Updated: September 26, 2025
- Le'Veon Bell still has not reported to the Steelers
- Bell has forfeited almost $9 Million
- Will he return in 2018?
The Le'Veon Bell saga has taken another strange twist.
The 26-year-old must sign his franchise tender by November 13th to remain eligible to play this season, but there's no guarantee he will.
$8,555,214: What Le’Veon Bell has given back in salary so far this season. https://t.co/Ra57p2iyGb
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 8, 2018
Bovada is offering odds on the matter, leaning towards him suiting up in 2018. But it's not as lopsided as you might expect.
Odds Le'Veon Bell Plays a Down in 2018 NFL Season
| Will Bell play a down in the 2018 NFL seaseon | Odds at Bovada |
|---|---|
| YES | -200 |
| NO | +150 |
Less than a month ago, I thought the Eagles could potentially rescue Bell, but the Steelers reportedly didn't receive a single trade offer for him prior to the deadline.
Why Bell may skip this season
Bell's representatives were recently made aware of a clause in the CBA that will grant him his free agency whether he plays in 2018 or not.
▪️Le'Veon Bell is FA in '19 regardless if he shows. Has enough accrued seasons to be FA in '19 even though he won't get one this year.
▪️Will be on 3rd franchise tag next year of top 5 highest paid ($25M+) even if he doesn't show b/c he's been tagged twice before @TheAthleticPGH— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) November 6, 2018
There is no chance the Steelers franchise him again, so why would Bell risk injury now when free agency looms in March?
Pittsburgh could use the transition tag on him, but if they let Bell go, he'll likely sign a big enough contract to earn them a third-round compensatory draft pick.
The Steelers don't need him
James Conner has rendered Bell expendable. He costs a fraction of the price and is putting up better numbers than Bell did in 2017.
JAMES CONNER: 2018 LE'VEON BELL: 2017
23.6 Touches/Game 28.6
135.6 Scrimmage YPG 122.4
5.7 Yards/Touch 4.3
10 Scrimmage TD 5**First 8 games, Last 2 Seasons** pic.twitter.com/R1b0A3ZRDJ
— Chase Williams WPXI (@chasepwilliams) November 6, 2018
More importantly, the Steelers have won four straight, and letting Bell back in the locker room could ruffle some feathers.
David DeCastro didn’t hold back on Le’Veon Bell’s absence during post-game locker room session, but DeCastro has been consistent with this message throughout. pic.twitter.com/Z7emPbbszy
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 5, 2018
The risk outweighs the reward
Take this for whatever it means …
˙˙˙ɯǝɥʇ uo ʎןɹɐǝןɔ s’ʇɐɥʇ &˙˙˙sǝuıן ǝɥʇ uǝǝʍʇǝq pɐǝɹ ʎןdɯıs ʇsnظ oʇ ǝɯıʇ ǝɥʇ ǝʞɐʇ ʇ’uop ǝןdoǝd ʇsoɯ ʇnq˙˙˙op p’noʎ ʇɐɥʍ ʇ’usı sıɥʇ ǝqʎɐɯ ǝsnɐɔǝq suoısıɔǝp ʎɯ ɟɟo ǝɯ ǝbpnظ ʇ’uop˙˙˙buıop ɯ’ı ʇɐɥʍ ʇnoqɐ pǝıɹɹoʍ & ǝɟıן ʎɯ uo uoıuıdo uɐ sɐɥ ʎpoqʎɹǝʌǝ ʇnoqɐ ʇsnظ
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) November 7, 2018
ʇuıod ʎɯ pǝʌoɹd ǝʌ’noʎ ‘buıʎɐs ɯ’ı ʇɐɥʍ ʇno ǝɹnbıɟ oʇ ǝɯıʇ ǝɥʇ buıpuıɟ ʎןןɐǝɹ ǝɹ’noʎ ɟı osןɐ˙˙˙poıɹǝd ‘sɹǝǝd ʎɯ ɟo ʇsǝɹ ǝɥʇ puɐ ‘ʎןıɯɐɟ ‘ɟןǝsʎɯ ɹoɟ ʇɥbıɹ sı ǝʌǝıןǝq ı ʇɐɥʍ ɹoɟ buızıboןodɐ ʇou ɯ’ı
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) November 7, 2018
But the bottom line is there is little reason for Bell to return this season.
He doesn't need the money and a serious injury could jeopardize his potential future earnings. I bet he sits the entire season and signs elsewhere in 2019. Take the +150.
The post Bovada Believes Le'Veon Bell Will Play in 2018 appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.
Original source: https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/nfl/bovada-believes-leveon-bell-will-play-2018/
