Pro Bowl running back LeVeon Bell still hasn't reported to camp and the NFL season is only three weeks away. As Steelers fans are aware, Pittsburgh is experiencing a bit of gridlock with their 5th-year star since the July 17 deadline for multi-year deal signings passed without him agreeing to an offer, and ever since, he's cut off communication and left everyone wondering whether it'll remain that way going into the season. The general public didn't know much else about Bell's situation, until Friday, August 18, when a report leaked to confirm that Bell had passed up on $12 million for five years.
Bell is said to have scrapped the offer sheet despite his agent agreeing to the deal on his behalf. Bell apparently let the offer sit without signing it by the 4 p.m. deadline players are given, and so the Steelers went ahead and exercised their $12.12 million franchise tag, which keeps him in Pittsburgh for one final season before he gets to test the market in 2018. Bell has given no indication that he will miss any regular season games, and the word from sources close to Bell's camp is that he remains open to committing to Pittsburgh long term if only they up their offer to $15 million per year.
Bell's demand is consistent with lyrics he's spit that perhaps foreshadow his talks with the Pittsburgh front office. “I’m at the top, and if not, I’m the closest. I’m a need 15 a year and they know this," Bell rhymed on a song titled "Focus" last year. Such a deal would only cushion his pockets with more than he already makes as the top paid player at his position. Bell pulls in nearly $4 million more per year than any other back.
Source: nydailynews.com
