Le’Veon Bell still hasn’t signed a long-term extension, and Steelers fans are starting to get antsy. He’s insisted all along he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, but the two sides haven’t been able to come to an agreement. He tweeted Saturday that he would sit out the whole season if worst came to worst.
Arguably the best skill position player in the league threatening to sit out the season? You’d be shook, too, if you were a Steelers fan.
But then fans remembered it was April Fools' Day and began speculating about whether it was a hoax.
Bell at first insisted it was no joke.
But as expected, he came out today and confirmed otherwise: It was indeed an April Fool’s joke. No need to panic.
If Bell were to sign the franchise tag, he’d receive $12 million this season—making him the highest-paid running back in the league—and then would be guaranteed to either receive $14.5 million next year or get to walk in free agency and test the market.
It certainly looks like he’ll sign the franchise tag if the sides are unable to come to a long-term agreement before this coming season. That’s a lot of money. He still can’t go to prom, though.