At some point, both sides should conclude a marriage is over and end it on the spot. For the better part of the past calendar year, the Pittsburgh Steelers and star running back Le’Veon Bell have been at that point.
Bell held out throughout the entire 2018 season after having the franchise tag placed on him for a second consecutive year. Slated to become a free agent, common logic suggests that the Steelers will let Bell walk.
Not so fast. While the team won’t use the franchise tag on Bell, reports continue to surface that Pittsburgh will instead employ the seldom-used transition tag on the former All-Pro.
“The Steelers have 15 days, or until March 5, to use the transition tag on Bell, and all indications are coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert still intend to do that,” Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Transitioning Bell would give Pittsburgh an ability to match any offer presented to the running back in free agency.
If the team were to do that, it would be dependent on Bell actually signing the offer prior to being traded. This means cooperation from Bell and his side.
The likelier scenario is that Bell signs a free-agent deal with another team and Pittsburgh just lets him walk. Unfortunately for those of us who want the drama to end, the Steelers might not be willing to let that happen.
Bell, 26, put up north of 3,800 total yards and 20 touchdowns in his final two seasons with Pittsburgh prior to holding out last year.