Le’Veon Bell sat out the entire season in 2018 because the Pittsburgh Steelers would not give him the long-term contract extension he wanted, and it’s no surprise he supports fellow star running back Ezekiel Elliott potentially doing the same.
A report on Tuesday claimed Elliott is not planning to report to the Cowboys this season unless he gets a new contract — even if it means missing regular-season games. Bell issued a response to that report on Twitter, telling the Dallas Cowboys to “pay up.”
they gotta pay up, period https://t.co/M08n7VQCsc
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) August 6, 2019
Bell ended up getting his massive contract this offseason, though the New York Jets did not make him the highest-paid running back in football. They gave him $13.1 million per year compared to the $14.4 million Gurley makes with the Los Angeles Rams, and the $35 million guaranteed is $10 million less than Gurley got. One of the issues with Elliott’s contract negotiations could be that the Cowboys are more comfortable giving him a deal similar to Bell’s, but he wants Gurley money.
The Cowboys have apparently made what they feel are substantial offers to Elliott and two other core offensive players, but the two sides have not come to an agreement. No matter what happens, Elliott following in Bell’s footsteps seems highly unlikely.
