Next Tuesday the deadline for Le’Veon Bell to sign his franchise day expires – rumours are spreading that the running back could now suspend the entire season. But the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bosses are expecting Bell back now.
“I don’t know his plans,” team owner Art Rooney II admitted on Thursday on SiriusXM NFL Radio, but added, “But I would say we expect him back at this point next week. We know he’s back in Pittsburgh and hope we can get in touch with him over the weekend. I’d say we expect him back next week.”
The dynamics in Pittsburgh – should Bell return – would be the central storyline of the coming week. Several offensive linemen have publicly criticized Bell in recent weeks for not signing his franchise day and suspending the season to this point to save himself for the upcoming Free Agency instead of risking a one-year breach in Pittsburgh. In Bell’s absence James Conner plays a very good season, Bell would not be the automatic starter.
If Bell – who, by deciding not to play, has already waived over eight million dollars in salary – does not sign the day on Tuesday, he will sit out the entire season.
The Steelers could give him a third franchise day next year, but after this season and given the price then (over 20 million dollars) this might not be an option.
An alternative would be to give him Transition Day; then Pittsburgh would have the right to match any offer Bell receives from another team and tie him up for the long term. At the same time, however, they could also look for a final line and simply let Bell go as a Free Agent, and Pittsburgh would certainly get a high Compensatory Draft Pick in return.