The Running Back and the $14.5M

redduck

redduck

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Last year Le’veon Bell of the Pittsburgh Steelers was the best running back in the league. He had one more year left on his contract when he demanded a new contract that would have made him the highest paid running back in the NFL. When the Steelers refused to meet his salary demands, Le’veon Bell decided not to play at all saying he was concerned about being injured—which could greatly lessen his value next year. His decision not to play cost him $14.5M in salary. Currently, the highest paid running back has a four-year contract totaling $60M. Healthy, Bell will get a lot more than $60M.

Any thoughts regarding Le’veon Bell’s approach?
 
Well sometimes I'm not smart enough to understand things like that. I w*rked in a place where the owner jacked with my subjectivity on what he paid for things. He frequently told me to give his money away!

I wasn't smart enough to understand why. I left there because he loved to yell about my ability to measure things and pay more than they were worth. I guess it was okay. He was broke a few years later. Guess paying way more than fair isn't smart.

Sometimes folks logic makes little sense to me. Guess I'm not smart enough.
 
Recall seeing a stat that showed the average career lengths for NFL players and running backs were at the bottom (shortest) at less than 3 years. As good as Le'Veon is if I was an owner I would be hesitant in signing any veteran running back to an expensive long term contract.
 
zinger1457 said:
Recall seeing a stat that showed the average career lengths for NFL players and running backs were at the bottom (shortest) at less than 3 years. As good as Le'Veon is if I was an owner I would be hesitant in signing any veteran running back to an expensive long term contract.
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Especially one that has as many carries/receptions as Bell does the past five years... last year over 300 carries and 80+ receptions... that equates to being tackled approx. 400 times by some really big defensive players.

I'm a Spartan fan and like Bell, and he's only 26... but his best years are probably behind him. It would be a mistake for another team to essentially pay Le'Veon for what he did with the Steelers.
 
Well, 26 isn't especially old--even for a running back. And, he did take a year off so he wouldn't be tackled. However, he did lead the league in touches last year. Still, it might be a mistake to sign him to a long-term contract. But, I think he'll get one and he'll become the highest paid running back in the league. Even if he only has 2-3 good years left, he sure could help a team to the Super Bowl. He takes a lot of pressure off of the quarterback because he has good hands (that doesn't sound right) and he always worries the defense. He's the one running back that I would overpay for. What do you guys think about his walking away from $14.5M?
 
So is he considered retired?
 
pb4uski: as Willy Wonka famously said, “strike that, reverse it”.
 
redduck said:
What do you guys think about his walking away from $14.5M?
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I've heard different numbers that the Steelers offered Bell, $47M over 3 years, $70M over 5 years. Not all of it was guaranteed and neither offer met the yearly amount Bell was looking for but not that far off. It's a gamble, he could get injured just working out on his own and end up with close to nothing. Even if he stays healthy I doubt he'll get much more than what the Steelers offered him (if the offers above are legit).
 
Dtail said:
So is he considered retired?
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No, not retired. From what I understand the Steelers could hold on to him for another year, but it sounds as if they are just going to let him go on his way. I heard today on sports talk radio that the Steelers (the organization, not the players) broke the lock on his locker (it sounded as if he may have had two lockers) and let the players take what they wanted (as opposed to crating the stuff up and shipping it to him).
 
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...including-seven-potential-suitors-for-the-rb/

Easy to understand his approach, as well as Steelers.
This was his second year with franchise tag. On the open market his worth will come out.
There are aspects to Steelers offer that are not well understood. For example, they do not guarantee money to same extent as other teams.
For the rookie who replaced him, good luck with the rookie contract. There's a good chance career ends in less than five years.
 
Those flashy NFL contracts do not mean much as most of that money is not guaranteed...


And I am not sure if you get the whole contract if you are hurt... IOW, a 5 year $80 mill might only have $30 mill guaranteed and if you are hurt in year 1 I do not think you get the full $80 mill...


There are also incentives in most of those contracts that will not happen if you are injured and I would think they would not have to be paid...


I cannot remember the QB, but there is one big name sitting on the bench and they said he will not play another snap so he cannot get injured which would require them to pay out money next year... but they will cut him at the end of the year...
 
AT first thought it seems crazy to turn down $14.5 million for one year. However, how many people on here are experts in their field and believe they should be paid for that level of expertise? If you were offered $70K/yr but you thought you were worth $100K/yr so you turned it down, many on here would think that's reasonable. Especially if you are FI and can afford to wait for a better offer. When you look at it in more down-to-earth numbers it doesn't seem sooo crazy.

I would not offer a running back with over 1000 carries more than a three year contract.
 
As a Steeler fan, I wished Bell would have played, but they are doing fine without him. However, Bell has had some injuries in the past, and although he has been "clean" recently, he has been on the substance abuse program. It is now all about guaranteed money.

It was nice knowing you, and good luck to you in your future endeavors.
 
The big difference between the NFL and the other major pro sports is that contracts beyond what is specifically stated are not guaranteed. So you have to ignore the contract amount and look at the amount of guaranteed money that is in the deal.

I do not blame him for trying to maximize his worth. He is doing nothing illegal and is taking the risk that by sitting out, what he will get will more than make up for the 14.5M (which would not be guaranteed) he is foregoing. Perhaps he is a player than has been careful with what he has earned so far, and can afford to do it. It is not that dissimilar to Kirk Cousins. While Kirk did not sit out a year, he refused to sign a contract and played under the franchise tag - taking the risk that an injury could have wiped out his value - and ended up with a much bigger payday from someone else.


In addition sitting out a year may be a healthy benefit for him, giving the amount of carries he has had in his career. While older running backs who do well are rare, there are enough recent examples that a team will be willing to take a chance. Remember, it is not just the running back, but the quality of the offensive line for that running back.

I always find it interesting how someone with his level of carries and catches are admired for being a "workhorse" and having "all-around skills", and the club designs their offense to use him a lot... but then when it comes to contract time it changes to "wear and tear" and "longevity". That is the nature of the NFL as a business.
 
aja8888 said:
The Steelers appear to be doing quite well without him this season.
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Yes, they are doing quite well. But, the Steelers probably would have won and not tied the game with the Browns if Bell were playing.

Also, Antonio Brown is having a very good year, but not a great year. I think that it might be because the other teams' defenses can focus more on him as they don't have to focus on Bell.
 
Look what happened to Dez Bryant. Being a jerk didn't help his contract offers but he did turn down a 3 year $21M contract then ended up signed with the Saints midway through the season for under $1M. Tore his Achilles tendon during practice just running a routine route. Strange things can and do happen.
 
redduck said:
Any thoughts regarding Le’veon Bell’s approach?
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He's in a somewhat unusual situation.

I suspect he'll do just fine on the open market and almost certainly make up for the money he lost sitting out this year. And remember when analyzing contracts, in the NFL, only the guaranteed part of a contract really means all that much.

It only takes one foolish team flush with cash to throw a ton of money at a position that can be filled far more cheaply. There are plenty of stupid team owners with lots of cap space out there. At least one will bite, probably several.
 
Last edited:
Warning: Born and raised in the Burgh, so I am biased in my opinion.

Bell is a great running back, probably the best in the league. Having said that, the Steelers did offer him a contract last year with a good chunk of guaranteed money. The Steelers could also have forced the franchise tag on him for 2019, but at an enormous cost, something like $25 million. By doing so, they would also forgo rights to a draft choice if Bell sat out the season. So, when Bell decided to no-show this year after week eight, the Steelers basically gave up on him and will get the 3rd round draft choice as compensation when someone picks him up.

As I understand it, the Steelers could still force a 'transition tag' on Bell which gives them (the Steelers) the right of first refusal on an offer from other teams. However, that means the Steelers have to pony up $14.5 million (what his 2018 franchise tag was worth). Bell would get that money in 2019 if he signs (which is unlikely). Another downside for the Steelers is that if they used the transition tag, when Bell eventually left they would get no compensation.

Who knows what will happen with this mess, but if I had to bet (I don't), the Steeler's will just let him go and get whatever draft compensation they can. Historically, they aren't a team that puts up with 'problem' players - they move them out and move on.
 
Bell needs to fire his agent. He was given bad advice. He no longer has bargaining power.
 
copyright1997reloaded said:
As I understand it, the Steelers could still force a 'transition tag' on Bell which gives them (the Steelers) the right of first refusal on an offer from other teams. However, that means the Steelers have to pony up $14.5 million (what his 2018 franchise tag was worth). Bell would get that money in 2019 if he signs (which is unlikely). Another downside for the Steelers is that if they used the transition tag, when Bell eventually left they would get no compensation.
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There's no way the Steelers would pay a guaranteed $14.5 million for one year for a running back they have clearly demonstrated they don't need.

Who knows what will happen with this mess, but if I had to bet (I don't), the Steeler's will just let him go and get whatever draft compensation they can. Historically, they aren't a team that puts up with 'problem' players - they move them out and move on.
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The Steelers are smart. They have played this correctly and got lucky with Bell's replacement.

They will let him walk and get the 3rd round compensation in return. And tey will save themselves a lot of money and cap space in the bargain.
 
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