According to Michael Giardi, the Dolphins are now “waving around” a fair amount of money to try and get former Jets RB Le’Veon Bell to sign in Miami.
NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo reported the Chiefs thought they were going to have Bell locked up as soon as last night before Bell started considering other suitors.
The Bills and Dolphins are in play along with the Chiefs and Garafolo says not to count out Miami despite their record being the worst of the three given Bell lives and trains there during the offseason.
While the Jets had offsets in Bell’s deal, Garafolo points out he could claim termination pay and double dip with both the guaranteed money the Jets still owe him and whatever new salary he can get from his next team.
That makes salary and negotiations with suitors a very relevant factor in Bell’s decision on a new team.
Bell, 28, is a former second-round pick of the Steelers back in 2013. He played out the final year of his four-year, $4,120,600 rookie contract, but Pittsburgh used their franchise tag on him.
The Steelers decided to franchise Bell for the second straight year, but he elected to hold out the entire 2018 season and set himself up for free agency in 2019. The Jets later signed Bell to a four-year, $52.5 million contract worth up to $61 million and including $35 million guaranteed.
Bell was set to make base salaries of $8 million and $9.5 million the next two years.
In 2020, Bell has appeared in two games for the Jets and rushed 19 times for 74 yards while catching three passes for 39 yards and no touchdowns.
We had him included in our Top 50 Available 2020 Free Agents list.
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