Veteran running back Le’Veon Bell was one of the league’s biggest stars during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But after leaving the franchise in 2019 following failed contract negotiations, Bell quickly found out that the grass is not always greener.

Four years later, Bell is out of the NFL and seems to regret the way he left the franchise. In a recent appearance on the Steel Here podcast, the 31-year-old player said that he never actually wanted to leave Pittsburgh.

“That’s where I got drafted,” Bell explained. “Especially after going to different teams and seeing how it is, it’s like when the team has their guy, you’re their guy. I was Pittsburgh’s guy.”

Bell, who hasn’t played at all in 2022, also admitted to being “a little petty” during his contract negotiations with the franchise.

“I’m thinking, ‘Damn, could I really have just ate [the money]? Yeah, I probably could’ve,” he added.

Le’Veon Bell earned three Pro Bowl nods and three All-Pro selections as a Steeler between 2013 and 2017. Ahead of 2018, the Steelers placed a franchise tag on Belle for the second straight year after the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement about a new contract. However, instead of playing on the tag, Bell opted to sit out for an entire year and hit free agency in 2019.

Bell ended up signing with the New York Jets on a four-year, $52.5 million contract but never managed to reach the same level of play that he had with the Steelers. He was released after a year and a half and bounced around the league in the next two seasons.

The post Le’Veon Bell Seems to Regret the Way He Left the Steelers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to a deal with former Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The move comes less than 24 hours after the Bucs learned they will be without their leading back Leonard Fournette for the remainder of the season.

Bell will join the Bucs after playing five games with the Baltimore Ravens earlier in 2021. He managed 31 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns before being cut in late November.

The Buccaneers are expected to make the move official once Bell passes his physical.

Despite his struggles in recent years, Bell should have a prominent role in Tampa Bay from the get-go. The team’s backfield has been depleted by injuries in recent weeks, and they don’t have much depth on the position. Their current options include former starter Ronald Jones, who has had a quiet year so far and isn’t a major factor in the passing game, and second-year player Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who only had 11 carries this season.

Le’Veon Bell was once considered one of the best running backs in the game, receiving three Pro Bowl nods during his first five years in NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, Bell’s career has been on a downward trajectory ever since he sat out the 2018 season due to a contract dispute with the Steelers.

Bell signed a big-time contract with the New York Jets ahead of the 2019 season but failed to replicate his production from his early years as a pro. He lasted less than two seasons in New York before embarking on unsuccessful stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Ravens.

But if there is any place where Bell could resurrect his career, Tampa Bay should be it. The Buccaneers already helped Bell’s former Steelers teammate Antonio Brown to become a factor in the league again, so it would be a surprise if they do the same for him.

The post Tampa Bay Buccaneers Set to Sign RB Le’Veon Bell appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After failing to attract interest from NFL teams for the better part of the offseason, Le’Veon Bell finally received a chance to play football in 2021. According to the NFL Network, Bell signed with the Baltimore Ravens, joining the team’s practice squad.

Bell still has a long way before carving a meaningful role on the Ravens, but the move does allow him to have a shot at a roster spot if he impresses during practices.

The Ravens found themselves in need of a running back after their RB core was hit with multiple injuries. They first lost their starter J.K. Dobbins, who suffered a season-ending injury during the final preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. They then saw third-year-back Justice Hill go down with torn Achilles that will end his 2021 campaign prematurely.

Baltimore will most likely turn to last year’s backup Gus Edwards as their leading running back in Week 1 while the 2020 undrafted free agent Ty’Son Williams will occupy the No. 2 spot.

Earlier in his career, Le’Veon Bell was considered one of the best running backs in the league. However, after a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bell decided to sit out the entire 2018 NFL season. This allowed him to hit the free agency in 2019 and sign with the New York Jets, who made him the second highest-paid running back in NFL.

From that point on, Bell’s career took a downward spiral. He had a disappointing campaign in 2019 and continued to struggle in 2020, prompting the Jets to release him midway through the season despite significant cap space implications. The 29-year-old star settled down with the Kansas City Chiefs for the remainder of the year but failed to impress the franchise enough to give him a new deal.

The post Ex-Pro Bowl RB Le’Veon Bell Joins the Ravens’ Practice Squad appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Running back Le’Veon Bell’s quest for redemption after a struggling 2019 season with New York Jets will have to wait. Bell landed on injured reserve with the team confirming the decision on Tuesday.

Bell suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the Week 1 loss to Buffalo Bills, but returned in the second half and played through pain. This likely only made the injury worse, and now the 28-year-old RB will be sidelined for at least three weeks.

Jets brought in former Miami Dolphins running back Kalen Ballage in a corresponding move while announcing that rookie wideout Denzel Mims and linebacker Blake Cashman are also headed to the IR.

In Bell’s absence, the Jets’ running game will mostly depend on 37-year-old Frank Gore and 23-year-old Josh Adams, who was recently promoted from the practice squad. Ballage might also prove a significant factor if he managed to overcome an injury that nixed his previously agreed trade from Miami to the Jets in early September.

By landing on IR, Le’Veon Bell continued his struggling stint with the New York Jets that began with a four-year, $52.5 million contract in March of 2019. Bell failed to justify this spending, delivering a career bad year in 2019.

Bell had career-low 3.2 yards per rush last season, running for a total of  789 yards and only three touchdowns. He also wasn’t failed to provide a playmaking boost to the passing game, although he had 66 receptions for 461 yards.

Bell promised to bounce back in 2020, but it appears that he’ll have to wait a bit longer to deliver on his word.

The post Jets Place RB Le’Veon Bell on Injured Reserve appeared first on SportzBonanza.

New York Jets are taking an unusual approach trying to help their running back Le’Veon Bell return to form after a disappointing 2019 NFL season. Instead of giving him more carries, the Jets are looking to reduce Bell’s load this year.

Bell joined the Jets in 2019 on a four-year, $52.5 million contract, but failed to make a significant impact. He averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry and scored just three touchdowns.

Now, in order to unlock his running back’s potential, Jets’ head coach Adam Gase will give Bell more help in the backfield.

“I do think we have some guys that can help maybe lessen the load on [Bell] to where it’s not all on him,” Gase told ESPN in a recent interview. “Hopefully, we can get some of the younger backs to where we can make a good one-two punch to where we can really excel instead of feeling like it’s just all on him all the time.”

Gase also added that he wants to “emphasize what [Bell] does extremely well and get him the ball in those situations.”

It remains unclear who will actually be Le’Veon Bell’s “partner in crime” among the running backs that New York Jets have on their roster. Besides this year’s fourth-round pick La’Mical Perine, Jets have veteran Kenneth Dixon and second-year player Josh Adams, who have less than 1,500 career-rushing yards combined.

It’s likely that the Jets will get on the trade market in order to try and find their No.2 back. One of the most intriguing candidates might be Jacksonville Jaguars’ Leonard Fournette, who is reportedly available for a cut-down price.  

The post Jets’ Looking to “Lessen the Load” on RB LeVeon Bell appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It turns out that there was some truth in reports that New York Jets considered trading away their star running back Le’Veon Bell ahead of NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. This was confirmed by none other than Bell himself during his interview on “Uninterrupted.”

Bell revealed that his agent told him several NFL teams called Jets about him and tried to trade him. The list of teams included Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and most surprisingly his old team Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite the interest, the 27-year-old stayed in New York as Jets set a high asking price for him.

“I found out through my agent he had talked to the Jets and there were teams like Houston, the Packers, the Kansas City Chiefs and, surprisingly, the Steelers were all in the mix in trying to trade for me,” – said Bell. “The Jets were really asking for a high price and a lot for me. On top of that, my actual contract was kind of tough for teams to deal with, which is understandable. Not too many teams want to pay that high of a price for a running back.”

After sitting out the 2018 NFL season while a member of the Steelers, Le’Veon Bell became a free agent in March and signed a four-year, $52.5 million contract with Jets. Bell was expected to boost Jets’ struggling offense and be the playmaker that the team needed. Things, however, didn’t turn out as expected so far in the season.

Bell has been struggling behind Jets’ inconsistent offensive line and has a career-low of 3.2 yards per carry in the first eight weeks. He is yet to rush more than 70 yards in a game as a member of the Jets and has only one rushing touchdown.

The post Jets’ Le’Veon Bell Claims “Texans, Packer, Chiefs, and Steelers” Tried to Trade For Him appeared first on SportzBonanza.

There has been a new development in the drama surrounding Pittsburgh Steelers’ star running back Le’Veon Bell in this past couple of days. Bell, who is currently staying away from the team, is expected to play for the Steelers’ in Week 8 game against Cleveland Browns according to ESPN‘s sources. The 26-year-old is expected to report to Steelers’ in Week 7 when the team is on a bye.

Le’Veon Bell decided not to show up for the start of the regular season after he and Steelers failed to reach an agreement about a long-term contract. With this holdout, Bell is trying to preserve his body before entering the free agency in 2018.

“I want to play. I want to win games and the playoffs.” – Bell told ESPN on Monday. “But I’ve gotta take this stand. Knowing my worth and knowing I can tear a ligament or get surgery at any time, I knew I couldn’t play 16 games with 400 or more touches.”

After Le’Veon Bell didn’t show up for the first two games of the 2018 season, Pittsburgh Steelers’ started exploring trade options for the player. There were several teams that were interested in acquiring the All-Pro RB, with New York Jets emerging as a front-runner. Still, Bell thinks that he won’t be traded once he shows up and still hopes he could end up re-signing with the Steelers, despite everything that happened.

“I could be naïve or hopeful, but at the end of the day I feel like that’s what’s going to happen,” – he said. “I don’t think they really want me gone. That could be me being prideful. But I’m still holding out hope.“

The post Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell Expected to Play in Week 8 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ regular season is just days away and their star running back Le’Veon Bell is nowhere to be found. Bell decided to hold out from all the team’s offseason activities in order to force the organization to give him a new deal and has failed to report to Steelers’ facilities since the start of the training camp. As you can guess, this didn’t sit very well with the organization.

“We are disappointed Le’Veon Bell has not signed his franchise tender and rejoined his teammates,” – said Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert in a statement. “Coach [Mike] Tomlin and the coaching staff will continue to focus on preparing the players on our roster for our regular-season opener on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.“

This is the second time that Le’Veon Bell is absent during the preseason, as he held out the previous year as well. In 2017 he showed up in time to start from Week 1, but there are indications that he might not take the same route this year. If Bell ends up deciding to skip regular season games, he faces with a hefty loss of $855,000 per game.

Bell is looking to be the highest paid running back in the history of NFL and is reportedly asking $17 million annually. Steelers, on the other hand, were willing to go as high as $14 million per year.

Pittsburgh Steelers and Le’Veon Bell had time until the end of July to agree to an extension, and since they failed to do so, the two parties can’t get a new deal done until the end of the season. That means that Bell isn’t forcing a new contract now with his absence, but rather making a statement to the organization.

The post Steelers “Disappointed” That RB Le’Veon Bell Remains Absent appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Pittsburgh Steelers and their star running back Le’Veon Bell couldn’t reach an agreement about a long-term contract before franchise tag deadline set for Monday’s 4 p.m. ET. This means that Bell will play under a franchise tag for a second consecutive year. It could also mean that this will be the last season as a Steeler according to his agent.

“His intention was to retire as a Steeler,” – Bell’s agent Adisa Bakari told ESPN‘s Adam Schefter. “But now that there’s no deal, the practical reality is this now likely will be Le’Veon’s last season as a Steeler.”

Le’Veon Bell also went on his Twitter profile after the contract negotiations broke down and promised the fans that 2018 will be his “best season to date.”

to all my Steeler fans, my desire always has been to retire a Steeler…both sides worked extremely hard today to make that happen, but the NFL is a hard business at times…to the fans that had hope, I’m sorry we let youu down but trust me, 2018 will be my best season to date…

— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) July 16, 2018

Pittsburgh Steelers also issued a statement, confirming that Bell will play under the exclusive franchise tag and that the two sides will try to work out a long-term deal after 2018 season wraps up.

“Even though we could not reach a long-term contract agreement with Le’Veon Bell, we are excited he will be with the team in 2018,” – said Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert in a statement. “We worked very hard to find common ground, but we were unable to accomplish that prior to today’s deadline. Le’Veon will play this season under the exclusive franchise tag designation.“

“After the 2018 season is completed, we again will attempt to work out a long-term contract with Le’Veon in the hope that he will continue his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.” – the organization added.

Steelers made two long-term offers to Le’Veon Bell so far; a $13.3 million in the summer of 2017 and slightly bigger offer early 2018. Then, according to NFL.com, they presented their last offer over the weekend, which was $70 million over 5 years with more than $33 million in guarantees. Although this would make Bell the highest paid running back in the history of NFL, he turned down the offer seeking a salary in the neighborhood of $17 million annually.

The post 2018 to be Le’Veon Bell’s “Last Season as a Steeler” Says Agent appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Back in March, Pittsburgh Steelers placed the franchise tag on their star running back Le’Veon Bell for a second straight year. Still, both parties are working hard to get a long-term deal done, and 26-year-old All-Pro now gave an update about the contract talks. Bell was optimistic about the situation and hinted that he and the Steelers are getting closer to making a deal.

“Obviously, the people in the organization try to do what’s best for them, and I’m trying to do what’s best for me,” – said Bell during his appearance on NFL Network’s Top 100 broadcast. “We’re working on it. We’re a lot closer than we were last year at this time. That’s what I’m happy about. None of that matters if we don’t get it done. Hopefully, we’ll try to get something done. That’s what I’m looking forward to. I got confidence we’ll get it done. I want to do it.“

Le’Veon Bell, who earned $12.12 million on last year’s tag, would earn $14.5 million on this year’s tag, but he has stated numerous times that he prefers a long-term deal even if that mean’s signing with another team.

Bell decided to miss the Steelers training camp in 2017 in order to protest against the tag, and on several occasions hinted that he might do the same this year as well. But, that isn’t something he would gladly do.

“I don’t want to have … what happened last year,” – said Bell. “If it came down to it, then I’ve got to do what I’ve gotta do, take my stand and protect myself. But I don’t want to have to do that. I want to go to camp and play for the Steelers long-term.“

In 2017 Le’Veon Bell had another exceptional season, rushing for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns. He also added 655 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

The post Le’Veon Bell on Long-Term Deal with the Steelers: “We’re a lot Closer” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran running back Le’Veon Bell was one of the league’s biggest stars during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But after leaving the franchise in 2019 following failed contract negotiations, Bell quickly found out that the grass is not always greener.

Four years later, Bell is out of the NFL and seems to regret the way he left the franchise. In a recent appearance on the Steel Here podcast, the 31-year-old player said that he never actually wanted to leave Pittsburgh.

“That’s where I got drafted,” Bell explained. “Especially after going to different teams and seeing how it is, it’s like when the team has their guy, you’re their guy. I was Pittsburgh’s guy.”

Bell, who hasn’t played at all in 2022, also admitted to being “a little petty” during his contract negotiations with the franchise.

“I’m thinking, ‘Damn, could I really have just ate [the money]? Yeah, I probably could’ve,” he added.

Le’Veon Bell earned three Pro Bowl nods and three All-Pro selections as a Steeler between 2013 and 2017. Ahead of 2018, the Steelers placed a franchise tag on Belle for the second straight year after the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement about a new contract. However, instead of playing on the tag, Bell opted to sit out for an entire year and hit free agency in 2019.

Bell ended up signing with the New York Jets on a four-year, $52.5 million contract but never managed to reach the same level of play that he had with the Steelers. He was released after a year and a half and bounced around the league in the next two seasons.

The post Le’Veon Bell Seems to Regret the Way He Left the Steelers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to a deal with former Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The move comes less than 24 hours after the Bucs learned they will be without their leading back Leonard Fournette for the remainder of the season.

Bell will join the Bucs after playing five games with the Baltimore Ravens earlier in 2021. He managed 31 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns before being cut in late November.

The Buccaneers are expected to make the move official once Bell passes his physical.

Despite his struggles in recent years, Bell should have a prominent role in Tampa Bay from the get-go. The team’s backfield has been depleted by injuries in recent weeks, and they don’t have much depth on the position. Their current options include former starter Ronald Jones, who has had a quiet year so far and isn’t a major factor in the passing game, and second-year player Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who only had 11 carries this season.

Le’Veon Bell was once considered one of the best running backs in the game, receiving three Pro Bowl nods during his first five years in NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, Bell’s career has been on a downward trajectory ever since he sat out the 2018 season due to a contract dispute with the Steelers.

Bell signed a big-time contract with the New York Jets ahead of the 2019 season but failed to replicate his production from his early years as a pro. He lasted less than two seasons in New York before embarking on unsuccessful stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Ravens.

But if there is any place where Bell could resurrect his career, Tampa Bay should be it. The Buccaneers already helped Bell’s former Steelers teammate Antonio Brown to become a factor in the league again, so it would be a surprise if they do the same for him.

The post Tampa Bay Buccaneers Set to Sign RB Le’Veon Bell appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After failing to attract interest from NFL teams for the better part of the offseason, Le’Veon Bell finally received a chance to play football in 2021. According to the NFL Network, Bell signed with the Baltimore Ravens, joining the team’s practice squad.

Bell still has a long way before carving a meaningful role on the Ravens, but the move does allow him to have a shot at a roster spot if he impresses during practices.

The Ravens found themselves in need of a running back after their RB core was hit with multiple injuries. They first lost their starter J.K. Dobbins, who suffered a season-ending injury during the final preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. They then saw third-year-back Justice Hill go down with torn Achilles that will end his 2021 campaign prematurely.

Baltimore will most likely turn to last year’s backup Gus Edwards as their leading running back in Week 1 while the 2020 undrafted free agent Ty’Son Williams will occupy the No. 2 spot.

Earlier in his career, Le’Veon Bell was considered one of the best running backs in the league. However, after a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bell decided to sit out the entire 2018 NFL season. This allowed him to hit the free agency in 2019 and sign with the New York Jets, who made him the second highest-paid running back in NFL.

From that point on, Bell’s career took a downward spiral. He had a disappointing campaign in 2019 and continued to struggle in 2020, prompting the Jets to release him midway through the season despite significant cap space implications. The 29-year-old star settled down with the Kansas City Chiefs for the remainder of the year but failed to impress the franchise enough to give him a new deal.

The post Ex-Pro Bowl RB Le’Veon Bell Joins the Ravens’ Practice Squad appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Running back Le’Veon Bell’s quest for redemption after a struggling 2019 season with New York Jets will have to wait. Bell landed on injured reserve with the team confirming the decision on Tuesday.

Bell suffered a hamstring injury in the first half of the Week 1 loss to Buffalo Bills, but returned in the second half and played through pain. This likely only made the injury worse, and now the 28-year-old RB will be sidelined for at least three weeks.

Jets brought in former Miami Dolphins running back Kalen Ballage in a corresponding move while announcing that rookie wideout Denzel Mims and linebacker Blake Cashman are also headed to the IR.

In Bell’s absence, the Jets’ running game will mostly depend on 37-year-old Frank Gore and 23-year-old Josh Adams, who was recently promoted from the practice squad. Ballage might also prove a significant factor if he managed to overcome an injury that nixed his previously agreed trade from Miami to the Jets in early September.

By landing on IR, Le’Veon Bell continued his struggling stint with the New York Jets that began with a four-year, $52.5 million contract in March of 2019. Bell failed to justify this spending, delivering a career bad year in 2019.

Bell had career-low 3.2 yards per rush last season, running for a total of  789 yards and only three touchdowns. He also wasn’t failed to provide a playmaking boost to the passing game, although he had 66 receptions for 461 yards.

Bell promised to bounce back in 2020, but it appears that he’ll have to wait a bit longer to deliver on his word.

The post Jets Place RB Le’Veon Bell on Injured Reserve appeared first on SportzBonanza.

New York Jets are taking an unusual approach trying to help their running back Le’Veon Bell return to form after a disappointing 2019 NFL season. Instead of giving him more carries, the Jets are looking to reduce Bell’s load this year.

Bell joined the Jets in 2019 on a four-year, $52.5 million contract, but failed to make a significant impact. He averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry and scored just three touchdowns.

Now, in order to unlock his running back’s potential, Jets’ head coach Adam Gase will give Bell more help in the backfield.

“I do think we have some guys that can help maybe lessen the load on [Bell] to where it’s not all on him,” Gase told ESPN in a recent interview. “Hopefully, we can get some of the younger backs to where we can make a good one-two punch to where we can really excel instead of feeling like it’s just all on him all the time.”

Gase also added that he wants to “emphasize what [Bell] does extremely well and get him the ball in those situations.”

It remains unclear who will actually be Le’Veon Bell’s “partner in crime” among the running backs that New York Jets have on their roster. Besides this year’s fourth-round pick La’Mical Perine, Jets have veteran Kenneth Dixon and second-year player Josh Adams, who have less than 1,500 career-rushing yards combined.

It’s likely that the Jets will get on the trade market in order to try and find their No.2 back. One of the most intriguing candidates might be Jacksonville Jaguars’ Leonard Fournette, who is reportedly available for a cut-down price.  

The post Jets’ Looking to “Lessen the Load” on RB LeVeon Bell appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It turns out that there was some truth in reports that New York Jets considered trading away their star running back Le’Veon Bell ahead of NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. This was confirmed by none other than Bell himself during his interview on “Uninterrupted.”

Bell revealed that his agent told him several NFL teams called Jets about him and tried to trade him. The list of teams included Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and most surprisingly his old team Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite the interest, the 27-year-old stayed in New York as Jets set a high asking price for him.

“I found out through my agent he had talked to the Jets and there were teams like Houston, the Packers, the Kansas City Chiefs and, surprisingly, the Steelers were all in the mix in trying to trade for me,” – said Bell. “The Jets were really asking for a high price and a lot for me. On top of that, my actual contract was kind of tough for teams to deal with, which is understandable. Not too many teams want to pay that high of a price for a running back.”

After sitting out the 2018 NFL season while a member of the Steelers, Le’Veon Bell became a free agent in March and signed a four-year, $52.5 million contract with Jets. Bell was expected to boost Jets’ struggling offense and be the playmaker that the team needed. Things, however, didn’t turn out as expected so far in the season.

Bell has been struggling behind Jets’ inconsistent offensive line and has a career-low of 3.2 yards per carry in the first eight weeks. He is yet to rush more than 70 yards in a game as a member of the Jets and has only one rushing touchdown.

The post Jets’ Le’Veon Bell Claims “Texans, Packer, Chiefs, and Steelers” Tried to Trade For Him appeared first on SportzBonanza.

There has been a new development in the drama surrounding Pittsburgh Steelers’ star running back Le’Veon Bell in this past couple of days. Bell, who is currently staying away from the team, is expected to play for the Steelers’ in Week 8 game against Cleveland Browns according to ESPN‘s sources. The 26-year-old is expected to report to Steelers’ in Week 7 when the team is on a bye.

Le’Veon Bell decided not to show up for the start of the regular season after he and Steelers failed to reach an agreement about a long-term contract. With this holdout, Bell is trying to preserve his body before entering the free agency in 2018.

“I want to play. I want to win games and the playoffs.” – Bell told ESPN on Monday. “But I’ve gotta take this stand. Knowing my worth and knowing I can tear a ligament or get surgery at any time, I knew I couldn’t play 16 games with 400 or more touches.”

After Le’Veon Bell didn’t show up for the first two games of the 2018 season, Pittsburgh Steelers’ started exploring trade options for the player. There were several teams that were interested in acquiring the All-Pro RB, with New York Jets emerging as a front-runner. Still, Bell thinks that he won’t be traded once he shows up and still hopes he could end up re-signing with the Steelers, despite everything that happened.

“I could be naïve or hopeful, but at the end of the day I feel like that’s what’s going to happen,” – he said. “I don’t think they really want me gone. That could be me being prideful. But I’m still holding out hope.“

The post Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell Expected to Play in Week 8 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ regular season is just days away and their star running back Le’Veon Bell is nowhere to be found. Bell decided to hold out from all the team’s offseason activities in order to force the organization to give him a new deal and has failed to report to Steelers’ facilities since the start of the training camp. As you can guess, this didn’t sit very well with the organization.

“We are disappointed Le’Veon Bell has not signed his franchise tender and rejoined his teammates,” – said Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert in a statement. “Coach [Mike] Tomlin and the coaching staff will continue to focus on preparing the players on our roster for our regular-season opener on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.“

This is the second time that Le’Veon Bell is absent during the preseason, as he held out the previous year as well. In 2017 he showed up in time to start from Week 1, but there are indications that he might not take the same route this year. If Bell ends up deciding to skip regular season games, he faces with a hefty loss of $855,000 per game.

Bell is looking to be the highest paid running back in the history of NFL and is reportedly asking $17 million annually. Steelers, on the other hand, were willing to go as high as $14 million per year.

Pittsburgh Steelers and Le’Veon Bell had time until the end of July to agree to an extension, and since they failed to do so, the two parties can’t get a new deal done until the end of the season. That means that Bell isn’t forcing a new contract now with his absence, but rather making a statement to the organization.

The post Steelers “Disappointed” That RB Le’Veon Bell Remains Absent appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Pittsburgh Steelers and their star running back Le’Veon Bell couldn’t reach an agreement about a long-term contract before franchise tag deadline set for Monday’s 4 p.m. ET. This means that Bell will play under a franchise tag for a second consecutive year. It could also mean that this will be the last season as a Steeler according to his agent.

“His intention was to retire as a Steeler,” – Bell’s agent Adisa Bakari told ESPN‘s Adam Schefter. “But now that there’s no deal, the practical reality is this now likely will be Le’Veon’s last season as a Steeler.”

Le’Veon Bell also went on his Twitter profile after the contract negotiations broke down and promised the fans that 2018 will be his “best season to date.”

to all my Steeler fans, my desire always has been to retire a Steeler…both sides worked extremely hard today to make that happen, but the NFL is a hard business at times…to the fans that had hope, I’m sorry we let youu down but trust me, 2018 will be my best season to date…

— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) July 16, 2018

Pittsburgh Steelers also issued a statement, confirming that Bell will play under the exclusive franchise tag and that the two sides will try to work out a long-term deal after 2018 season wraps up.

“Even though we could not reach a long-term contract agreement with Le’Veon Bell, we are excited he will be with the team in 2018,” – said Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert in a statement. “We worked very hard to find common ground, but we were unable to accomplish that prior to today’s deadline. Le’Veon will play this season under the exclusive franchise tag designation.“

“After the 2018 season is completed, we again will attempt to work out a long-term contract with Le’Veon in the hope that he will continue his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.” – the organization added.

Steelers made two long-term offers to Le’Veon Bell so far; a $13.3 million in the summer of 2017 and slightly bigger offer early 2018. Then, according to NFL.com, they presented their last offer over the weekend, which was $70 million over 5 years with more than $33 million in guarantees. Although this would make Bell the highest paid running back in the history of NFL, he turned down the offer seeking a salary in the neighborhood of $17 million annually.

The post 2018 to be Le’Veon Bell’s “Last Season as a Steeler” Says Agent appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Back in March, Pittsburgh Steelers placed the franchise tag on their star running back Le’Veon Bell for a second straight year. Still, both parties are working hard to get a long-term deal done, and 26-year-old All-Pro now gave an update about the contract talks. Bell was optimistic about the situation and hinted that he and the Steelers are getting closer to making a deal.

“Obviously, the people in the organization try to do what’s best for them, and I’m trying to do what’s best for me,” – said Bell during his appearance on NFL Network’s Top 100 broadcast. “We’re working on it. We’re a lot closer than we were last year at this time. That’s what I’m happy about. None of that matters if we don’t get it done. Hopefully, we’ll try to get something done. That’s what I’m looking forward to. I got confidence we’ll get it done. I want to do it.“

Le’Veon Bell, who earned $12.12 million on last year’s tag, would earn $14.5 million on this year’s tag, but he has stated numerous times that he prefers a long-term deal even if that mean’s signing with another team.

Bell decided to miss the Steelers training camp in 2017 in order to protest against the tag, and on several occasions hinted that he might do the same this year as well. But, that isn’t something he would gladly do.

“I don’t want to have … what happened last year,” – said Bell. “If it came down to it, then I’ve got to do what I’ve gotta do, take my stand and protect myself. But I don’t want to have to do that. I want to go to camp and play for the Steelers long-term.“

In 2017 Le’Veon Bell had another exceptional season, rushing for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns. He also added 655 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

The post Le’Veon Bell on Long-Term Deal with the Steelers: “We’re a lot Closer” appeared first on SportzBonanza.