Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell recently suggested in the lyrics of a rap song that he wants $15 million per year. Using his non-rapping voice, Bell now makes it clear there’s no magic number for his next contract.
“I’m not a real greedy guy. I don’t play football just for money or things like that,” Bell said, via James Walkers of ESPN.com. “I just want to be valued. Wherever it is -- whether its $15 million or lower or higher, whatever it is -- I think we will get to an agreement eventually.”
It’s clear that Bell wants that agreement to come from the Steelers.
“Obviously, I want to be a Steeler for my whole life,” Bell said. “My family grew up Pittsburgh Steelers fans, and it’s crazy I even got drafted there. So I want to be with them and hopefully we’ll reach an agreement. But that will take place once that time comes.”
The time has come for Bell to declare that he’ll be ready to go after suffering a serious knee injury last November against the Bengals.
“I’m going to be ready,” Bell said. “The biggest thing for me is getting mentally ready for getting hit and things like that, and I don’t think I’ll really get tackled until a preseason game or maybe in the regular season. I don’t think I’ll actually hit the ground or get tackled. But when that does happen, I’ll be ready for it. But cutting, running routes, picking them and putting them on my feet, everything is back to normal.”
It wasn’t normal, for a while.
“I remember it was times when I couldn’t walk up the steps, walk down the steps, really couldn’t sit down by myself, even go to the restroom,” Bell said. “I’m just thinking now I’m right back to form how I was when I left.”
The next question is whether he’ll get the contract he wants -- whatever it’s worth -- without having to leave Pittsburgh. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract, and the Steelers can use the franchise tag to keep him around for another year, if a long-term contract isn’t negotiated.