Feb 15, 2017 2 min read

Notice: Undefined offset: 0 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/includes/single/strategically_placed_photos_article.php on line 412

Notice: Trying to get property 'term_id' of non-object in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/includes/single/strategically_placed_photos_article.php on line 412

Happy start of franchise tag designation day.

That’s not a real holiday, but it does kind of kick off the start of the NFL free agency period.

The Steelers – and any other NFL team – can officially place the franchise or transition tag on one of their pending free agents.

The Steelers are expected to place the franchise tag at some point with running back Le’Veon Bell. And the official numbers for that this year will be $11.9 million.

But even if the Steelers place the franchise tag on Bell, they will continue working on a long-term deal with their star running back.

Some armchair general managers out there might not think that’s prudent given Bell have twice been suspended for violation of the NFL’s drug policy.

Guess what? The Steelers know more about their players than you do. They know that Bell gives them the best chance to win moving forward, not only in 2017 but beyond.

You know who else knows that? Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

While there has been a ton of speculation about why Roethlisberger would choose to publicly announce that he needed some time to decide whether he would return to play next season, you’d better believe that some of the reason for that was because Roethlisberger wants to see what the team does with Bell.

Roethlisberger told Bell late last season that he wanted him to be like Terrell Davis was for John Elway at the end of his career.

In other words, Roethlisberger knows a strong running game can benefit him at the end of his career the same way it did for Elway.

He wants Bell around beyond last season and 2017, for that matter, as well.

So expect the Steelers to work something out with Bell in the range of that $12 million per year.

The Steelers will work on that long-term deal and getting Lawrence Timmons signed to a new contract before they start working on Antonio Brown’s new deal.