Steelers Now Listening to Trade Offers to L.Bell

[Rich_C]

My my my how those tables have turned in Pitsburg.

Link: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...or-leveon-bell

The Pittsburgh Steelers previously dismissed any trade overtures for Le'Veon Bell. Now the team has decided to at least listen.

The Steelers have received a few inquiries from teams looking to trade for the franchised running back, and they have not shot those down as they once did, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

A trade would be very complicated, but not impossible. Bell would essentially have to agree to the swap, as the Steelers would need him to sign the franchise tender before any deal can get done. Since the running back has not signed his $14.54 million tender, he's currently not under contract.

Per Rapoport, expect talks to heat up as the trade deadline gets closer. The deadline is Oct. 30.

Bell forfeits nearly $853,000 per week that he sits out. He will miss Monday night's tussle with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Rapoport noted that if a team acquired Bell, they'd need to have enough salary cap space to absorb nearly $10 million. The running back's new team couldn't sign him to a long-term contract until after the season.

Bell has his sights on resetting the running back market with a new deal. Any team trading for him would have to be willing to meet those demands or risk the investment being a short-term rental for a player who seems to crave the ability to test free-agent waters.

I find this story interesting...thoughts?

[EddieMac]

Everyone needs to steer clear of that guy... it reeks of a me first player, who will go into cruise control once he signs a long term deal... if he was about winning.. he is currently in a great spot...

[baphamet]

i don't get it......why would a team trade for bell if he's set to become a FA at the end of the year? they can't sign him long term until FA starts or am i missing something?

[EddieMac]

i don't get it......why would a team trade for bell if he's set to become a FA at the end of the year? they can't sign him long term until FA starts or am i missing something?

Ypu are right. He cant do a lobg term deal with a new team this year. I guess it would be a trust and a handshake it would get done.

[broncolee]

Depending on what the Steelers are willing to accept, a team that believes it is a contender might be willing to trade for Bell

If the Steelers want a lot in return, then it wouldn’t make sense for a team to trade for Bell.

Maybe the Steelers could work out some kind of conditional compensation that depends on Bell signing a long term deal with the new team.

[baphamet]

Ypu are right. He cant do a lobg term deal with a new team this year. I guess it would be a trust and a handshake it would get done.

only thing i can think of is, isn't there like a 3 day grace period that teams can negotiate with their own players before FA begins? even then, bell can still say no and take the best offer from any team if he wants.

[CanDB]

So is Billy B investigating Bell as well?? Probably. Heck, he was trying to trade Gronk, and he would trade his own mother, so lets see. The Steelers should ask for Michel, Gilmore and a high draft pick.

[DevilSpawn]

Wherever he goes, it would be cool (and funny) to see him on Cleveland next year.

Meanwhile... we have a couple of first rounders to spare. And a lot of cap space next year with one, maybe two retiring backs, a starting wide receiver who probably won't get renewed, an offensive minded coach who would LOVE to have this version of Charlie Garner...

and a new front office who better not trade him to Chicago dammit. I don't want him, though. He's so diva he changes outfits after every quarter.

[Rancid]

I don't know why anyone would want someone that does not keep his word? He's under contract already, right?

I am not clear on how it is going down, but I kind of think if you sign an agreement you need to stick to it. Otherwise, this guy is no good to anyone.

[dizzolve]

He hasn't helped Pittsburgh win a championship.

[HUMCALC]

He hasn't helped Pittsburgh win a championship.

I'd blame the D more, wouldn't you?

[Rich_C]

I don't know why anyone would want someone that does not keep his word? He's under contract already, right?

I am not clear on how it is going down, but I kind of think if you sign an agreement you need to stick to it. Otherwise, this guy is no good to anyone.

HE has kept his word. All players who came out and stated that they all thought Bell would show up have come forward and said that their comments were not based on conversations with him.

Bell is NOT under contract and the Steelers could resind the tag at anytime to allow him to hit FA....instead they are refusing to do that and they have refused to commit to a long-term deal with anything more than the 1st 10-14mil guaranteed. Bell - IMO is a guy who is a difference maker.