The Le'Veon Bell Tolls ... To the Ravens

[Triton85]

How many people are concerned about Bell at this point, turned down a 5yr $70 mil deal

I've seen discussions of him holding out, which really doesn't help his future free agency cause

[schiewerma21]

Definitely worried. Not a first round startup pick

[Cowboysfan33]

I haven’t been taking him in any of my startup drafts. I could understand taking him early in redraft because he’s great but there are several warning flags, mainly how many touches he’s getting so far in his career, for me to take him in the first round, but I still see hm go, usually no later than 1.07 or so, maybe he will be an outlier, but he’s really racking up the mileage. Plus, it looks like this will be it for him in Pittsburgh so who knows where he ends up but it’s almost certain, that it won’t be as good of an offense that he’s in right now.

[hockeyBjj]

If people are concerned about him, I'd absolutely love to buy him up

He's gonna blow it up this year, just like he did last year after getting franchised after turning down a 5 year 60 mil offer and sitting out all of camp and pre-season. It's the same story this year as last year, and he was RB2 behind only Gurley in case ya'll forgot. RB3 with 3 missing weeks 2016 after also having contract issues.

After 2018, some team will pay up. And he'll be a top 5 ppr back once again with his versatility. I think it'd be interesting if he signed a fatty 1 year contract somewhere like a 3rd year franchise tag would be

[Triton85]

I'm more worried about him just retiring

[Valhalla]

I'm interested in the structure of that 5 year $70M deal. If there wasn't a large portion of it guaranteed, and it was back-loaded, it's possible that he saw it as...making less than what the franchise tag would pay him this year, and not enough guaranteed beyond that to make up for it.

From Bell's perspective, he can make the 14.544M this year on the FT, and still hit free agency in somewhat prime form and get a decent contract somewhere. The risk: he doesn't stay healthy so he doesn't see a big contract.
But...what if he were to sign...and make less than the 14.544M this year, but then get hurt? What if there's not much guaranteed money in the deal and the Steelers could cut bait on a less than prime form Bell? Signing a contract with little guaranteed money has as much risk associated with injury as not signing.

I get why the Steelers won't pay him that much guaranteed, but I get why Bell is taking a higher payout this year with the option to sign to the highest bidder (and highest guaranteed $) next year.

[Triton85]

33 million guaranteed from what I saw, $45 mil in the first 3 years

[Valhalla]

This piques my interest in watching this guy in preseason and how the Steelers may sprinkle him in throughout the season. I expect them to run on Bell's legs with no regard to his future, but if they're putting Samuels out there in spots as well...it could be a sign of things to come.
Or...it could very well be James Conner. That guy has a very interesting story as well, and it'd be easy for a fan-base to root for him.

[Valhalla]

[Lotto4Life]

Is the NFL allowed to perform "random" drug tests on him right now, or do they have to wait until he signs his FT contract?

[Phaded]

I wouldn't mind owning him but not touching him near his going rate.

[FantasyFreak]

33 million guaranteed from what I saw, $45 mil in the first 3 years

He's making really bad career moves IMO. Not sure why he thinks he'll get more than that being another year older.

[UATahoe]

If that deal was actually on the table, i think its insane that he would turn it down. That is crazy money for a RB and i just dont see him getting a much better offer next year.

[Valhalla]

Holding out through a monster contract offer for an even more absurd offer worked well for Peterson...

[Orenthal Shames]

33 million guaranteed from what I saw, $45 mil in the first 3 years

He's making really bad career moves IMO. Not sure why he thinks he'll get more than that being another year older.

Agree. Steelers are going to just run him into the ground and ship him off, a shell of himself otherwise.