Le’Veon Bell Doesn’t Report; Will Not Play In 2018

All-Pro running back and former Michigan Stater Le'Veon Bell (pictured) did not sign his franchise tender by the 4pm Tuesday deadline and will not be eligible to play in the 2018 for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers released a statement, via their Twitter account:

Bell has held out since the Steelers put the franchise tag on him for the 2018 season, thus keeping him off the free agent market (he could have been an unrestricted free agent without the tag), and he has not played at all in 2018.

Le'Veon has been looking for a long-term deal from the Steelers (who drafted him in the 2nd round in 2013) since the end of the 2016 season.  But the team has been unwilling to give him one.  Bell played under the franchise tag in 2017 (which was about $12.1 million) for Pittsburgh.