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The Steelers and Le & Ve Bell have both lobbied for the conclusion of an agreement that would have brought him back to Pittsburgh this season, but neither side has been able to finalize a agreement, ESPN officials told the league.
The Steelers have learned that if they are willing not to use their franchise or transitional label on Bell after this season, he would consider reporting to the team, sources said. But the Steelers refused Bell's request, saying the label was too important.
Being paid this year has never been Bell's priority. He could still get what he wants in the long run while upsetting the NFL's business model.
The Steelers packed the Leon Bell locker a day after it did not come and the players attacked it.
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This sets up a brewing battle between the NFL's board of directors and the NFL Players Association in a potentially decisive case for Bell's future, which will likely be decided by an arbitrator, according to league sources. .
The board of directors believes that the Steelers will be able to use a $ 9.5 million transitional tag on Bell this season, which would give Pittsburgh the opportunity to match any sign signed by the pro Bowl with another team. The board estimates that the $ 9.5 million salary should be based on his salary this year, which Bell canceled by not declaring anything.
But the NFLPA estimates that the amount of the transition must rise to $ 14.54 million, accounting for 120% of Bell's salary compared to the last franchise brand he played in 2017.
As stipulated in the collective agreement, the NFLPA will argue that Bell's label would be based on the "negotiated" contract of the previous year. But there have been no negotiations for the $ 14.54 million franchise label that has been applied to Bell this season, which has opened the door to this discrepancy.
No player has ever been in such a situation. If the league wins the decision, teams using franchise and transition tags will gain more weight. If the NFLPA wins, it will give more rights to the players if they decide to avoid the seasons when they are tagged.
But Bell could also win by losing. Some sources believe that it is more likely to receive an offer sheet from another team if the Steelers are allowed to touch it at $ 9.5 million, instead of the $ 14.54 million dollars required by the NFLPA.
Conversely, even if the absence of Bell could hurt the Steelers this season, it will help them next season.
The Steelers are allowed to carry forward the $ 14.54 million salary cap space attached to Bell's franchise etiquette and use them as credit for next season – and that's theirs. plan, according to league sources.
"It's a beautiful thing," ESPN told a source close to the thought of the Steelers.
The Steelers are usually part of teams that respect the salary cap, desperate for ways to get more space. In recent years, they had to restructure player contracts early in the first year of the league in March to make changes in the free table.
If the Steelers decide to use a label on Bell, part of that space will be used. But if and when Bell lands with another team, this $ 14.54 million credit will be applied to the Steelers ceiling.
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