An interesting Les Baker post re Le’Veon Bell contract negotiations...

Here’s Les...

He's good, but look at his history.

Arrested for DUI/weed, and suspended. Stupid thing to do.

Suspended for violating the substance abuse rule. Which means at least two failed or missed tests. Stupid thing to do.

Threatened to sit out/retire if the Steelers tagged him. Stupid thing to do.

Turned down a 2 year 30MIL deal, which is upper level WR money. Stupid thing to do.

He's had a couple of excellent years, but doesn't deserved to be paid like the best ever. And one more strike on the substance abuse thing means several games on the sidelines. He's a big risk. He's has "bad patterns", I'd make a fair offer then walk away if he says no if I were the Steelers GM.

Check this out. 18MIL the forst year, and an average of 13MIL over the first 3 years. For a RB???

He wants 15MIL a year or more LOL. Good luck!!

His agent is a [expletive deleted] for turning that contract down.

[www.cbssports.com]

While the Steelers and the agent for Le'Veon Bell never formally agreed to terms on a new contract with the deadline to sign the player on the franchise tag approaching this summer, they did draw up a contract all sides hoped the running back would sign, according to league sources.

That deal would have paid Bell in excess of $18 million in the first year of the contract -- a staggering figure for a running back at a time when the position's salaries have decreased -- and the offer averaged $13 million per year over the first three years, but Bell never relented. He and his agent had set up shop in South Florida, and, with the 4 p.m. deadline nearing on July 17, all paperwork was ready to be faxed back to the Steelers, but Bell never put pen to paper.

The Steelers knew any contract terms always were subject to Bell's approval, and that even though his advisors and union officials believed the deal was incredibly strong for the player, there was no guarantee he would actually sign. They were optimistic he may sign, sources said, but never assumed the deal was done.

Bell has been adamant that he earn $15 million or more per year, looking to push the running back market back to where Adrian Peterson once set it before a suspension and injuries led to Peterson's demise in Minnesota (he signed a team-friendly deal with New Orleans this offseason). It seems unlikely that Bell wavers from that stance should he stay healthy and avoid suspension himself this season. Pittsburgh significantly sweetened the pot for him several times during negotiations -- giving him $18 million by next March was a 50 percent improvement over the roughly $12 million he will earn this season on the franchise tag -- and still it was not enough to close the deal.