Pittsburgh Steelers place franchise tag on Le'Veon Bell
Tuesday 28 February 2017 18:02, UK
The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed an exclusive rights franchise tag on Pro Bowl running back Le'Veon Bell, ensuring he'll remain with the team in 2017.
The tag gives the Steelers time to work out a long-term deal with Bell, who could have become a free agent next month.
The 25-year-old led the NFL in average yards from scrimmage last season and became the first player in NFL history to average at least 100 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving per game.
"Le'Veon had a great year,'' Steelers president Art Rooney said recently. "He certainly is one of the top running backs in the league, if not the best back in the league. He is somebody that we hope to have around for a little while longer, that's for sure."
Pittsburgh general manager Kevin Colbert said earlier this month the Steelers want to keep Bell with the organisation "for life."
Bell has missed games in each of his first four seasons in the NFL due to suspensions or injuries. In 2016, he played in 12 games after serving a three-game suspension for violating the NFL's drug policy.
Bell was forced to limp out of Pittsburgh's AFC Championship Game defeat to the New England Patriots. It marked the third consecutive season he finished the season injured.
However, Colbert says the organisation is not concerned about Bell's reliability or durability and has full faith in him.
"Unfortunately, running backs get injured a little more than other positions due to the nature of the position,'' Colbert told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
"We have no reservations about Le'Veon. Not his durability or his ability. He's grown, I think, tremendously off the field. And I think, I hope, he continues to grow in those areas.
"But there's no hesitation to having him be with us, hopefully, for his whole career."
The team has until July 15 to reach an agreement with Bell on a new contract. If not, he will make the average salary of the top five running backs in the league in 2017.
