10-04-2018, 07:04 PM
(10-02-2018, 10:11 PM)motoarch Wrote: ^ this is a legitimate and thoughtful argument. This is how you do it.
Having said that let me frame bells position as I see it. I hate the Steelers and have no interest in defending bell in particular but I understand his point... I think.
He’s coming off a rookie contract after performing at a level where he’s arguably the best rd in the league. He feels like any play could be his last right. Careers are short and rbs take a beating. He preformed at a high level cheap and now he wants to be compensated so he sits out.
The team says look sign this tender and you’re going to make millions for one year and next year we’ll take care of you properly. He knows it’s a risk but 15mill is a lot of money so he eventually shows up and signs.
Next year rolls around and quess what. The team doesn’t take care of him. They franchise him again. 15mill is a lot to walk away from but he knows they’ll just dump him the next year cause they’ve soured the relationship by doing this to him again. They know the team is going to ride him hard and if he gets hurt no one will sign him long term because they don’t know if the product is able to produce or if the injury has deminished his abilities.
So yes he’s lossing 8+mill this year so he won’t miss out on 50,60, 70 or whatever he expects to sign for.
Couple of things....$15M guaranteed for a RB for 1 year is exceptional and, aside from Gurley who signed AFTER the tag was placed on Bell, is far and away the most for the position.
Losing $8M in the present isn't guaranteeing the he won't miss out on the 50-70 mil later. If it were, then I would understand his position. Chances are high that he could have had both. Of course there's always the chance that an injury ruins his opportunity at the larger guarantee, but he's not fully eliminating that chance. He's only reducing it by 60%. It's entirely possible that he loses the $8M and severely injures himself causing him to miss out on the 50-70M.
