What is the real story on Bell's options?

[ExUSAF]

Now this article makes it appear that Bell doesn't need to report this year at all and losing the accrued season means nothing as far as the franchise tag is concerned? https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...ba-loophole-allowing-him-not-to-play-in-2018/

If the Steelers have to treat the next tag as a third tag and not a second if he doesn't report this season, it's game over. He will never appear in a Steeler uniform again. I thought, however, that losing the season meant something - apparently it doesn't except for lost wages.

 

[MT~Forged]

Good, that works best, unless Conner goes down for the season

 

[Steeltime]

If the Steelers have to treat the next tag as a third tag and not a second if he doesn't report this season, it's game over. He will never appear in a Steeler uniform again. I thought, however, that losing the season meant something - apparently it doesn't except for lost wages.

And cap space for the Steelers.

Oh, and by the way, the credible information indicates that the Steelers offered Bell was 5 years, $70 million, with about $20 million guaranteed. Bell now needs to get a contract paying him 5 years, $84 million, with something like $35 million guaranteed to break even.

Not going to happen.

 

[kev4heels]

And cap space for the Steelers.

Oh, and by the way, the credible information indicates that the Steelers offered Bell was 5 years, $70 million, with about $20 million guaranteed. Bell now needs to get a contract paying him 5 years, $84 million, with something like $35 million guaranteed to break even.

Not going to happen.

This...and the Gurley contract totaled out at about 23-24 mil in guaranteed money; not the 43 mil being bandied about.

 

[Ironcitysteelers]

He can always fall back on his mad rap skillz

 

[biscuits4u2]

All along I was wondering if he just wanted to get high for awhile

Do they even drug test a player that isn't employed by the NFL?

He not under contract with anyone

Hence the reason why his reporting dates keep moving

Just sayin

 

[Atlsteelers]

Think about all the money we will carry over to next year. Him holding out and Connor having the season he's had actually turns out to be a really good thing for the team. The only fear is obviously if Connor goes down but I guess that could be said about a lot of players on the team.

 

[milkman dan]

Think about all the money we will carry over to next year. Him holding out and Connor having the season he's had actually turns out to be a really good thing for the team. The only fear is obviously if Connor goes down but I guess that could be said about a lot of players on the team.

Its like 8mil+ saved by Bell sitting out and I think Shazier is off the books at around 8mil if I'm not mistaken. Not even sure what's available on top of that, but does anyone remember a time when the Steelers were upwards of 20mil in cap space?

 

[str8liner]

All along I was wondering if he just wanted to get high for awhile

Do they even drug test a player that isn't employed by the NFL?

He not under contract with anyone

Hence the reason why his reporting dates keep moving

Just sayin

This is what I think the issue is/was all along.

For the amount of money he has lost if in fact it was the case, it better have been some really good ****.

 

[wig]

If that dude gave up > 8.5 million to smoke some pot... He's got a VERY serious addiction problem.

 

[Atlsteelers]

Its like 8mil+ saved by Bell sitting out and I think Shazier is off the books at around 8mil if I'm not mistaken. Not even sure what's available on top of that, but does anyone remember a time when the Steelers were upwards of 20mil in cap space?

Actually if he were to sit out the whole year I think its 14mil for Bell and not sure how much we had with all the restructures before the season. BUT with all that being said we will possibly have more money than we have had in a very long time. I also expect an extension for Ben in the offseason. Probably another 3 years?

 

[Skott]

What free agent CB or LBs are gonna be available?

 

[bigtwnvin]

And cap space for the Steelers.

Oh, and by the way, the credible information indicates that the Steelers offered Bell was 5 years, $70 million, with about $20 million guaranteed. Bell now needs to get a contract paying him 5 years, $84 million, with something like $35 million guaranteed to break even.

Not going to happen.

Bell has yet to play the 2018-19 season. Other than sending out psy-op twitter blabber, prospective bidders have squat to justify his value other than 2017 stats.

 

[MT~Forged]

I still stand by my interpretation of reading the CBA. My position is that if he does not sign at all, the Steelers get a do over on the 2nd tag.

 

[Steeler]

I still stand by my interpretation of reading the CBA. My position is that if he does not sign at all, the Steelers get a do over on the 2nd tag.

I'm with you, it doesn't make sense that a player would be rewarded for holding the org hostage. And why even have a deadline to sign for the season to count.

 

[FordFairLane]

Omg I hope he tries that loophole. He still has to play to gain a year of service. So if he doesn’t sign he wasn’t in the nfl and no season completed. It’s a do over. A first year law student will eat them alive in court.

And the stunt has to have turned him off on lots of teams. Think if you are an owner and your General Manager says, “I want to sign a two time offender of the leagues substance abuse policy whom held out all of last season”. That’s probably not going over well.

I say transition tag him and see what the open market offers.

 

[Ike Kelly]

Now this article makes it appear that Bell doesn't need to report this year at all and losing the accrued season means nothing as far as the franchise tag is concerned? https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...ba-loophole-allowing-him-not-to-play-in-2018/

If the Steelers have to treat the next tag as a third tag and not a second if he doesn't report this season, it's game over. He will never appear in a Steeler uniform again. I thought, however, that losing the season meant something - apparently it doesn't except for lost wages.

The article stating his has found a loophole, is incorrect. Bell’s agent has “interpreted” the language in the CBA as having a loophole. In actuality, the CBA spells out certain processes for specific scenarios. The spirit of the contractual agreement between the two parties is not to punish one or the other on a provision or statute. It’s the whole meaning of “collectively bargained”. To protect both sides. If the agent and NFLPA wants to push this, all it will do is promote a legal response...and delay any resolution for either Bell or the club. The endgame is Bell wants to be paid, and the Steelers have a right to keep rights to a player who on his own recognizance failed to report under the provisions of the CBA. If only to receive compensation for a player they, according to the CBA, are entitled to. Why delay either? Bell will be offered a contract whether under the 2nd or 3rd tag. What does it matter to the agent if the contract is bigger than the tag?

What that compensation is also unclear. One section says 2 no 1s, another says a 1 and a 3rd. Bell and his agent don’t care about that.


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[Steelmann]

What does an agent make? 10-15%? I wonder if he takes off his fee for every game the bell rapper sits out. He is the one who wants Bell to set an example,Bell seems to have found the perfect idiot match. This is the one time I would like to see a little bit of collusion by the owners,no one offer him big bucks.

Then again.....it's his choice I guess. As idiotic as it all seems.

 

[SteelerFan448]

If Bell's agent is just researching this information now then Bell's agent is really bad at his job.

 

[Hoot]

And why even have a deadline to sign for the season to count.

Two reasons come to mind:
1. Accounting for how a player makes it to FA in the first place. Bell has accrued the minimum number of seasons to be a FA so we get to go through the whole franchise tag roller coaster. WIthout it, a player could hold out for a season during hte last year of his rookie contract and still become FA the following season. As written, they can't.
2. Vesting with the company for retirement. A former player once told me to fully vest and qualify for NFL pension, you have to accrue 4 years of playing time. This was a long time ago and a couple of labor agreements have been signed since so it might be a different term, but there is some term for players to become fully vested as employees.

 

[bigtwnvin]

Omg I hope he tries that loophole. He still has to play to gain a year of service. So if he doesn’t sign he wasn’t in the nfl and no season completed. It’s a do over. A first year law student will eat them alive in court.

And the stunt has to have turned him off on lots of teams. Think if you are an owner and your General Manager says, “I want to sign a two time offender of the leagues substance abuse policy whom held out all of last season”. That’s probably not going over well.

I say transition tag him and see what the open market offers.

I still maintain Me'Veon's agent is at the bottom of all this. For Bell to continue to stay away from playing to enhance his value, forfeiting somewhere around $9 million (to date), is a foolish strategy and makes no sense.
Introducing the new Dumb and Dumber?

 

[FSF]

No matter what anyone says, expect it to be contested and arbitration will necessary. Bell is betting on the big contact when Steelers try to stick it to him with transition tag


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[Hines57]

As long as we get some compensation for him, I really don't care.

 

[MT~Forged]

The Steelers screwed the pooch when they tagged him without giving him options to work out a compensation package for them. They knew how he felt regarding the 2nd tag, they also knew how he felt about their offers. As an owner, I would have allowed him to work something out while still holding the power of veto. The Steelers let their egos get the better of them, just like Bell has done also.

 

[milkman dan]

Actually if he were to sit out the whole year I think its 14mil for Bell and not sure how much we had with all the restructures before the season. BUT with all that being said we will possibly have more money than we have had in a very long time. I also expect an extension for Ben in the offseason. Probably another 3 years?

I was still under the assumption at the time he would show up week ten.