Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell Downplays $15M Salary Target, Says He’ll Be Ready For Camp

Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell downplayed the line in a new song called “Focus,” where he said he’s looking for $15 million per year in a new contract.

“I’m not a real greedy guy. I don’t play football just for money or things like that,” Bell said in an interview with James Walker of ESPN. “I just want to be valued. Wherever it is — whether its $15 million or lower or higher, whatever it is – I think we will get to an agreement eventually.”

Bell added that he wants to remain a member of the Steelers for the remainder of his pro career.

“Obviously, I want to be a Steeler for my whole life. My family grew up Pittsburgh Steelers fans, and it’s crazy I even got drafted there. So I want to be with them and hopefully we’ll reach an agreement. But that will take place once that time come.”

In regards to his recovery from a knee injury, Bell says he plans to be ready for the start of training camp.

“I’m going to be ready,” Bell said. “The biggest thing for me is getting mentally ready for getting hit and things like that, and I don’t think I’ll really get tackled until a preseason game or maybe in the regular season. I don’t think I’ll actually hit the ground or get tackled. But when that does happen, I’ll be ready for it. But cutting, running routes, picking them and putting them on my feet, everything is back to normal.”

Bell, 24, is entering the final year of his four-year, $4,120,600 rookie contract that included a $1,376,800 signing bonus. He’ll make a base salary of $966,900 in 2016.

Bell wound up missing the first two games of the season due to a suspension before later sustained a season-ending injury.

In 2015, Bell appeared in six games and running for 556 yards on 113 carries (4.9 YPC) to go along with 24 receptions for 136 yards receiving and three total touchdowns.