ORLANDO, Fla. -- While the Steelers made a push to get a long-term contract done with Le'Veon Bell in the weeks before the All-Pro running back became a free agent, they have put those negotiations on the back burner the past two weeks.
According to Kevin Colbert, speaking at the NFL meetings here Sunday, that's where they will stay for a while, as well.
Colbert said while the team still wants to get a long-term deal done with Bell, the sense of urgency on such a move has been pushed aside for more pressing issues.
"We moved into other matters of free agency and we continued with our preparation and pro day attendance," Colbert said of contract talks with Bell. "It’s not something we’re choosing to ignore. It’s just other things needed to be taken care of. Free agency takes precedence. But we’re also trying to keep up with our draft preparation."
At this point, there's no hurry. The Steelers placed the franchise tag on Bell for a second consecutive year earlier this month at a cost of $14.5 million. Bell can either sign that one-year deal and report to the team or wait, as he did last year, and report at the time of his choosing to sign the deal.
Last year, Bell skipped all of the team's offseason workouts and training camp, reporting just a few days before the Steelers opened the regular season against Cleveland.
The Steelers remain hopeful things won't get to that point again this year.
"We’ll react to that when we react to that if that would occur," Colbert said. "Hopefully it doesn’t. Hopefully, Le’Veon comes to training camp. Hopefully he’s a part of a winning team in 2018. We’ll react to every situation as it presents itself. But we’re never going to sit around and talk about the what-ifs. We’ll deal with it when what-if becomes reality."
The tagging of Bell and signings last week of Morgan Burnett and Jon Bostic in free agency have put the Steelers tight against the salary cap. Some have suggested the Steelers rescind the tag on Bell and free up the cash to spend elsewhere.
Colbert said he would never say something isn't a possibility, but also noted it's not probable. But he also noted that the team's cap situation can be affected on an almost daily basis.
"We are where we are," Colbert said. "We’re not intentionally ignoring (signing him). It’s just that more urgent business has to be taken care of. We’ll reassess where we are. He’ll reassess where he is and interests are, as well. I anticipate we’ll get back to that once we get through the free agency period and maybe even through the draft. You don’t know. The draft can change things on both sides."
How so?
"Depending on who you add to the roster, you may add people at a position other than running back and you may terminate another guy and that might open more cap room. There are so many different things that we have to be in touch with. There’s no specific way to go about it."
