Report: Leveon Bell eyeing Colts

[RockThatBlue]

This is from a Jets blog.

 

Running back Le'Veon Bell, who is expected to become a free agent on March 13, "has his eyes on" the Indianapolis Colts, according to a source familiar with Bell's plans. The source, who has spoken to Bell, said the free agent hasn't ruled out signing with the Jets or any team that pursues him, but the Colts, with quarterback Andrew Luck and perhaps more than $120 million in salary cap room, seem to be at the "top of his list."

"He has his eyes on the Colts, no doubt about that," the source said. "He sees Luck and that offense and all that cap room and they're much closer than the Jets. He wants to go someplace he can win right away."

 

https://www.sny.tv/jets/news/the-jets-may-not-be-leveon-bells-no-1-choice-this-offseason/302124598

[DaveA1102]

He has been fairly open about looking at the colts, with various instagram comments.

 

I would say it appears to me Bell may just go where the money takes him. 

 

[Four2itus]

Not again......

[John Hammonds]

I'm happy for him.  If he wanted to "go where he could win right away", he could have just stayed with the Steelers.  I don't want him.

[Luck 4 president]

He sees the money and our potential, but he doesn’t know how Chris Ballard approaches FA 

[CR91]

I just cant see Ballard giving 17 mil a year to a RB even one as talented as Bell. Not to mention he'll be 27 next year and has a ton of miles on him

[Timo1]

I'm not a fan of paying the money Bell will want on a rb. The Steelers have done fine with Conner in his place.  Use that money to sign 2 or 3 line men. Shut down corner, pass rusher, sure handed receiver, and quality back ups are way more important then a high priced rb.

 

Look at DeMarco Murray great back behind great o-line. Goes for big money and in a couple years he's out of the league.  It happens all the time with rbs. Use that money else where and build a winner for years to come.

[Tsarquise]

I wouldn't be mad if they got him. 

[DrLuck]

It is unbelievable what this FO has done as far as a culture change.  To think Bell has us at the top of his list, but still probably won't get signed. Thisis just so different from the Andre Johnson type hire days of Grigson. IDK that he fits our culture and his asking price is probably way too high. But if we did get him... that offense could be scary.

[HarryTheCat]

I think he's just looking at all of that cap money and drooling. Besides, the cost of raising the roof on LOS to accommodate his inflated ego should rule him out. Pass.

[MTC]

I trust Daddy Ballard will handle this the right way. 

 

[Lawrence Owen]

I don't see Ballard getting him as a RB...I think he & Reich are pretty happy with our stable.  But I do see a possible scenario that could get Bell close to the $$ he wants with the Colts.  But IDK if Bell is up for a position change to WR.

We'll just have to wait and see what Ballard decides I guess.

[NorthernBlue]

It would be pretty funny if Bell really wanted to come to the colts but Ballard didn’t want him  

 

Sign him or not, I’ll believe in Ballard either way 

[Pelt]

I would rather the Colts spend that money on two, to possibly three defensive players that can contribute quite significantly, than blow it all on one player. We could even get better O-line depth and stick with our current corral of running backs that we have already. They'll only get better, as two of them are rookies.

 

Let Bell get his big payday from some other suckers.

[RockThatBlue]

9 minutes ago, Lawrence Owen said:

I don't see Ballard getting him as a RB...I think he & Reich are pretty happy with our stable.  But I do see a possible scenario that could get Bell close to the $$ he wants with the Colts.  But IDK if Bell is up for a position change to WR.

We'll just have to wait and see what Ballard decides I guess.

Why would we want him at WR? lol

[Mr.Debonair]

I wonder if he’ll take the same contract the Steelers offered to play here

[throwing BBZ]

VOMIT

Let him run behind the Jet's  line  with  Darnold as his QB and  laugh  our ______  off when he sucks.

[Maniac]

I feel like he will want 4-5 years and Ballard won’t do it...

 

As he shouldn’t.

[Lawrence Owen]

16 minutes ago, RockThatBlue said:

Why would we want him at WR? lol

He is a better route runner and has better hands than anyone on this team not named Hilton.  Probably the best receiving RB in the NFL.  I'll grant him that.  

[Lawrence Owen]

19 minutes ago, Mr.Debonair said:

I wonder if he’ll take the same contract the Steelers offered to play here

According to NFL.com, the Steelers made one final offer to Bell on Monday, just hours before the NFL's 4 p.m. ET deadline for teams to negotiate a new contract with their franchise player. The offer from the Steelers was worth a total of $70 million over five years (or $14 million per season). Although the offer would have given Bell the largest multi-year contract of any running back in the NFL, he turned it down, and one reason he likely did that, is because it was nowhere near his asking price, which was reportedly in the neighborhood of $17 million per season.

[NewEra]

Bell is eyeing any team who will pay him that ridiculous amount of money. Not if he's taking a pay cut to play with us? Let's talk.

[Solon]

I'd take him in a heartbeat. Bell and Mack would be a hell of a duo. With our line, we could be in position to have a dominant rushing attack. I'm also sick of people mentioning the contract situation with the Steelers. If they truly wanted him, they would've offered more guaranteed money. Steelers offered Bell 5 years 70 with 33 guaranteed. The money would've been paid within the first two years. So basically it's a 2 year 33 million dollar deal. Only a fool would've taken it. For perspective, Sammy Watkins signed for 3 years 48 million with 30 guaranteed. 

[BProland85]

If no team out there offers him his 16 or 17 mil per season, and he lasts a few days on the open market, I could see Ballard entertaining bringing him in for a lesser deal, somewhere around 11 mil per season. If Bell really sincerely wants to play for the Colts and this awesome OL, he could take a lesser deal. I think the bridge has burned for him in Pittsburgh. 

[Jdubu]

35 minutes ago, HarryTheCat said:

I think he's just looking at all of that cap money and drooling. Besides, the cost of raising the roof on LOS to accommodate his inflated ego should rule him out. Pass.

I’ve said the same thing since the first time it was reported he liked the colts. He likes that cap space and money to spend more than he likes the colts. If the jets had the same cap space or the Jags or Cincinnatti etc, that would be he most favorite team he wanted to play for. 

 

Here is what would make me think he was sincere. If he said I really would love to go play for the colts, they are my first choice and I’d even come in at a discount because I believe in that organization that much. I’ll take my chances with a reduced salary and make it up in perks and maybe some incentives. That would make me believe he is team sincere and not cash sincere. Not that it makes him a bad guy that he wants to make as much cash as he can. 

[LJpalmbeacher2]

54 minutes ago, Timo1 said:

I'm not a fan of paying the money Bell will want on a rb. The Steelers have done fine with Conner in his place.  Use that money to sign 2 or 3 line men. Shut down corner, pass rusher, sure handed receiver, and quality back ups are way more important then a high priced rb.

 

Look at DeMarco Murray great back behind great o-line. Goes for big money and in a couple years he's out of the league.  It happens all the time with rbs. Use that money else where and build a winner for years to come.

 

....and we can always pick up a RB in the later rounds or a UDFA!

[fatboy]

Ballard’s stated approach is to reward current players that deserve a bigger contract.  Signing Bell is not consistent whatsoever and not only will limit the generous cap space we have, but would likely cause locker-room dissension against the organization.  I seriously doubt Bell will be a Colt; actually would worry if he did.  

[strt182]

48 minutes ago, Lawrence Owen said:

I don't see Ballard getting him as a RB...I think he & Reich are pretty happy with our stable.  But I do see a possible scenario that could get Bell close to the $$ he wants with the Colts.  But IDK if Bell is up for a position change to WR.

We'll just have to wait and see what Ballard decides I guess.

I could see Ballard giving Bell a bit of money but not what hes asking its going to be a GIVE AND TAKE situation. I could see Mack and Bell in the back field then bringing bell out of it alot and sometimes lining him up as a receiver also. 

IMO i could careless really either way. If hes a Colt i'll root for him.

[strt182]

26 minutes ago, Solon said:

I'd take him in a heartbeat. Bell and Mack would be a hell of a duo. With our line, we could be in position to have a dominant rushing attack. I'm also sick of people mentioning the contract situation with the Steelers. If they truly wanted him, they would've offered more guaranteed money. Steelers offered Bell 5 years 70 with 33 guaranteed. The money would've been paid within the first two years. So basically it's a 2 year 33 million dollar deal. Only a fool would've taken it. For perspective, Sammy Watkins signed for 3 years 48 million with 30 guaranteed. 

How do those numbers work? Serious question

As to the bolded if i wanted to play for a team and I wanted 17 and they offered me 16.5 based on your figures I'd probably bet money I would take it. 

[Solon]

3 minutes ago, strt182 said:

How do those numbers work? Serious question

 

If Bell would've taken the deal the Steelers offered him, he would've only been guaranteed 33 of the 70 million. The Steelers had the contract set up that he would receive the 33 million in the first two years. After those two years are up, you're basically at the teams will. If they want to cut you for whatever reason, they could do so without penalty. They could also trade you to offload your contract and your newer team could cut you without penalty. 

[jvan1973]

If he wants to play for 10 mill a year,  sure thing.   17 mill per,  no way Ballard does that.   

[strt182]

Just now, Solon said:

 

If Bell would've taken the deal the Steelers offered him, he would've only been guaranteed 33 of the 70 million. The Steelers had the contract set up that he would receive the 33 million in the first two years. After those two years are up, you're basically at the teams will. If they want to cut you for whatever reason, they could do so without penalty. They could also trade you to offload your contract and your newer team could cut you without penalty. 

That what I though just making sure. Thats still 16.5m a year however you slice it.

[jvan1973]

1 minute ago, Solon said:

 

If Bell would've taken the deal the Steelers offered him, he would've only been guaranteed 33 of the 70 million. The Steelers had the contract set up that he would receive the 33 million in the first two years. After those two years are up, you're basically at the teams will. If they want to cut you for whatever reason, they could do so without penalty. They could also trade you to offload your contract and your newer team could cut you without penalty. 

So instead he gave up almost 13 million this year that he will never recoup.     Yeah,   only a fool

[Moosejawcolt]

To me it is not really bout the money.  We have cap space and I am sure Ballard has thought bout signing Bell.  However, u sign  Bell and what does that mean for Mack, Hines and Wilkins? They r developing and by signing Bell u r basically pushing them aside.  That is why I don't c the signing of Bell. I don't think Ballard is going to push those young guys aside. It would b like flushing those picks down the toilet.  Bell is a 4 down back and that would leave little room for our young backs to get playing time.

[Stephen]

45 minutes ago, LJpalmbeacher2 said:

 

....and we can always pick up a RB in the later rounds or a UDFA!

Not of bell's quality. Give me bell. Draft defense and a sure handed wr and then both offense and defense will be unstoppable 

[Devildog]

No thank you. 

[richard pallo]

1 hour ago, Luck 4 president said:

He sees the money and our potential, but he doesn’t know how Chris Ballard approaches FA 

I would bet his agent knows how Chris Ballard approaches FA.  I think those two reaching an agreement is possible.  I have always felt it was about guaranteed money.  Where there is a will there is a way.  We will know soon enough. 

[richard pallo]

16 minutes ago, Moosejawcolt said:

To me it is not really bout the money.  We have cap space and I am sure Ballard has thought bout signing Bell.  However, u sign  Bell and what does that mean for Mack, Hines and Wilkins? They r developing and by signing Bell u r basically pushing them aside.  That is why I don't c the signing of Bell. I don't think Ballard is going to push those young guys aside. It would b like flushing those picks down the toilet.  Bell is a 4 down back and that would leave little room for our young backs to get playing time.

Next year we will be in a win now mode.  You can still keep those three backs behind Bell if you want.  It's a long season.  They will get their touches.  None of their performances this year would dissuade me from signing Bell.  Night and Day difference.

[strt182]

Just maybe depending on how things go this could buy Ballard a year on getting a WR or atleasts adds a established pass catcher and let our young WR guys have another year to build on (if they are the answer) and it also gives us a bigger threat in the run game at the same time. Ballard could focus more on  the trenches , DE and CB

[Solon]

22 minutes ago, strt182 said:

That what I though just making sure. Thats still 16.5m a year however you slice it.

Yeah, but when you're a premium player, you expect more in guarantees. The overall number may be 70, but you're only guaranteed 33 of that. 

 

24 minutes ago, jvan1973 said:

So instead he gave up almost 13 million this year that he will never recoup.     Yeah,   only a fool

 

I don't blame him. The Steelers are non-committal about him in the future. If he would've got hurt, they would've rescinded that contract offer immediately and let him walk in free agency. The chances of signing a major deal on another team would be unlikely if the aforementioned would've transpired. If the Steelers wanted him, they would've at least matched Todd Gurley's 45 million in guarantees. 

[tweezy32]

4 minutes ago, Solon said:

Yeah, but when you're a premium player, you expect more in guarantees. The overall number may be 70, but you're only guaranteed 33 of that. 

 

 

I don't blame him. The Steelers are non-committal about him in the future. If he would've got hurt, they would've rescinded that contract offer immediately and let him walk in free agency. The chances of signing a major deal on another team would be unlikely if the aforementioned would've transpired. If the Steelers wanted him, they would've at least matched Todd Gurley's 45 million in guarantees. 

We actually get a great rb and a good wr by signing him.  He's two positions in one. We won't go broke or be in cap hell or any cap situations by signing him. 

Didn't mean to quote you my bad

Edited December 22, 2018 by tweezy32