Steelers star Le'Veon Bell forfeits entire $14.5M salary amid contract dispute
Star Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell forfeited the entirety of his $14.5 million salary for the 2018 season after he failed to report to the team before a key deadline amid a prolonged contract dispute.
A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Bell had until 4 p.m. ET to report to Steelers facilities to sign his franchise tender. The NFL’s collective-bargaining agreement states that players must report to their teams by Week 10 in order for a season to count toward their contract.
"I want to confirm that Le'Veon Bell did not sign his Franchise Tender today and, as a result, he will not be eligible to play football during the 2018 season," Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement obtained by ESPN.
Bell refused to report after his representatives and the Steelers failed to agree on terms of a long-term contract. The 26-year-old has said that he was prepared to sit out in order to avoid a serious injury that could hurt his long-term earning potential.
The Steelers reportedly fielded trade offers for Bell before the league’s Oct. 30 deadline, but any trade would have required Bell to sign his franchise tender, which functions as a one-year contract.
"It's costing me some fans," Bell told ESPN in October. "A lot of people call me selfish, but I'm really not. I'm doing it for guys behind me or guys who don't understand what's going on in the business of football. The 22 years I've been playing football, I've always brought value. I don't think the Steelers valued me as much."
James Connor has filled in as the Steelers’ starting running back, rushing for 771 yards and 10 touchdowns through Week 10.
Bell isn’t the only NFL player involved in a high-profile contract dispute this season. Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas held out throughout the preseason and refused to participate in regular-season practices due to dissatisfaction with his deal. Like Bell, Thomas sought a long-term contract extension.
Thomas suffered a likely season-ending leg fracture in late September that could make it difficult for him to land a new contract this offseason – a development that critics said lent credence to Bell’s strategy.