Le’Veon Bell’s Contract Talks Brilliantly Mirror His Playstyle
There’s something kind of amazing about the Steelers/Le’Veon Bell contract fight that I don’t think enough people have noticed. This is exactly what Le’Veon Bell does. He waits and only moves when the time is right, frustrating everyone (opponents and Steelers fans) in the process. He’s basically doing exactly that with his contract negotiations.
Le’Veon has gained a lot of praise for his unique style of actually waiting for blocks and opponents to make moves rather than plunging headfirst. He likes to hold back until he sees the opponent tip their hand, and then strike. The Steelers have just tipped their hand. Now Le’Veon is making his move. He’s holding out till he gets the deal he wants. With free agency looming next season, there’s a pretty good chance he makes more money than the Steelers offered him. Provided he doesn’t get hurt or beat up a woman of course.
Whether he’s worth what he’s asking is a tough question. Star RBs have come back into style recently (Gurley, Zeke, Fournette, Kamara, presumably Barkley) but they are still extremely undervalued and underpaid due to not lasting long and the relative ease of plugging in any halfway decent guy. Bell is one of the best in the game but very few RBs ever get big second contracts now because it’s just easier to have a good RB on a rookie contract for 5 years and ride him into the ground.
The Steelers offered Bell something around 13 Million per year and like 70m total, which honestly is a pretty good offer relative to the position. I don’t blame Bell for wanting to get more and be considered an “elite offensive weapon” instead of a RB. And he’s been incredible for the Steelers when he’s healthy. That’s one thing I often see overlooked: Bell doesn’t have the healthiest track record. He’s played one full season and one almost full season. With how quickly RBs seem to break down, that’s a risk. He’s betting on himself. Worked for Kirk Cousins! Didn’t work for a number of other players.
I guess we just have to wait to see what he does next, like every run play he’s a part of.
There will not be a comic on Saturday, I’m going on Vacay this weekend, gotta get that sweet free time in before the season starts up.
mmm pierogies.
Fixed that for you:
“Provided he doesn’t get hurt or beat up a woman on camera, of course.”
I still contest that running backs like Bell, Gurley, Kamara and hopefully Barkely, are undervalued by current standards and statistics. It’s like having an elite slot receiver who also can also run the ball and provide pass protection, but only takes up one spot on the roster. I also think that excellent utility backs are rare and have a higher win above replacement than we currently think or can calculate with traditional stats.
I know from just watching the little bit of the Steelers last year that Bell was responsible for at least 3 wins they shouldn’t have gotten, and I can’t count the number of close games Kamara took over for the Saints. That’s before you factor in how much focus teams have to put on containing them with safeties and linebackers, making the long ball easier.
I wonder if we’ll see is a market adjustment as soon as a back like Bell or Gurley hits the open market, and that teams will start to value do everything backs more.
The Steelers also only guaranteed $10M of that contract. I wrote a short summary of how the Steelers could’ve played with the guaranteed money and first couple years to explain to a friend why “$70M over 5 years” wasn’t necessarily as good as it seemed. I told him that “this is a ridiculous lowball offer and the Steelers definitely did better than this, but …”
My explanation had a $10M signing bonus. The Steelers’ offer was so ridiculously low that my caveat on what I considered to be a stupid structure was actually right on target.
There’s no way they only guaranteed $10M of that contract. Maybe $10M in signing bonus, but the first year’s salary at a minimum would also be guaranteed and that’s just in terms of money guaranteed at signing. The total guarantees offered were probably closer to $30M-$35M.
Why it’s better for Bell to go year-to-year and bet on himself is what Dave said about running backs having short shelf lives. Two years on the franchise tag and he’ll have earned just under $27M, which is higher than the three-year average for most running backs’ second contracts. At that point he’ll have made as much money in his career as most starting backs while entering free agency going into his age-28 season and probably get at least another $20M-$25M guaranteed on a 3-4 year deal.
The Steelers don’t traditionally guarantee much beyond the first couple of years. I’m torn: on one hand, I don’t blame Bell for wanting to get as much money as he can before his body breaks down. I also don’t blame the Steelers for being hesitant to offer tons of guarantees to an RB with a ton of touches and a history of both injuries and suspensions. Guess time will tell how much he’s worth.
And that pierogies shirt is fantastic. You could probably actually sell that in Pittsburgh.
I think CLE might sell something like that, albeit in brown type on an orange shirt.
Lol yinzers
I initially read that shirt as “Pie orgies”, and am now disappointed with both the comic and myself.
Yinzers are the best
You really need to open up a merchandise shop. Vince Wilfork’s MEAT shirt, this guy’s PIEROGIES shirt, and the one from the preseason comic that said DO CRIME (my personal favorite) would be huge sellers.
I think Bell is overplaying his hand. If he had a spotless off field record and had been injury free, I think he’d be worth what he’s asking for.
Probably the most flattering portrayal of a Steeler fan.
assuming the deal has a fair share of guaranteed money, I think Bell should take it, he’s unlikely to get a lot better
I think you underestimate the number of dumb teams that would overpay market value for players
Minor quibble, Pierogi is already plural. The singular form is pierog.
huh, learned something new
That may be technically correct, but no Stillers fan is smart enough to know that.
And common usage has pierogi as singular. I’ve never in my life heard anyone say “pierog” when taking about one .
It’s Pittsburgh, they’re dumb enough to put pierogi in their mouth
clearly youve never sat down to a polish dinner
Le’Veon Bell:is best running back in football
Steelers: we will not give u enough money
Me: well I agree because he smokes too much weed
Stephen A. Smith: Stay of the WEEEEEEDUH