berlin1688 The Pittsburgh Steelers have confirmed they will use the franchise tag on running back Le’Veon Bell for the second consecutive season in 2018, a decision made just 24 hours before the lockup was finalized.

The ‘Iron Man’ have been trying to get Bell to sign a long-term contract since last season, offering an average annual salary of $13.3 million for three seasons. berlin1688

However, the 26-year-old is demanding more, confident in his skills and his importance to the team’s attacking play. 

That leaves Bell with a franchise tag for another season in 2018, and if the team can’t negotiate a long-term deal before June 1, he’ll play on the 2019 season for $14.5 million.  

Incidentally, the #26 running back recently tweeted a photo of himself in a Steelers uniform, hinting that he wants to play for the franchise for the rest of his life. 

The reason why negotiations have failed is because the average salary for a running back is low compared to the pain of being hit. The current highest-paid long-term running back is DeVontae Freeman of the Atlanta Hawks, who is making $8.25 million per year. ( berlin1688 )