Unable to come to a long-term contract agreement with two-time All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell, the Steelers made sure Bell wouldn't become an unrestricted free agent next week by placing the franchise tag on him just before the NFL's Tuesday 4 p.m. deadline.
Under the terms of the franchise tag, Bell would be guaranteed $14.5 million in 2018 once he signs the tender offer. But the team would still like to sign Bell to a long-term extension that would keep him in Pittsburgh beyond the 2018 season. The two sides have until 4 p.m., July 16 to work out an extension.
This is the second consecutive season Bell, 26, has had the franchise tag used on him. He played for the tag value of $12.1 million in 2017. But, he also skipped all of the team's offseason activities, training camp and the preseason, reporting and signing his tender one week before the Steelers played their regular-season opener.
Bell has been adamant that he would like to get a long-term extension worked out, but he turned down a deal last year that would have paid him $60 million over five seasons.
In an interview released Tuesday by Billboard Hip-Hop, Bell said he wasn't surprised a new contract wasn't completed, but he did express hope that one will happen.
"Yeah, the franchise tag deadline is on Tuesday, and I don’t think we’re gonna have a deal done by Tuesday. So I’m probably gonna end up getting (franchise) tagged. And then, we’ll still try to work out a long-term deal," Bell said.
"But obviously, when the end of July comes, wherever we’re at … if I sign, everybody’ll be happy, but if not, I guess I gotta play it by ear. If I’ll be out till Week 1, if I’ll be out till Week 10, or if I’m gonna be out there at all. It depends on how I feel at that time and moment."
When asked if he remains optimistic about a deal being completed, Bell was frank.
"I’m hoping for that. I mean, obviously, I didn’t expect the deal to get done … I didn’t necessarily come in with too much expectation," he said. "But I’m definitely hoping for something to get done."
That's a far different tack than the one he took earlier this week with ESPN.com. In that interview, Bell told the site he would consider holding out or retirement -- a stance he had taken in the week before the Steelers' season-ending playoff loss to Jacksonville -- if the Steelers were to use the franchise tag on him.
The sticking point between Bell and the Steelers last year was how much guaranteed money would be included in the contract. Bell was asking for considerably more guaranteed money than the $19 million Antonio Brown received in a contract extension last spring.
But, at that time, he was a year younger and was guaranteed to make at least $26.6 million in 2017 and 2018 under the franchise tag. As things now stand, the only guarantee he has is the $14.5 million now awaiting his signature.
"I'm the one to bet on myself. And I'll do it again," Bell told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "I understand how the Steelers do contracts. Last year, I was pounding the table on guaranteed money. That's not the case. If I'm not getting guaranteed money, I want a lot more up front. ... It's year-to-year with the Steelers. Essentially if I sign a four- or five-year deal, I'm playing four or five franchise tags.
"Earlier I said I felt we would get one done, and this year we are a lot closer than last year. In good spirit, I feel we can get something done. But unless something drastic changes, it won't be [this week]."
The Steelers now must figure out how to get below the salary cap by 4 p.m. March 14. Bell's franchise tag puts the team at $8.6 million over the cap, which was set at $177.2 million earlier this week. The Steelers had roughly $4 million in unused cap space to roll over from 2017, giving them $181.2 million in space.
Safety Mike Mitchell is expected to be released at a savings of $6.3 million. But the Steelers also will still need to make at least one, if not more, moves to get under the cap, including the release of players and restructuring of contracts.
