Impending free agent Le’Veon Bell told a New York Jets fan Thursday on Twitter that $60 million “isn’t enough to come run with the Jets.”
https://twitter.com/L_Bell26/status/959148361742864384
The star running back was then asked about the tweet during a Radio Row appearance Friday on WFAN (New York), and said it would take $100 million guaranteed for him to sign with the Jets.
Bell explained more about why the situation isn’t an appealing one, saying that the Jets “ain’t got no quarterback.”
Talking to WFAN’s “The Afternoon Drive,” Bell said it would take $100 million guaranteed for him to come to New York.
“That’s not personal against the Jets,” the three-time Pro Bowler said. “I want everybody to know that’s not personal with the Jets. It’s just like I need more if I’m going to play with the Jets because they ain’t got no quarterback.
“I got nothing against the Jets. The Jets were my favorite team growing up. Like, I used to love Curtis Martin. He was my guy. I watched him. He was my favorite player. He made me love the Jets. It’s nothing personal with the Jets.”
That’s a pretty honest and accurate assessment on the Jets’ quarterback situation heading into the offseason.
Bell, 26, has been one of the best running backs in the league since being drafted out of Michigan State by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013, and still appears to have plenty of juice left to be a highly productive back for at least a few more seasons.
But at a position where talent can be found in late rounds of the draft or off-the-street free agents, anything close to $100 million guaranteed for a running back would be, well, insane. The highest guaranteed dollar amount right now in the NFL is Matthew Stafford at $92 million, followed by Andrew Luck at $87 million, and Alex Smith at $71 million (which was agreed to just a few days ago). These top dollar numbers will keep rising, but at the quarterback position.
Bell did say on NFL Network that $50 million guaranteed from the *Steelers* would “absolutely” get the job done.
Bell was asked if, hypothetically, the Steelers offered him $50 million guaranteed would he sign?
“50 guaranteed? Absolutely,” he replied. Bell then paused when asked about $30 million guaranteed.
It would seem like a good bet that the two sides will work something out. He clearly would like to return to Pittsburgh and the Steelers will likely do everything they can to max out their efforts in this title contention window with Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown.
