Le'veon Bell did not report to the Steelers, done for the year

HawaiianPatsfan · Nov 14, 2018

QuantumMechanic said:
He's not under contract. He's a FA who was franchise-tagged by PIT. He didn't want to risk a career-ending or contract-value-destroying injury playing on a 1 year deal, so he refused to sign the franchise tender.

Franchise tag tenders aren't very fair -- that's why players (rightfully) hate them so much and why teams use them all the time. Sure, he would have been paid $15mil this year, but if he wasn't tagged he probably could have signed some contract with a lot more guaranteed money than that. So he refused to sign the tender. Theoretically PIT could tag him again next year and we'd be back to the beginning.

Can you franchise a player for a third time? I thought twice was the limit

FCB02062 · Nov 14, 2018

And it looks like Pittsburgh hasn't missed a beat on offense.... Yet you take away a rookie rb from the Pats and they score one offensive td in Buffalo....

QuantumMechanic · Nov 14, 2018

HawaiianPatsfan said:
Can you franchise a player for a third time? I thought twice was the limit

You can franchise him a 3rd time, but then you have to pay him the QB franchise tag number, regardless of his position.

supafly · Nov 14, 2018

varjao said:
The owners will certainly make pressure on the Steelers to do just that.

Some are saying that this (Bell holding out the season) can become a tendency. I doubt a lot of players will leave 15 mi guaranteed on the table but anyway until there is a new CBA addressing this issue the owners will strong arm the players and the league will look the other way because they want star players on the field.

Any way you look at it, he passed up on the quick, guaranteed 14.5m in exchange for what will almost certainly be in the range of 35-45m guaranteed, only one year later. How he gets there is probably irrelevant in his mind. Trades, free agency, tag/no tag, whatever. All the dude has to do is exist on this earth until next spring and he made the right decision. I just think it’s that simple.

From my perspective, he just made the decision to make more money over being loyal to his teammates and fan base. You can also consider the possibility of him being a year fresher and potentially extending his career.

bbobbo · Nov 14, 2018

JarOfMayo51 said:
I thought if a player didn't report by week 10, they don't get an accredited season and are therefor subject to the same franchise tag the following year?

Have the rules changed about that?

Wheelman said:
Adam Schefter said that idea about not being a free agent if he didn't report was incorrect. They can either franchise tag him at QB level franchise tag level or slap a transition tag on him like we did with Blount.

FreeTedWilliams said:
Unless the Steelers get some sort of clarification on this rule. Everyone is working of assumptions of what the CBA means in this. What if the Steelers leaked this because they didn’t want him back, knowing that he is probably not in game shape and would most likely pull a hamstring.

In the off season they get “clarity “ and it turns out that the league says if he doesn’t sign the tender it doesn’t count as the second tender, meaning the Steelers could tag him again at 14.5 million and then work out a trade! That would be the ultimate screw job to Bell because he would again have to work out a trade and then a new contract or be stuck playing in the tag.

The Steelers will apply the transition tag to him which gives them the option of matching whatever contract he signs.

the steelers don't need any clarification, since the CBA is pretty clear in spelling out this situation:

here's section 2(b):

Soliel · Nov 14, 2018

That’s going to be interesting to see how it turns out for him. Not playing is a bold strategy cotton.

TheRainMaker · Nov 14, 2018

No way Pittsburgh Franchises him. Unless they go the Dolphins route and break the rules by announcing to everyone that Jarvis Landry is available for trade to het higher compensation for him. Teams cannot use the Franchise Tag on players they don’t intend to keep. Surprised the NFL did nothing.

bbobbo · Nov 14, 2018

TheRainMaker said:
No way Pittsburgh Franchises him. Unless they go the Dolphins route and break the rules by announcing to everyone that Jarvis Landry is available for trade to het higher compensation for him. Teams cannot use the Franchise Tag on players they don’t intend to keep. Surprised the NFL did nothing.

the patriots franchised matt cassell. i'm pretty sure they never intended to keep him.

.

TheFlyingWedge · Nov 15, 2018

That takes big cajones, and a lot of self confidence to sit out for the full year and walk away from that tag.

rochrist · Nov 15, 2018

One-If-By-Sea said:
And that shows how bad the football player's collective bargaining was.

It also shows how delusional Bell is.

TheRainMaker · Nov 15, 2018

bbobbo said:
the patriots franchised matt cassell. i'm pretty sure they never intended to keep him.

.

I knew someone was going to bring that up. The difference is that the Patriots did not announce that they were NOT keeping Cassell. Maybe the rules have changed since, but I was always under the impression that the franchise tag was intended to be used on players that teams wanted to sign to long-term extensions. I believe this is what Walter Jones also fought for as he was tired of getting franchise tagged by the Seahawks in the 90’s as they wouldn’t sign him to a long-term deal.

Triumph · Nov 15, 2018

supafly said:
Any way you look at it, he passed up on the quick, guaranteed 14.5m in exchange for what will almost certainly be in the range of 35-45m guaranteed, only one year later. How he gets there is probably irrelevant in his mind. Trades, free agency, tag/no tag, whatever. All the dude has to do is exist on this earth until next spring and he made the right decision. I just think it’s that simple.

From my perspective, he just made the decision to make more money over being loyal to his teammates and fan base. You can also consider the possibility of him being a year fresher and potentially extending his career.

The Steelers are not being loyal to Bell.

He completed his rookie deal and now wants to get paid.Bell already played under the tag for a season. Pittsburgh wont give him what he wants and wont let him leave to seek his fortune. Trade him while he is tagged. Take what you can get and move on.

If Bell gets hurt and cannot play anymore, the Steelers would cut him in a NY minute and find somebody else. There is no loyalty in the NFL.

PATSYLICIOUS · Nov 15, 2018

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:
Does Pitt now regain a bunch of cap space, the amount they are not paying Bell this year?

Yeah I think they get it back. Just saw a thread on their message board discussing how to utilize the ‘newly acquired cap space’. Damage seemingly done though as the money would have probably been more useful to them in march

Steve102 · Nov 15, 2018

That's a lot of money to leave on the table in hopes for a longer deal. I can't wrap my head around why wouldn't you take the 14.5 this year and then peace out Pittsburgh and play for the highest bidder next year?

PatsFan2 · Nov 15, 2018

Just when you thought you knew your Teammates what are they searching for memorabilias??

Stealers? Bell's locker raided by teammates

oceansizer · Nov 15, 2018

I really regret Bell is not going to be a Steeler anymore. His new contract would be fatal for that organisation.

chasa · Nov 15, 2018

PatsFan2 said:
Just when you thought you knew your Teammates what are they searching for memorabilias??

Stealers? Bell's locker raided by teammates

multiple pairs for rare sneakers/cleats.

PatsFan2 · Nov 15, 2018

chasa said:
multiple pairs for rare sneakers/cleats.

Real classy In-bread organization.

chasa · Nov 15, 2018

bbobbo said:
the steelers don't need any clarification, since the CBA is pretty clear in spelling out this situation:

here's section 2(b):

The big thing we need clarification on: "if a player is redesignated as a franchise player for teh league year following the league year in which he does not play, that player may be designated ONLY under section 2(a)(i) above, except that draft choice compensation of only one first round draft selection and one third round draft shall be made with respect to such a player in the event he signs with the new club."

If the steelers DO franchise him, the most they get back if another squad signs him is a 1 and a 3, instead of 2 ones.

oceansizer · Nov 15, 2018

I am wondering is that a definition of the winning culture.

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