In an article published on Sept. 19 on Sporting News, the former NFL 1999 Executive of the Year Jeff Diamond ripped into Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell and his decision to not yet sign the franchise tag placed on him by the Steelers. Diamond referred to Bell’s actions as “illogical” and “ludicrous," even going so far as to ask the question, “How much does this guy love the game?” It’s some of the strongest criticism yet against Bell, save his own teammates referring to him as “selfish” and the general manager of the Steelers calling the situation “disappointing,” and it continues the pattern of people attempting to vilify Bell for simply trying to protect his own financial and health interests.
Consider the situation that Bell has been put in as a player: He came in to the league in 2013 after being drafted by the Steelers in the second round. He signed a four-year rookie deal worth $4.12 million. He was successful during his rookie campaign, but really elevated his play during his second year when he reached the All-Pro team while recording over 1,300 yards of total rushing. Since then, despite missing some games for injuries and off-the-field issues, he has remained one of the best running backs in his generation and has been a vital part of a highly-ranked Steelers offense.
In return for that production, he has been franchise-tagged in each of the past two seasons coming off his rookie deal. The Steelers have done so for reasons that could be nothing other than attempting to avoid committing a long-term contract and a big chunk of their cap space to the running back. In their defense, as Bell is 26 this season, the Steelers and other teams in the league are rightfully concerned that his performance will remain at a high level for only a few more seasons.
From Bell’s perspective, however, he is entering the second half of a career in a league where skilled players typically don’t last very long, with no long-term security to protect himself or his family. The Steelers have refused to reward him for what he has done for the franchise, and instead have held him on short-term contracts and put him at a higher risk of injuries with huge amounts of touches each year (406 runs and receptions in 2017). He is only getting older, and the Steelers have forced him into a position where his free agency leverage is declining, meaning he may never get the long-term deal and guaranteed money he desires. The five-year deal offered to Bell by the Steelers may have seemed large at $70 million, but it also offered him little guaranteed money after the second year.
Before rushing to criticize Bell, his teammates and fans should realize the position he’s in. The Steelers have treated Bell like a replaceable cog that they only value as long as it is cheap. How can they demand loyalty and sacrifice, when they have shown none of the same to him?
Weidner's Words: Player vs. team loyalty
