and less effective. Pitts offense had several chances to put the game away or win it but relying too heavy on Ben and brown down the stretch. Connor had the #’s but they will feel bell’s absense

captain stone · Sep 9, 2018

Feckin Cleveland doing what feckin Cleveland does.

HawaiianPatsfan · Sep 9, 2018

Ice_Ice_Brady said:
I posted something last offseason showing that the Steelers were averaging about 7 points more per game with Bell out, with a fairly large sample size. They are better when they move on from an old philosophy of overusing the running back position, especially when they have Antonio Brown and other talented receivers. It isn't that hard to figure out...you average about 4 yards when running it and about 6-7 (adjusted for sacks) when passing it. The RB position can be vital in moving the chains, forcing the defense to change its philosophy, and red zone production, but it's not in your best interest to take the ball out of the hands of your above average passing game. There was a stat that Bell didn't get any 30+ yard gains last year, or as Tomlin refers to it "he needs to get more splash plays." How many times does Roethlisberger connect on 30+ yard passes? A lot more than zero times per season.

Statistics also say your chances of getting a royal flush are about 1 and 695k, yet I’ve got 4 of them, and definitely haven’t played nearly 2800 hands of poker.

OT: Steelers line turning on Le'Veon Bell

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