2018 NFL off-season thread: Mr. Alex Smith goes to Washington

I think they expect Washington to replace Bryant. I've questioned that thinking since the draft. They are putting a lot of faith in a rookie and he doesn't have Bryant's physical tools, but he is far better at fighting for the ball on deep throws. Bryant made the occasional tough catch, but if he had to a fight for a ball, he wasn't going to come down with it. That was a consistent issue.

I also think they have some hope that Sauels will take up some slack as a receiver in a H-back role. Perhaps that means a move away from running so many sets with three and four receivers. That would mean more use of Nix at fullback or a second tight end. Of course, making that work means relying on McDonald to be on the field, which is a tough thing to count on given his history of injuries.

I get the limited window, but they have been very good at juggling short-term and long-term success and locking up Bell long term doesn't seem to fit into that approach.

 

Bell has said that his plan is to play it out just like he did in 2017. He will sit out training camp and the preseason, then return to the team a week before the opener. Of course, that also likely means he will play well below his ability for about the first month of the regular season.

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Bell and the Steelers apparently never came close to an extension. His agent is claiming that the team wanted to pay the position, not the player, and that this will be his last season with the Steelers. If he thought they ran him into the ground in 2017, just wait until he sees the workload now.

 

You get what you pay for. Want Bell in training camp ? Sign him to a contract. Want him to play in preseason games? Sign him to a contract. Until he’s signed, he’s under no obligation to be in Pittsburg or with the team. Want him ready for week1? Sign him to a contract in July.

 

They guy wants more than twice as much as any running back in NFL history. He has had multiple seasons end early due to injury and he has been suspended due to violations of the league's drug policy twice. That isn't to say the Steelers are definitely right here, but at the very least it is a hell of a lot more complex than what you just posted.

 

I think the Steelers were screwed either way. Sign Bell to a large, long term contract? As noted he's had several season-ending knee injuries and two drug suspensions, and he's only 26. They offered him $70 over 5 years. Yeah, yeah the Devil is in the details, but still. ...
Or they let him walk, which, while not ideal, is better odds. Let some other team over-pay for his services.
I don't have an issue with him showing up a week or two before Week 1. I think it's bunch false narrative players can't get in a groove of the game right off the bat. I don't buy the notion it took him a month into work. That's crap.
I hope he has a great season and a great career. He'll look great in a Jets, Redskins, Raiders (insert shitty team here) uniform. Maybe he ends up a Cowboy?

 

Bell averaged under 4 yards a carry in 3 of the first 5 weeks and the Steelers went 3-2. Then they won 8 in a row. Could be random, could be quality of opponents, but I do think thats a slow September and skipping camp has some role in it.

If I was him Id show up late but maybe a week, week and a half earlier than last yr

 

No.
He was in shape.
Does it take players a month to find a groove coming back from injury? No. I think there are a number of reasons Bell and the Steelers struggled early, but none of it had to do with him skipping preseason and camp. I don't buy it.

 

Maybe down the road, when he's in the "hanging on" phase of his career, but why would the Cowboys pay him next year when they already have a budding superstar with Zeke Elliott?

 

There is being in shape and there is being in football shape. It does take time to get the body used to contact. There is also the matter of timing with the blockers as a runner and with Roethlisbrerger as a receiver. Bell did not look good early last season. The numbers back that up. He was particularly bad in the opener against the Browns.

The first four games on the schedule are not easy. The Browns are going to be better. It is hard to say how much better, but the Steelers nearly blew that one in the opener last season. They get the Chiefs at home Week 2, and Bell's dominance has been the key in the last two meetings with Kansas City. Week 4 they play the Ravens. I do buy it and I think the Steelers can't afford to wait four or five weeks into the season for Bell to be up to speed.

 

Because Jerry?








No, I don't think he would (especially not with Stephen basically running the show now), but that would be the reason.

 

Maybe Bell ends up with the Browns?

NFL Network is reporting that Bell turned down a five-year, $70 million deal with $30 million guaranteed.