Le’Veon Bell is the first franchise player to sit out a full season since Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Dan Williams 20 years ago because he declined to sign his franchise tender with the Pittsburgh Steelers before 4 pm eastern time on Tuesday. By missing this deadline, Bell is ineligible to play for the rest of the 2018 season. Pittsburgh and Bell’s inability to reach an agreement prior to the mid-July deadline for franchise players to sign long term deals was a catalyst for this result.
Bell rejected a five-year deal in the $14 million to $15 million per year range containing a $10 million signing bonus and a $10 roster bonus due shortly after signing according to various reports. Slightly over $33 million of the money was in the first two years. The three year cash flow was $45 million to $47 million.