Pittsburgh Steelers Slap Franchise Tag on Star Running Back Le'Veon Bell

NFL teams have until Wednesday to decide if they’re going to use the franchise tag on a player, but the Pittsburgh Steelers made their decision a couple days early as it’s been revealed that the team has designated Le’Veon Bell to receive the franchise tag. The two sides now have until July 15 to work out a long-term extension or have Le’Veon play on a one-year deal.

 

Le’Veon Bell gets franchise tag https://t.co/vkCnIQzNBW

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 27, 2017

According to former NFL agent Joel Corry, the 25-year-old Bell will receive somewhere in the neighborhood of $12.377 million next season if he signs the franchise tender. Le’Veon rushed for 1,268 yards and seven touchdowns on 261 carries and added 75 catches for 616 yards and two touchdowns in only 12 games last season.

Earlier on Monday, the Arizona Cardinals placed the franchise tag on defensive end Chandler Jones and the Carolina Panthers tagged defensive tackle Kawann Short.