Le'Veon Bell intends to end his holdout to play this season's NFL match
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The Pittsburgh Steelers might have a timeline for the return of star running back Le'Veon Bell.
Bell told ESPN that he intends to end his holdout at some point to play this season, his sixth in the NFL, all with the Steelers. A source told ESPN that Bell is targeting a return during Pittsburgh's bye, which is Week 7, the weekend of Oct. 21.
In that scenario, he could be back in action Oct. 28 for a home game against the Cleveland Browns.
The Steelers are off to a 1-2-1 start this season, with the defence struggling and the offence mostly relying on the passing game. During the offseason, they placed the franchise tag on Bell for the second consecutive season, but the running back wants a multiyear contract with more money guaranteed, so he has not signed his franchise contract tender.
Without an agreement in place, the Steelers haven't been able to trade Bell either, despite reports that they have made him available.
"It sucks having to sit out football," Bell told ESPN by telephone from South Florida on Monday, where he says he has been keeping in shape and could play "tomorrow."
"I want to play. I want to win games and the playoffs," Bell said.
Over the summer, the Steelers reportedly offered Bell a five-year, $70 million contract, but Bell baulked because only $17 million was guaranteed. Big-name running backs Todd Gurley and David Johnson, who signed new contracts, received at least double that much money guaranteed.
"I know the guaranteed money will be there (in March)," Bell said. "If a team wanted to, they could definitely do what they needed to do to make me happy and satisfied."
Adisa Bakari, Bell's agent, has openly worried that the Steelers, not expecting to be able to keep Bell beyond this season, would overuse him while they had him this season.
Bell led the NFL with 321 rushes and 406 touches a season ago.
Bell, who has 5,336 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns plus 2,660 receiving yards and seven scores in 62 games, all as the starter, at one point said he would join the team in time for the season opener. However, a Week 7 return still would get him enough service time to reach free agency in 2019.
The Oct. 28 game against Cleveland also occurs two days before the NFL trade deadline.
Bell's decision to wait another few weeks might have been influenced by the Sunday injury to Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas.
Thomas held out in training camp for a multiyear contract and more guaranteed money and security, but he reported once the season started. He sustained a lower left leg fracture in the fourth quarter on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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