Really, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell has only himself to blame. With Monday’s 4 p.m. EST deadline passing, Bell will play the 2017 season on a one-year Franchise Tag deal that will pay him $12.1 million this season. That’s still a heft sum, but for a guy that plays arguably the NFL’s most dangerous position, long term security is worth something.
The #Steelers and RB Le’Veon Bell did not reach a long-term extension, despite intense negotiations. No deals for any tagged players today.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 17, 2017
But the Steelers want some security too and Bell hasn’t delivered that over the last two seasons. While he’s been incredible when he’s on the field, he’s been suspended twice. In 2015 he was suspended four games, before playing six and getting hurt. Last year he was forced to sit out the first three games of the season. If he gets suspended again, it’ll likely be for a year and Pittsburgh can’t afford that.
So the Steelers made the call and it was a smart one. They’ll play Bell on the tag this year and if he doesn’t get in trouble, they’ll give him the long term deal next off-season. It’s just good business. Frankly, it’s good for Bell too as he has a little extra incentive to stay out of trouble. Then there’s the fact that his $12.1 million this season makes him the highest paid per year running back in the league. The Carolina Panthers’ Jonathan Stewart and Buffalo Bills’ LeSean McCoy are second at $8 million a season.
I guess I just gotta get better…
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) July 17, 2017
Last year Bell played in 12 games and carried the ball 261 times for 1,268 yards, 4.9 yards per carry and seven touchdowns. He caught 75 passes for 616 yards and two touchdowns and that second stat is really what makes Bell so valuable to the Steelers offense and why it hits them so hard when he’s not available.
Johnson will play on the Franchise Tag for the second consecutive year
While Bell might have had an outside chance to land a long term deal, the Los Angeles Rams seemed to have made it clear all off-season that they were content with riding out the one-year Franchise Tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson.
Last season Johnson started all 14 games, recorded 57 tackles, 11 passes defended, one fumble recovery and one pick. While those numbers don’t leap off the page, Johnson’s 2015 numbers do. He had 71 tackles, one fumble recovery, 17 passes defended, seven interceptions and one defensive touchdown. The Rams don’t want to lose a player that can do that. They’ll be very willing to let the 2016 version of Johnson walk.
In two years, Trumaine Johnson will have earned half of what Janoris Jenkins signed for over five years.
The Rams really suck at this.
— SeattleRams (@seattlerams_nfl) July 17, 2017
That’s why the tag makes a lot of sense for the team. With new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips running things, Johnson could turn into the next Aqib Talib, which would warrant a long term contract and some big cash. If he doesn’t flourish, or puts up a performance like he did last season, Los Angeles will be more than willing to let Johnson go and test free agency.
The Rams did toss Johnson on the trade block this off-season, but no offers worth taking were put on the table.
Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson will play out season with franchise tag https://t.co/NCarZrCF2L pic.twitter.com/bVzYMvkaZ4
— Agustín Melara (@Agustmelara) July 18, 2017
As it is, Johnson is going to make $16.1 million this season on his “prove it” deal, which works out pretty well for him. It makes him the highest paid per year corner in the league ahead of the $15 million Josh Norman is making this season. In two years on the tag, Johnson will have pocketed $30.6 million.
Panthers fire general manager Dave Gettleman
With just a week or so before training camp begins, the Carolina Panthers are in the market for a new general manager after news broke Monday they had shitcanned Dave Gettleman. Gettleman is the second GM fired since the draft, joining former Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey on the unemployment line.
Gettleman has served in the GM capacity with the Panthers since 2013. Before that he was senior pro personnel analyst for the New York Giants in 2012.
Gettleman was not a popular figure in the Carolina locker room and some former players let their feelings on his firing be known on social media.
First, here’s Steve Smith Sr.
https://twitter.com/89SteveSmith/status/886992866479710208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nfl.com%2Fnews%2Fstory%2F0ap3000000820260%2Farticle%2Fpanthers-fire-general-manager-dave-gettleman
And here’s Josh Norman.
"👀" 🤔
— *Joshua R. Norman (@J_No24) July 17, 2017
Gettleman was a talented scout and will probably land on another NFL team in that capacity.
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