Le’Veon Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to come to an agreement on a long-term contract extension this past offseason, and they will re-open those discussions once again when the 2017 season ends. Either way, the star running back probably isn’t going anywhere.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that it is seen as a “foregone conclusion” that the Steelers will franchise tag Bell for a second straight year. That would cost an estimated $14.5 million, which would be less than the $16 million per year Bell was said to be seeking prior to the season.
One of the reasons the Steelers were concerned about committing to Bell long-term is his lengthy injury history, so the 25-year-old could argue that his value has increased after he enjoyed an injury-free season and racked up nearly 2,000 total yards from scrimmage.
Bell has also gotten himself into some trouble off the field, but that likely would not prevent him from getting a monster contract on the free agent market. While the Steelers may be content taking it year-to-year, there’s always a risk of straining the relationship between him and the team.
