Le'Veon Bell Wants to be a Colt
 

Multiple news stories in the last couple of days that Le'Veon Bell is targeting the Colts as his preferred free agent destination:

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...napolis-colts/

Maybe not a shock given the Colts cap situation and bright future. I've expressed my opinion on this subject many times on this board, so I won't repeat it here again, but I thought everyone would like to know that what many here have speculated is now being widely reported by the national media.

And I want to win the lottery, neither one is gonna happen!

I don't see it either.

Signing Bell would go against everything that Ballard has been preaching since he became GM

He wants money and a Super Bowl. We have tons of cap and a team on the brink of competing for a ring. So it's no surprise. But Ballard will not pay him.

o

What a front-runner.

The Colts have just won 7 out of their last 8 games.

The slumping Patriots, on the other hand, have lost 3 out of their last 5.

o

Fuck the Pats. Maybe the only time I've ever rooted for them was last week and of course they fuck it up.

Sure, if he’ll play for a reasonable price.

For what he’s asking? Hell no.

He is a top back. Can be split out at wide receiver. Great pass blocker. If he is willing to sign for what top backs make why not? We have the money, he doesn’t cost draft capital and lets us focus on defense on draft day. The downside is his drug suspensions. Contract would have to have protections. I’m not sure you can say that this is not a Ballard move. We have not seen Ballard be a GM in any circumstances except full rebuild. The culture he wanted is already here If Bells salary concerns are reasonable (my guess is he is more concerned about guaranteed money so his financial future is secured) then I wouldn’t be the least surprised to see Bell sporting a horseshoe next year

And I of course would be the total homer I am and love the move if they did it

He was guaranteed $14 million this year and he turned it down. So whatever financial security he is after will probably be more than Ballard is willing to pay. I don’t think anyone will argue that Bell isn’t a great RB. And yeah we could pay hi what he wants and still have more cap room than anyone. But I don’t think Ballard will depart from the way he does business so drastically.

Yes but that was ‘only’ (for us mortals that would be more than enough for a lifetime) 14 million for the rest of his life if he gets hurt. Say you guarantee that over 3 years. If he gets hurt the first year he has 42 million to live on not 14 million. The team (owned by a billionaire) takes the financial risk. He risks his body. I was just giving a hypothetical and numbers would have to work for both sides but I still think it could make sense for us. I generally would agree about Ballard not doing things this way but Bell is a special talent Circumstancces are different. It will be interesting to see Ballard’s move

He wants a long term deal with guarantees. If he truly is interested, frontload a deal with all guarantees in the first year and go from there. His talent would certainly be useful in Reich's offense.

Bell wants 45 guaranteed and an average of about 17 per year. Steelers might transition tag him.

https://triblive.com/sports/steelers...n-bell-in-2019

https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2018/11...ee-agency-2019

Will Ballard do it? I don't know. He has pursued the top FA's before but would not give them exorbitant contracts. I sure he will at least explore the idea and talk with his agent, part of Ballard's job. We have space and no huge contracts coming up to dish out I believe. Should make a fun off-season.

I'm still on the fence about it, but as has been mentioned multiple times by wiser than me, it's not MY money.

Also yes, Ballard hasn't thrown a ton of money at any top tier FAs...yet. And there is a ton of money available. But I doubt that cap space is just there so that Irsay can save money. I think Ballard has been keeping it available so that he has options if/when a home run hitter becomes available.

The convergence of his availability, the Colts' huge amount of cap space, Indy's need (somewhat debatable) of a #1 RB, and the team's seemingly dramatic upward trend might prove too tempting to all sides.

You know, I've talked myself into this being a win/win. I'm down.

I'd like to stick with the 3 backs we have now and upgrade all other parts of the team.

You don't need elite skill position players when you have dominant lines.

Is it mutually exclusive though? I don't know if it is.

You should play the lottery more if chances are that similar. :cool:

I have convinced myself that we should sign him. We have the space. It keeps him from going to another AFC team and vaulting them past us. Just front-load it.

I would love to see how Reich uses Bell's skillset. Both Bell and Hines can play wr Having them on the field at the same time with this offensive line could provide matchup nightmares. You would hope that the Colts at least kick the tires.

It is not, but it is hard to maintain. I just have a hard time wrapping my head around paying a RB as much as he wants, when they take a lot of abuse and tend to drop off hard and quick. He is an amazing talent and would be an awesome tool in this offense, but RBs tend to get banged up at a high rate and just fall off hard. I prefer to stick with the RB by committee.

That's actually not far off the numbers I was thinking, which were 5/80/40 guaranteed. The Colts have the cap space to pull it off if they want Bell.

I stopped thinking of him as a RB. We would still have the committee though. Heck, we could run a 2 back RPO set if we wanted. We have so much money just sitting there. I feel like I am talking myself into it. I'm just in favor of doing whatever we need to get another SB.

IF the Steelers don't Transition tag him just to show him who is boss...

and IF he is willing to play for around $15m a year...

THEN I would be all for a 3 or 4 year contract.

BUT since I think he will either get tagged (thus costing draft picks to sign) or he will want more than that...

Walk Worthy,

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A 5 year contract with no guarantees in year 4 or 5 is essentially a 3 year contract.

I just don't think he is worth the money he wants.

I know the Colts have the cap space, but I would rather see the money spent on upgrading the WRs or on the D.

IF he is signed I would do a three year deal tops, and he probably won't take that.

In yesterdays game, the rams and seahawks had guys off the street and run for more than 100 yards

Keep the O line together and Ballard can find a back.

He is a playmaker. This team needs them and it is going to be difficult to get anyone who is the player Bell is where we are going to draft. I know he was a second round pick, but he is All-Pro. I know you can get by with someone 'off the streets' (Johnny Unitas was 'off the streets' after all) but I would rather add an All-Pro for money (nobody here know what it will take to sign the guy. I don't want us to break the bank but we should talk to the guy) and focus on defense in the draft

He's a wr2 on our team. Anyone who doesn't think he is better than Inman, Roger's or grant is not being honest.

As much as I think it's a bad idea and not a great fit long term, he will excel here.

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Someone once said that finding a RB who can run is easy. Finding a complete RB who can run, protect, and catch week in and week out, that's what separates them.

Bell isn't just a back. Bell does all of the things you would want from your RB well, including pass block, and also can effectively function as the 2nd best WR on the team, maybe 3rd if Cain breaks out after his injury. Any back can be found to run, but most backs will not offer Frank Reich the versatile, dynamic playmaker that can line up at pretty much any skill position and do it well that Le'veon Bell will provide. Given the absurd amount of cap room the Colts have, it's a smart signing that, as others have pointed out, will allow the Colts to focus on defense in the draft. This team still needs talent at all 3 levels of the defense.

He would excel here, I don't doubt that

But the question is, is he worth the money he wants. And is it better to spend money on a RB when WR, secondary, pass rush are still huge needs for this team, much more so than RB.

Imagine if Nyheim Hines was bigger, could pass block, and had the ability to play every down. That's Le'veon Bell. By signing him, you're upgrading your WR group, and he's probably the best option for that this upcoming offseason outside of the draft, unless you don't mind age and like Golden Tate.

I'm not leaning towards Bell but you do realize there is a possibility to add him and still have 80+ million in cap.space to.add plenty of talent elsewhere if available?

Love the Johnny U reference.

The WR talent in free agency next year is terrible.

Yup, Bell is also probably the best receiver available as well. And we could split Bell out and still have Mack or Hines behind the QB.

There are so many creative things that could be done offensively with Bell and Hines on the field at the same time.

Not the point I was making there numbnuts.
The OP talked about not having money to spend on other positions if we signed Bell.

It doesn't matter how much cap space you have to add to a position if there's no talent at the position worth adding.

I don’t get the passion on either side of this debate.

Ballard’s history says he won’t sign Bell for the money he wants.

Just about everyone agrees Bell has proven he is a great player.

We have an embarrassment of cap space.

If Ballard did sign him, it would be a departure from what Ballard has done so far.

If Ballard did sign him, he would probably excel here and be very exciting to watch.

If Ballard signs him, IMO he’s earned enough credit to get the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think he will ruin the team’s culture to sign Bell. If he thinks Bell is a good player to bring in, I’ll believe that until I have a reason to stop.

If Ballard doesn’t sign him, our offense will probably still be very exciting to watch, and will be improved next year. And we’ll have that much more money to use elsewhere.