It should be pretty simple. Le’Veon Bell is arguably the greatest player at his position and he deserves to be paid like it. Only one problem, the NFL has completely devalued the running back position. Teams have decided that running backs that are above 30 no longer hold as much value as they can find a younger player in the draft for much cheaper. On the whole, teams have decided to spend more money on quarterbacks and receivers as the league has become more about the passing game.
Bell is only 26 years old, the prime of his career. The Steelers definitely do not want to let Bell walk out the door and onto another team. The team almost lost him last season when Bell waited until six days before the season started to sign his franchise tag. Pittsburgh offered Bell a three-year deal reportedly worth $42 million last year which he confirms he turned down as he thought his value was higher than that. The team has plans to place the franchise tag, valued at $14.5 million, on Bell once again. A number that Bell said he will not play for less than each season.
Bell told ESPN, “”We’re not coming to a number we both agree on — they are too low, or I guess they feel I’m too high. I’m playing for strictly my value to the team. That’s what I’m asking. I don’t think I should settle for anything less than what I’m valued at.” The running back said he has even contemplated retirement if the team puts the tag on him again.
Running backs are considered “old” by the age of 30 so it is not like time is on Bell’s side. He will be 27 by the end of the next season and likely will still be looking for a long term deal. The lack of value in the running back position does not make Bell any less valuable. He is likely the most valuable player on the field. The Steelers are undefeated when he gets at least 25 carries a game. It is hard to imagine Bell does not come to terms and accept the tag, however, the team looks like they will be the true losers if they let him walk under any circumstances.
Bell deserves the money he is looking for. Not only is he the best running back in the game, he does everything on offense. Catches, blocks, and of course hits the hole and runs which is what all running backs are expected to be able to do now. He is an every down back so why does he not deserve to be paid like it? If Roethlisberger is getting paid big bucks and doing less work than what is the excuse to not pay Bell? There is no reason for him to not be paid like Roethlisberger and Brown.
The Steelers are in a unique situation where they have two franchise players. Most players are lucky to have one on the roster, while the Steelers have both Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown. I am only leaving quarterback Ben Roethlisberger off of the franchise player list because his career is winding down while both Bell and Brown are in their primes. Brown has done his part to help the team after announcing that he restructured his contract to give the team more cap space.
Receiver Juju Smith-Schuster has his own reasoning for the team hesitating to pay Bell.
Only reason Steelers front office isn’t paying my guy @LeVeonBell is cuz they’re waiting on @KingJames! Makin sure the money right 😂
— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) March 7, 2018
