11-14-2018, 09:56 PM
(11-14-2018, 04:30 AM)BFritz21 Wrote: People keep saying that he's stupid for walking away from that much money, which just confuses the hell out of me because it's only a one-year deal with no future guarantee and he can get hurt with how much the Steelers use him. People counter that with "but he's walking away from 14 million and won't get that per year elsewhere," but guess what? There's EIGHT BACKS MAKING MORE GUARANTEED MONEY THAN THAT, and plus they have long-term security. So you think that Bell won't be paid as a top eight back and get AT LEAST as much guaranteed money as those guys?
He may not get it all in one year, but it should be pretty close, and it's about the guaranteed money.
I haven't seen anyone bring up that point on here.
The only way turning down that much money to protect against him being injured and diminishing his future value makes sense is if he would have gotten such a catastrophic injury that it would have impacted his FA value next spring. Think completely shredded knee or torn achilles. Anything short of those or a few others are easily repaired and rehabbed in time for the start of 2019. Earl Thomas broke his leg and will be ready to go and 100% for the start of next season.
I think the chances of those types catastrophic injuries happening to him are remote and not worth giving up $14M. I think the chances are very high that he could have played this year, gotten his $14M, and hit FA next year unscathed and still gotten the $40+M that Gurley got that he wants.
Also IMO this holdout showed to potential suitors that A) he's not a team player, B) has a willingness to dog it if necessary, and C) with the success of Connor, possibly be more of a product of the system than a once in a lifetime RB.
