The & # 39; Veon Bell seems linked to the free agency in 2019, and it could sit on half of 2018

to all my Steeler fans, my desire has always been to remove a Steeler … both sides have worked very hard today to make this happen, but the NFL is sometimes a tough business … for fans who had hope, I'm sorry we let you down but trust me, 2018 will be my best season so far …

Bell alluded to such a move in March, two months after announcing that he was planning to retire" I just have to decide if I will play when the time is right, "he said. to ESPN then

None of the other players who received the etiquette of the franchise – Lions pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah, Rams' defensive back Lamarcus Joyner and Cowboys defender DeMarcus Lawrence – have entered into a long-term contract before Monday's deadline, meaning the three will play in 2018 on the franchise before becoming unrestricted free agents in 2019

Bell, 26, has accumulated an average of 128.9 yards per game over of his career, the most important since the NFL / AFL merger in 1970. He is an excellent blocker and smuggler, posting at least 75 receptions in three of hi five seasons.Bell also led the NFL last season with 321 carries. Basically, i l never leaves the field when Pittsburgh has the ball, but he only averages just over $ 5 million per season in salary.

Ezekiel Elliott earned nearly $ 18 million in the first two years of his career. Todd Gurley of Rams will average close to $ 6 million in his first four seasons. Both were first-round picks; Bell was not. He was selected in the second round in 2013, which hindered his earning potential

But the Steelers do not seem to want to budge from their long-standing state of mind in which no player payday is guaranteed beyond this season. And for every statistic that Bell can point to, there's this: