Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers and superstar running back Le’Veon Bell going down to the buzzer for the second straight offseason, head coach Mike Tomlin remains confident about a resolution.
In an interview this weekend with Bruce Rader of WAVY-TV in Virginia, Tomlin hinted at Bell possibly being signed by Monday at 4 PM EST, which is the deadline for the Steelers to agree to a long-term deal with the back.
“Obviously we want to get the deal done,” said Tomlin, per Steelers Depot. “He wants to get the deal done. Everybody has said that. Now it’s just about the negotiations, getting in the room, and doing what it is they need to do. I’m excited and hopeful. Hopefully we have some exciting news Monday.”
The 26-year-old Bell is once again in a contract stalemate with the Steelers after being franchise-tagged for the second straight season. Last year, the two sides failed to reach an agreement before the deadline, and Bell held out until September before signing the one-year franchise tender worth $12.1 million.
We recently heard a fairly promising report about the negotiations, so Tomlin probably has good reason for his optimism as the clock continues to tick.
