PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have until July 16 to negotiate with the franchise-tagged Le’Veon Bell, and neither side appears in a rush. But the perceived lack of momentum entering those crucial summer conversations paints a murky picture between the team and the game’s best running back.
All options appear to be on the table, from a one-year rental and eventual breakup to a mega-deal that satisfies both sides.
A few mini-developments have surfaced over the past few weeks: The Steelers' prioritization of the draft and free agency before re-opening Bell talks; Bell's admission that he feels a villain in an NFL city that usually tilts positive toward its players; and the NFL Network's on-air report that mentioned Bell wants to be paid like Antonio Brown, who makes around $17 million annually.