Report: Le'Veon Bell to Receive Franchise Tag, Negotiate New Steelers Contract

The Pittsburgh Steelers are planning to use the franchise tag on running back Le'Veon Bell before Tuesday's deadline with hopes of agreeing to a long-term contract as the offseason progresses.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the news.

Bell, 26, will carry a $14.54 million cap hold for the 2018 season unless the two sides can agree to a new contract. He played under the franchise tag in 2017 but has been publicly displeased with how the contract negotiations process has played out.

Bell held out into September before reporting to camp last season and said he'd consider retirement if tagged again. 

"Just get the numbers straight, exactly where we want them. I'm not going to settle for anything," Bell told reporters in January. "I know what I do and what I bring to the table. I'm not going out here getting the ball 400 times if I'm not getting what I feel I'm valued at."

Bell is both a three-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro selection who rushed for 1,291 yards and added 655 yards on 85 receptions, scoring 11 total touchdowns. He's rushed for at least 1,200 yards and caught no fewer than 75 passes in three of the last four seasons.

"Le'Veon has been a great player for us," Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert told reporters last month. "We think he can still be a great player from this point forward, and we'd love for him to be a Pittsburgh Steeler for the rest of his career."

The Steelers and Bell have until July 15 to come to terms on a long-term contract. If they are unable to, Bell will have to play out the 2018 season on the tag or sit out. Like last season, the Steelers do not have the ability to punish Bell for skipping offseason activities until after he has signed the franchise tag.