Le'Veon Bell RB

I know this position of mine will be considered very "old school," and not at all within today's line of reasoning, but so be it.

The game of football that I played in high school was a team sport. It was also a privilege to be on this team. Not everyone who tried out made it. I was one of the lucky few who did, and trust me, I was not all that talented. I was just good enough to sit on the bench and maybe get into a game if it was a blowout. It was a mark of honor to be on the team. Even though I was not as good as many of my teammates, I was treated like an equal team member. The starters all went out of their way to treat me the same way as they were treated, even though they were far more talented.

Because of this, the last thing anyone on my team wanted to do was to let anyone down. Even if you sat on the bench during most games, you did what you could and when you could to help the team because the team came first. It was not an individual sport. It was a team sport.

It's because of this belief that I would not want LEAVE-on Bell anywhere NEAR my team. He put himself before the team. He turned down an offer that most players, even in the NFL, could only dream of getting. How many running backs would have signed in an instant for even one-tenth of the amount the Steelers offered?

In my humble opinion, LEAVE-on sent every player in the league a message that HE comes before the TEAM does. Privately? I don't think there are many players in the NFL who really want to play for someone like that. The Steelers are trying to win a championship. LEAVE-on could have helped with that team quest -- that team goal. Instead, he turned his back on them.

Yes, I understand there is a huge difference between high school football and the NFL. Yes, the NFL is a business. High school football is not. There is a difference. I will admit as much. But I still believe that every player, whether on a high school or pro level, plays this game for the LOVE of it. The money is nice, don't get me wrong, but these guys LOVE the game. That's why they play. They get a nice check, and that's great. But that's not the reason why they risk life and limb every Sunday. That isn't why they risk fractured arms and busted knees, or torn shoulders and brain matter that has been scrambled into next week. They do it because they love it and they are the best at what they do.

Are certain positions more important than others? Without question. The players know this. But even the greatest QB in the world needs five or six guys up front to block for him. The most fearsome runner in all of football goes nowhere without some inventive playcalling by a hard-working coach, and every other player acting in unison to make that running back go places.

LEAVE-on just told the world that he is more important than the team. He is more important than the coaches. He is more important than the owner. He doesn't give a rip about the fans who follow their teams with a passion every day of the football season.

I don't want LEAVE-on Bell on the 49ers. If Lynch is going to spend money on a bunch of high-priced free agents, I hope and wish that he will take a pass on LEAVE-on. I know some team owner or GM won't. Someone is going to pay this guy top dollar. LEAVE-on will get his money and status.

The question is: Is it worth it?

I understand the frustration of the above poster, the thing is the teams and NFL as a whole treat the players like dirt because they can. They bring in an immense amount of money and the contracts are designed to screw the players over.

Bell didn't even want much more money than the Steelers ended up offering, he just wanted more guaranteed $.

RB's have a short shelf life and Bell's has been made shorter by the amount of times they used him, he deserved to be paid for that.

Originally posted by billbird2111:
I know this position of mine will be considered very "old school," and not at all within today's line of reasoning, but so be it.

The game of football that I played in high school was a team sport. It was also a privilege to be on this team. Not everyone who tried out made it. I was one of the lucky few who did, and trust me, I was not all that talented. I was just good enough to sit on the bench and maybe get into a game if it was a blowout. It was a mark of honor to be on the team. Even though I was not as good as many of my teammates, I was treated like an equal team member. The starters all went out of their way to treat me the same way as they were treated, even though they were far more talented.

Because of this, the last thing anyone on my team wanted to do was to let anyone down. Even if you sat on the bench during most games, you did what you could and when you could to help the team because the team came first. It was not an individual sport. It was a team sport.

It's because of this belief that I would not want LEAVE-on Bell anywhere NEAR my team. He put himself before the team. He turned down an offer that most players, even in the NFL, could only dream of getting. How many running backs would have signed in an instant for even one-tenth of the amount the Steelers offered?

In my humble opinion, LEAVE-on sent every player in the league a message that HE comes before the TEAM does. Privately? I don't think there are many players in the NFL who really want to play for someone like that. The Steelers are trying to win a championship. LEAVE-on could have helped with that team quest -- that team goal. Instead, he turned his back on them.

Yes, I understand there is a huge difference between high school football and the NFL. Yes, the NFL is a business. High school football is not. There is a difference. I will admit as much. But I still believe that every player, whether on a high school or pro level, plays this game for the LOVE of it. The money is nice, don't get me wrong, but these guys LOVE the game. That's why they play. They get a nice check, and that's great. But that's not the reason why they risk life and limb every Sunday. That isn't why they risk fractured arms and busted knees, or torn shoulders and brain matter that has been scrambled into next week. They do it because they love it and they are the best at what they do.

Are certain positions more important than others? Without question. The players know this. But even the greatest QB in the world needs five or six guys up front to block for him. The most fearsome runner in all of football goes nowhere without some inventive playcalling by a hard-working coach, and every other player acting in unison to make that running back go places.

LEAVE-on just told the world that he is more important than the team. He is more important than the coaches. He is more important than the owner. He doesn't give a rip about the fans who follow their teams with a passion every day of the football season.

I don't want LEAVE-on Bell on the 49ers. If Lynch is going to spend money on a bunch of high-priced free agents, I hope and wish that he will take a pass on LEAVE-on. I know some team owner or GM won't. Someone is going to pay this guy top dollar. LEAVE-on will get his money and status.

The question is: Is it worth it?

So no player should ask for a raise I guess

Originally posted by NinerGM:

100 percent agree here. Rare that guaranteed $ is big and you have to either be a good prospect QB or and an all-world player at your position and then be lucky the team you play for likes you. I'm for players using every method open to them to hold teams accountable to their word. And if a team feels they can move on, do so - holding players hostage is just a team flexing IMHO. And clearly the Steelers have been drafting well enough to do ok without him. So if you're not going to pay him and your doing okay without him, trade him. Seems pretty simple.

Yup, I think they need a new CBA, raise the salary cap, but get rid of the tag and either get rid of comp picks or cap them at 4th rounders, that way if you want compensation you trade, and you have the resources to pay.

Originally posted by 49erBigMac:

Yup, I think they need a new CBA, raise the salary cap, but get rid of the tag and either get rid of comp picks or cap them at 4th rounders, that way if you want compensation you trade, and you have the resources to pay.

Eh maybe make the franchise tag a 3 year guaranteed deal, Top 3 average every year. And if the player walks at the end no compensation for the team. And a players 5th year option would be the first year.

So bell would have received a fully guaranteed 3yr deal for 45-50 mil, And an unrestricted FA next offseason.

Basically give the team 7 years of control of a great draft pick, but well compensating the player. Maybe even throwing in an extra 15% salary cap free, for their lack of choice.

Also if a player gets a severe injury, his money does not count against the cap.

This might allow other positions and lesser players to get more stable contracts.

Originally posted by jdt84_2:

Eh maybe make the franchise tag a 3 year guaranteed deal, Top 3 average every year. And if the player walks at the end no compensation for the team. And a players 5th year option would be the first year.

So bell would have received a fully guaranteed 3yr deal for 45-50 mil, And an unrestricted FA next offseason.

Basically give the team 7 years of control of a great draft pick, but well compensating the player. Maybe even throwing in an extra 15% salary cap free, for their lack of choice.

I like that better actually, well done. Maybe keep the Transistion tag as is for some flexibility.

Originally posted by billbird2111:

I know this position of mine will be considered very "old school," and not at all within today's line of reasoning, but so be it.

The game of football that I played in high school was a team sport. It was also a privilege to be on this team. Not everyone who tried out made it. I was one of the lucky few who did, and trust me, I was not all that talented. I was just good enough to sit on the bench and maybe get into a game if it was a blowout. It was a mark of honor to be on the team. Even though I was not as good as many of my teammates, I was treated like an equal team member. The starters all went out of their way to treat me the same way as they were treated, even though they were far more talented.

Because of this, the last thing anyone on my team wanted to do was to let anyone down. Even if you sat on the bench during most games, you did what you could and when you could to help the team because the team came first. It was not an individual sport. It was a team sport.

It's because of this belief that I would not want LEAVE-on Bell anywhere NEAR my team. He put himself before the team. He turned down an offer that most players, even in the NFL, could only dream of getting. How many running backs would have signed in an instant for even one-tenth of the amount the Steelers offered?

In my humble opinion, LEAVE-on sent every player in the league a message that HE comes before the TEAM does. Privately? I don't think there are many players in the NFL who really want to play for someone like that. The Steelers are trying to win a championship. LEAVE-on could have helped with that team quest -- that team goal. Instead, he turned his back on them.

Yes, I understand there is a huge difference between high school football and the NFL. Yes, the NFL is a business. High school football is not. There is a difference. I will admit as much. But I still believe that every player, whether on a high school or pro level, plays this game for the LOVE of it. The money is nice, don't get me wrong, but these guys LOVE the game. That's why they play. They get a nice check, and that's great. But that's not the reason why they risk life and limb every Sunday. That isn't why they risk fractured arms and busted knees, or torn shoulders and brain matter that has been scrambled into next week. They do it because they love it and they are the best at what they do.

Are certain positions more important than others? Without question. The players know this. But even the greatest QB in the world needs five or six guys up front to block for him. The most fearsome runner in all of football goes nowhere without some inventive playcalling by a hard-working coach, and every other player acting in unison to make that running back go places.

LEAVE-on just told the world that he is more important than the team. He is more important than the coaches. He is more important than the owner. He doesn't give a rip about the fans who follow their teams with a passion every day of the football season.

I don't want LEAVE-on Bell on the 49ers. If Lynch is going to spend money on a bunch of high-priced free agents, I hope and wish that he will take a pass on LEAVE-on. I know some team owner or GM won't. Someone is going to pay this guy top dollar. LEAVE-on will get his money and status.

The question is: Is it worth it?

Yo Bill, I hear what you say. American sports salaries have, largely because of tv money, spiralled beyond the absurd into the realms of total lunacy. When one kid can earn in a year more than most of the fans who pay to watch him will earn in their lifetimes, maybe the sums can be questioned. Trouble is, that would just put money back into the deep pockets of the super-rich a-holes who own the franchises. The system is bound to break in due course, but I have no idea when or how.

Remember the old World League of American Football? All the players on the team regardless of position or calibre, were played the same. I know that would be impractical for the NFL but there surely should be a mid point?

I deal with it as though it was Monopoly money! Every now and then it is irritating, though.

Regarding the man himself I don't think there is a snowballs chance the Niners will sign him. With McKinnon and Breida and with Mostert in reserve I think we are good to go. I would just spend a low draft pick on a big grunt of a running back, say plus 220, and cut Albert Morris.

Cheers.

I think it's just lame that Leveon is getting so much praise from ex NFL'ers in the media and sports shows. Bias a f.

Originally posted by TonyStarks:

I think it's just lame that Leveon is getting so much praise from ex NFL'ers in the media and sports shows. Bias a f.

If you had made millions of $ for your company, then they wouldn't pay you what you felt you deserved, and there were other companies lining up to do just that, wouldn't you leave?

Originally posted by TonyStarks:

I think it's just lame that Leveon is getting so much praise from ex NFL'ers in the media and sports shows. Bias a f.

Ex players know who is at fault here. So yes they have backed Bell. But the media members are absolutely not. Unless the media member is a former player, they are not praising Bell.

It's Bell's life and money.

Bosa and Oliver are sitting out of CFB for the same thing .

Players get paid millions bc they generate billions in advertising

Dam son.

Bell and Trent Brown could close down a Chinese buffet together.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

'Word on street' is Le'Veon Bell ballooned to 260 pounds during his year away from football https://t.co/z4VTQFZIXP

— Rotoworld Football (@Rotoworld_FB) February 20, 2019

Dam son.

Bell and Trent Brown could close down a Chinese buffet together.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

'Word on street' is Le'Veon Bell ballooned to 260 pounds during his year away from football https://t.co/z4VTQFZIXP

— Rotoworld Football (@Rotoworld_FB) February 20, 2019

Dam son.

Bell and Trent Brown could close down a Chinese buffet together.