New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell discusses the money. It turns out his new team outbid the San Francisco 49ers.
The Le’Veon Bell saga lasted for months between his absence from the Pittsburgh Steelers to his own free agency. Many found it hard to believe one of the league’s top running backs could simply step away from football in hopes of securing the bag.
But his latest interview with Sports Illustrated confirms it. The last calendar year was all about securing his future financially.
Bell told Jenny Vrentas that the New York Jets simply outbid the San Francisco 49ers for his services:
“In the end, Bell’s free-agency decision came down to the Jets and the 49ers, who he says offered a three-year, $40 million contract. He and Brown didn’t stay in touch last season, but Bell says he had discussions with his old Steelers teammate and Brown’s new quarterback, Derek Carr, about joining the Raiders.”
New York ended up signing Bell to a four-year deal worth $52.5 million, with $35 million of that guaranteed. And the 49ers opted for arguably the next best running back on the market, signing Tevin Coleman to a two-year deal for $10-million.
It’s no surprise that Bell had multiple suitors and even less of a surprise that he was considering all of them. If we’ve learned anything from the last NFL year, it’s that he’s truly a wild card.
The former Pittsburgh running back of five seasons ended his tenure after tallying 5,336 all-purpose yards in 62 games played. Bell and the Jets will host the Steelers in the 2019-20 season at MetLife Stadium.
So there you have it Jets fans. Thank your front office for their willingness to go all-in on Le’Veon Bell this free agency. Otherwise, he may have been playing across the country in scarlet and gold.
