Steelers GM will not rule out using franchise tag on Le’Veon Bell
Le’Veon Bell has said he will consider sitting out the entire 2018 season or retiring if he is hit with the franchise tag for a second straight offseason, but that threat does not seem to have put a whole lot of fear into the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Thursday, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert told reporters that the team’s goal is to sign Bell to a long-term contract. However, he stopped short of saying Bell will not be franchise tagged again.
Kevin Colbert says he told @L_Bell26: “We have a strong desire to keep you w/ the Pittsburgh Steelers for the remainder of your career.”
Says franchise tag always an option, but “our goal is to have something done on a long term basis.”
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) February 15, 2018
Kevin Colbert: "We never will discount the use of the tag because that’s collectively bargained. But, again, our goal is to have something done (with Bell) on a long-term basis."
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 15, 2018
Colbert also praised Bell for not letting the franchise tag affect his attitude last season, though he said he would prefer if no players had to miss offseason training.
More re Le’Veon Bell from #Steelers GM Kevin Colbert: Says Bell “didn’t disappoint in any aspect” from time he showed up, that tagging didn’t affect attitude. But also says he’d prefer Bell at camp this year, that “it’s important for every player to be here.”
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) February 15, 2018
The deadline to franchise tag players is March 6, so Bell and the Steelers still have a few weeks to work on a long-term deal. If the Steelers use the tag on Bell again, he would make $14.5 million for the 2018 season. Sitting out entirely seems unlikely.
Since he is so effective in the passing game, Bell wants to be paid like a wide receiver rather than a running back. He was said to be seeking $16 million per year last year, and it’s doubtful that he has lowered his demands much. While Bell has gotten himself into some trouble off the field, there are plenty of teams that would ignore all that and give him a massive contract.
