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Le’Veon Bell: Steelers ‘Should’ve Paid Me What I Wanted When They Had the Chance’

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3 years ago

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Steelers Le'Veon Bell

Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell remains unsigned, but he is confident he can return to form in 2021.

“2021 will be the year y’all reminded,” Bell tweeted last Thursday.

When an impromptu Q&A with fans opened up in the comments, Bell provided some context on his time in Pittsburgh and how the relationship ended.

After a fan accused Bell of saying the same thing every year and tweeted that he should have stayed in Pittsburgh, he responded that the Steelers “should’ve paid me what I wanted when they had the chance.”

Pittsburgh offered him a five-year, $70 million contract in 2017, but Bell ultimately decided to sit out instead, signing a lesser four-year, $52.5 million deal with the New York Jets a year later.

Bell’s Jets tenure proved to be a disaster, as he rushed for just 863 yards and four touchdowns through 17 games. He had no rushes over 19 yards while playing under then head coach Adam Gase, and did not post a single 100-yard rushing performance.

He joined the Kansas City Chiefs upon leaving New York, but played a very limited role en route to the club’s Super Bowl LV appearance.

While the Steelers did not necessarily offer Bell the contract he wanted at the time, he does admit that they were the last team to give him an opportunity to shine in the offense, which was not the case with New York or Kansas City.

“The only difference with the Steelers was they gave me opportunity,” Bell tweeted.” Haven’t had that since I left.”

Bell added that the Steelers gave him more touches during the 2017 season then he had over his entire Jets tenure.

While intentions on Twitter are hard to parse, there does appear to be some regret Bell regarding his exit and career after Pittsburgh.

As for where he will play next, Bell said he is taking his time and doing his due diligence to ensure his next stop is the right fit.

Bell is fourth in Steelers franchise history with 5,335 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns. He was equally as potent as a receiver, catching 312 passes for 2,660 yards and seven touchdowns as a Steeler, with receptions and yards the most by a running back in team history.

Bell was selected to three Pro Bowls and earned two First-Team All-Pro nods while in Pittsburgh.

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