If you've watched enough pro football over the years the Le'Veon Bell saga in Pittsburgh is a familiar story line.
The team's star player is trying to get a new contract and has refused to show up to training camp and practice until he receives what he and his agent believes is a fair offer from the team.
Bell, 26, is arguably the best and one of the most utilized running backs in the league. Even on a team with weapons like Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster, Bell still seems like the engine that makes Pittsburgh's offense go.
Usually in holdout situations like this one, the holdout player's teammates will come out in public support of their colleague that's trying to get the new money.
You'll often see a quote that goes something like "We wish that he was out here with us but we understand the business side of the game."
In fact, here's what head coach Mike Tomlin told ESPN back in July: "Obviously, we want to get a deal done, he wants to get a deal done. Everybody has said that," said Tomlin.
But the Steelers made headlines yesterday when a few players criticized Bell for staging the lengthy holdout. Starting offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey told reporters: "I just felt confident that he was gonna come," Pouncey said Wednesday, "But now that he didn't, obviously it's Le'Veon over the Steelers, and we're the Steelers and we're going to play as the Steelers. ... Now when it's game time and you that you have $14 million looming out there, and you're still not here and your team really wants you here? At this point, we got [James] Conner."
Another teammate, guard Ramon Foster was also vocal about Bell and dropped a shady tweet for good measure.
"In the ultimate team sport, we've created a league of individuals," Foster said. "I know the league is all about get your money, get paid, I love it. ... But at least let us know [you weren't coming].
"Right now, we're just dealing with the aspect of, 'Are you going to do it for us, or are you really going to wait it out?' Because this is one of those things where we as an offensive line, as a team -- Pounce urged him to come in, and now nothing. There are so many guys [here] who are sacrificing everything."
The problem with this situation is that it's rare to see players publicly criticize a teammate trying to get a new contract. Especially a player like Bell who's regarded as one of the best at his position, who has been in a contract dispute for the last few seasons and who just saw his counterpart Todd Gurley get rewarded with a big contract by the Los Angeles Rams.
Before Stephen Curry signed a five year, $200 million contract last year, he was considered underpaid compared to what other lesser players around him were making. When asked about it, here's what he had to say: "One thing my pops always told me is you never count another man's money," Curry said. "It's what you've got and how you take care of it. And if I'm complaining about $44 million over four years, then I've got other issues in my life."
Although the situation is different, the quote still applies. Never count another man's money. If Le'Veon Bell has performed like one of the best people in the world at his job over the past several years then he is not wrong for wanting to be compensated like it.
One can understand why his teammates want him to be at practice because he makes that team better and gives them a really good chance to win. However, God forbid, if Bell were tear his ACL on the first carry of the game, he'd be fresh out of luck. Then when the Steelers release or trade him because he can't produce like he did before the injury, his teammates will still go about their lives business as usual. That attitude usually precedes a quote like, "That's just the business side of the league."
To be fair, Bell is due $14.5 million this season which would make him the highest paid running back in 2018 and that, especially to poor folks like me, is nothing to scoff at. But what he is seeking is a long-term contract with more guaranteed money.
I'm sure Bell is well aware that the Rams rewarded Gurley with a four year, $57 million dollar deal after his MVP caliber season in 2017. That deal showed that the Rams valued Gurley and what he brings to the team.
While it's not clear what Pittsburgh has offered Bell, it's obviously well short of what he feels is fair.
Just imagine if you were one of the best in the world at your job, have proven your value over the last several years and still in the prime of your career. Yet your employer is basically saying "hmm, lets wait and see" and now your co-workers who bring less value to the team are openly criticizing you to people outside the company.
My advice to Bell: get your money running back, get your money.
The team's star player is trying to get a new contract and has refused to show up to training camp and practice until he receives what he and his agent believes is a fair offer from the team.
Bell, 26, is arguably the best and one of the most utilized running backs in the league. Even on a team with weapons like Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster, Bell still seems like the engine that makes Pittsburgh's offense go.
 |
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
|
You'll often see a quote that goes something like "We wish that he was out here with us but we understand the business side of the game."
In fact, here's what head coach Mike Tomlin told ESPN back in July: "Obviously, we want to get a deal done, he wants to get a deal done. Everybody has said that," said Tomlin.
But the Steelers made headlines yesterday when a few players criticized Bell for staging the lengthy holdout. Starting offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey told reporters: "I just felt confident that he was gonna come," Pouncey said Wednesday, "But now that he didn't, obviously it's Le'Veon over the Steelers, and we're the Steelers and we're going to play as the Steelers. ... Now when it's game time and you that you have $14 million looming out there, and you're still not here and your team really wants you here? At this point, we got [James] Conner."
Another teammate, guard Ramon Foster was also vocal about Bell and dropped a shady tweet for good measure.
"In the ultimate team sport, we've created a league of individuals," Foster said. "I know the league is all about get your money, get paid, I love it. ... But at least let us know [you weren't coming].
"Right now, we're just dealing with the aspect of, 'Are you going to do it for us, or are you really going to wait it out?' Because this is one of those things where we as an offensive line, as a team -- Pounce urged him to come in, and now nothing. There are so many guys [here] who are sacrificing everything."
More Ramon Foster on Bell: “He’s making 7 times what I make twice as much as Al (Villanueva) is making and we’re the guys who do it for him.”— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) September 5, 2018
Tell us how you really feel fellas.👀😬 pic.twitter.com/f6eBzYL21H— Ramon Foster (@RamonFoster) September 5, 2018
The problem with this situation is that it's rare to see players publicly criticize a teammate trying to get a new contract. Especially a player like Bell who's regarded as one of the best at his position, who has been in a contract dispute for the last few seasons and who just saw his counterpart Todd Gurley get rewarded with a big contract by the Los Angeles Rams.
Before Stephen Curry signed a five year, $200 million contract last year, he was considered underpaid compared to what other lesser players around him were making. When asked about it, here's what he had to say: "One thing my pops always told me is you never count another man's money," Curry said. "It's what you've got and how you take care of it. And if I'm complaining about $44 million over four years, then I've got other issues in my life."
Although the situation is different, the quote still applies. Never count another man's money. If Le'Veon Bell has performed like one of the best people in the world at his job over the past several years then he is not wrong for wanting to be compensated like it.
One can understand why his teammates want him to be at practice because he makes that team better and gives them a really good chance to win. However, God forbid, if Bell were tear his ACL on the first carry of the game, he'd be fresh out of luck. Then when the Steelers release or trade him because he can't produce like he did before the injury, his teammates will still go about their lives business as usual. That attitude usually precedes a quote like, "That's just the business side of the league."
To be fair, Bell is due $14.5 million this season which would make him the highest paid running back in 2018 and that, especially to poor folks like me, is nothing to scoff at. But what he is seeking is a long-term contract with more guaranteed money.
I'm sure Bell is well aware that the Rams rewarded Gurley with a four year, $57 million dollar deal after his MVP caliber season in 2017. That deal showed that the Rams valued Gurley and what he brings to the team.
While it's not clear what Pittsburgh has offered Bell, it's obviously well short of what he feels is fair.
Just imagine if you were one of the best in the world at your job, have proven your value over the last several years and still in the prime of your career. Yet your employer is basically saying "hmm, lets wait and see" and now your co-workers who bring less value to the team are openly criticizing you to people outside the company.
My advice to Bell: get your money running back, get your money.
Comments
Post a Comment