Cam Akers, a critical part of the run game for the Rams, will miss the entirety of the 2021 season after tearing his Achilles. Akers suffered the injury during a workout; he underwent testing to confirm suspicions of the tear.

The Rams publicly announced his injury but did not provide information on a timetable for his return.

Akers was a critical cog in the backfield for the Rams during his rookie campaign. The budding superstar averaged 113.1 yards from scrimmage per game in the final seven games of the year. In the postseason, Akers recorded two touchdowns and a total of 272 yards from scrimmage.

Head Coach Sean McVay said that Los Angeles will attempt to replace Akers through those already on the roster before turning to the free-agent market. “We’ve got some young backs on our roster that I’m intrigued about seeing how they handle this opportunity. I don’t know that the veteran route is something that we’d rule out, but it’s not something we’re immediately looking to address right now,” said McVay.

Possible signings, should the Rams turn to veteran runningbacks, include Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell, LeSean McCoy, Devonta Freeman, Duke Johnson and former Rams running back and fan-favorite Todd Gurley.

Akers sent out a tweet discussing his injury and his motivation to come back stronger than ever.

This is a big blow to a team that looked like they could make a Super Bowl run, especially after acquiring Matthew Stafford earlier in the offseason from the Detroit Lions. The Rams cannot be counted out by any means, however, their path to the Super Bowl just got a lot more difficult with the loss of their three-down running back.

Le’Veon Bell is an imposing force in the backfield of any offense, but at times his comments outside the lines of the football field are cause for question and concern. Bell has once again injected himself into the center of a media frenzy with his recent comment that he would never again play for his former coach Andy Reid.

The comments follow Bell’s 2020 campaign in which the running back received nearly zero playing time during the playoffs. The comment is sure to negatively impact Bell’s stock with potential suitors for his talents, as he is still unsigned with approximately two months until the start of the 2021 season.

Bell attempted to do some damage control, stating that he loved everything about Kansas City – besides the organization’s head coach, of course. The response can be seen in a tweet sent from his personal account.

“I said what I said & I don’t regret at all what I said…for those who have a PERSONAL PROBLEM with me because of what I SAID, that’s fine…you have your right! just understand I ALSO have MY RIGHT for how I feel about MY PERSONAL problem with dude because of what HE SAID to me,” Bell wrote in a tweet.

Former teammate and current Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu did not take kindly to the comments about his coach. Mathieu seemed to insinuate that Bell was an excuse-maker who sought to blame others for his lack of playing time while suiting up for Kansas City.

Regardless, Bell still put up fairly impressive numbers during his tenure with the Chiefs. The veteran averaged 4 yards per carry, and caught approximately 76% of the passes thrown to him. This type of production is deeply needed by teams such as the Lions and the Ravens, although it is unknown how much interest these teams have in striking a deal with the former Steelers star. Only time will tell if Bell’s most recent comments will be a permanent thorn in the side of an otherwise productive career.

The New York Jets have added some depth to their running back room, signing Frank Gore to be the backup to Le’Veon Bell on a one-year deal.

Gore turns 37 later this month, is third on the NFL’s all-time rushing list, rushing for 15,347 yards during his 15-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills.

The signing of the now journeyman adds some complexity to the Jets running back room, as there were some issues between head coach Adam Gase and Bell, and trade rumors surrounded Bell for portions of last year. Gase has said that he has wanted to lessen the workload for Bell, who had the eighth-most touches in the entire NFL last season with 311.

Gase coached Gore during Gore’s lone season with the Dolphins back in 2018 and has always been enamored with Gore’s longevity as well as his work ethic.

Last year with Buffalo, Gore ran only 599 yards on 166 carries in a backup role behind rookie Devin Singletary, taking on more of a mentorship role in the ladder stages of his career, and is expected to do the same thing for the Jets.

Although the optics are bad in the Le’Veon Bell situation, New York Jets head coach Adam Gase said that Bell did not violate any team rules and won’t be disciplined. “What am I gonna discipline him for? I can’t tell him you have to stay in your house.”

Bell, who was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins due to illness, was seen bowling on Saturday night. He had been battling the flu throughout the week and missed two practices. “That wasn’t his fault that we said he’s still contagious. I mean, that’s what the doctors told him. I’d rather him not be [bowling]. I’d rather him be at home, getting better. But that will be a conversation we have,” Gase continued.

Gase added, “Oh, he wanted to play, but they said he was still contagious. They didn’t want him around all the other guys because they thought it would spread through the team.”

The 27-year old running back is in his first season of the four-year, $52 million contract he signed with the Jets. He has had a tough year in New York, rushing for just 589 yards with three touchdowns. He has added 55 receptions for 403 yards and one touchdown.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

The Jets had a tough start to the season, but with a stunning win over the Oakland Raiders in Week 12, it seemed their season had turned around. With three tough games approaching against the Baltimore Ravens (11-2), the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) and the Buffalo Bills (9-4), the Jets will look to hold their own as they face a 5-8 record.

Bell is expected to play to play on Thursday night as the Jets take on the Ravens in Baltimore.

The New York Jets got some bad news this week, as Sam Darnold will not be play-calling in next week’s game against the Cleveland Browns.

Former Denver Broncos starter Trevor Siemian will take his place at center for the Monday Night Football matchup.

Darnold reportedly contracted mononucleosis this week and the team said that it would take him at least a couple of weeks to recover. Head coach Adam Gase stated that Darnold had already lost this week, which means they might not expect him back for a while. With a Week 4 bye, it sounded like Gase was hinting at a Week 5 comeback for the quarterback that is projected to have a stellar season. This is a blow to the Jets after the team lost to the Buffalo Bills by one point in the opener and now facing a rising Browns team.

IN MEMORIAM: SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019 TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

The team stated that the QB could be out for no longer than two weeks, although the “incubation period” for mono could be four to six weeks, per the Mayo Clinic website.

“The virus has an incubation period of approximately four to six weeks, although in young children this period may be shorter,” the website reads. “Signs and symptoms such as a fever and sore throat usually lessen within a couple of weeks, but fatigue, enlarged lymph nodes and a swollen spleen may last for a few weeks longer.”

The Jets could have more bad news if star running back Le’Veon Bell does not recover in time. Bell complained of shoulder soreness and was held out of practice on Thursday. An MRI showed no serious damage to his shoulder.

The Jets are projected to improve over their last three consecutive seasons. Darnold and the rest of the offense did not look particularly sharp against the Bills, as they got half their points on defense, before a pass from Darnold to Bell in the second quarter led to a touchdown and a two-point conversion. The Bills scored 17 unanswered points from the end of the third quarter on to seal the game.

The Jets are somewhat of an underdog against the Browns for next week, but now those odds have risen significantly.

One week after Melvin Gordon made it public that he would sit out unless the Los Angeles Chargers gave him a contract extension, there seems to be no end yet in sight. In a move that could cause animosity between Gordon and the locker room, the Chargers players continue to have his back.

“They’re all behind me. They all got my back,” Gordon told ESPN in a sit-down interview with Sam Alipour this week. “They all told me, ‘You know what — we don’t speak on contracts — but you just go and do what’s best for your family.’ And I’m glad I got that support from them.”

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Gordon, 26, enters the final year of his rookie contract this upcoming season. The former first-round pick out of the University of Wisconsin averaged 114.6 yards per game from scrimmage last season and scored an additional 14 total touchdowns. After watching New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell sitting out the entire season last year for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Gordon and several other running backs in the NFL are in support of Bell’s decision and resolution.

“A lot of running backs have reached out to me just saying go out and get what you deserve,” Gordon said. “A lot. A lot of starters. A lot, a lot of backs.”

Despite the issues obviously between Gordon and the Chargers organization, Gordon still loves playing for the team and wants to continue to do so.

“Just because we’re going through contract issues right now doesn’t mean I want to get traded,” he said. “I love being a Charger. I don’t want them to feel like I don’t want to be there.”

“I’m prepared to do what I got to do, but as I said, I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Gordon said.

Training camp for the Chargers begins next Thursday.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon has threatened to demand a trade if no extension is reached between him and the Chargers by the time training camp opens up in August, his agent Fletcher Smith told ESPN.

Gordon’s agent also said that the running back did not wish to go this route, but due to a lack of progression on an extension between Gordon and the Chargers, felt that this is the only way to voice his frustration in a way that will get the attention of the Chargers. Whether it be an extension with the Chargers or a trade to another team, Gordon feels that this is the best way to get a resolution to his situation.

Other top running backs across the NFL — David Johnson, Todd Gurley, and Le’Veon Bell all recently have received new contracts recently. Gordon, who has rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in the last two seasons, feels that he is also deserving of a new, illustrious contract extension. Gordon is said to be unwilling to sign a new contract that does put his salary near or equal to what those other backs are earning annually.

Gordon, 26, is heading into the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. The Chargers picked up his team option for a fifth season last April. The Kenosha, WI native is scheduled to earn $5,605,000 this season.

During the 2018 NFL season, Gordon averaged 5.1 YPC and recorded 14 total touchdowns for the Chargers. Gordon also averaged 114.6 yards from scrimmage per game, the best average of any Charger since Ladanlian Tomlinson averaged 121.8 yards from scrimmage per game in 2007. Since failing to rush for any touchdowns in his rookie season, Gordon has 1,079 touches from scrimmage (2nd in the NFL during that span only to Gurley), 5,205 scrimmage yards (2nd in the NFL during that span), and 38 total touchdowns (2nd in the NFL during that span).

The New York Jets, who for years have generated headlines illustrating both instability and ineffectiveness, appear to have picked up their old habit once again. With little to zero warnings present leading up to the firing, the Jets abruptly asked their now former general manager Mike Maccagan to clean out his office. After piloting what seemed to be a turn around for the struggling franchise with moves such as signing running back Le’Veon Bell and drafting quarterback Sam Darnold, Maccagan now finds himself unemployed and apart of the growing fraternity of failed New York Jets experiments.

Head Coach Adam Gase now takes the helm, filling in the general manager void left after Maccagan’s departure. Although front office shuffling almost always brings about some internal turmoil, this move unfortunately brings extra baggage to the Meadowlands alongside it. After reports claiming that Gase stood against signing Bell surfaced, the new general manager now finds himself at odds with the three–time pro–bowler and arguably best running back the NFL offers. Gase’s suspected stance against Bell perhaps contributed to Maccagan’s firing as well according to reports.

With Bell now surrounded by a manager who potentially never wanted him to begin with, stories depicting possible trade talks in place for the running back have already surfaced. In response, Gase denied all claims regarding his suspected disapproval of Bell as he stated, “We signed [Bell]. I’m excited we have him. I’ve been in constant communication with him. ” Amid the reports, Bell illustrated his focus simply remains on football as he tweeted, “I don’t jump to conclusions when I hear or see a story that may affect me. Even if reports are true, that won’t stop me from doing what I came here to do … everyone has a job to do, and I’m gonna do mine whether people ‘like’ me or not. I’m here to win football games.” Bell remains under contract with New York, as the Jets signed him to a four year, $52.5 million contract last March.

After sitting out the entirety of the 2018 NFL season, former Pittsburgh Steeler Le’Veon Bell is in no rush to return to his teammates. This year, as a member of an entirely new team, Bell has said that he will not attend voluntary workouts with his team and will instead continue to workout on his own as he had done throughout his contract holdout.

He added that he knows what “works for me to be the best player I can be.”

The news came out when a fan asked when Bell was going to attend practice with the New York Jets. Bell responded: “When it’s time to play football…l got to stick to the formula that I know works for me to be the best player I can be…l’m not just tryna win football games, I want a ring! I want to desperately show everybody what I can what I can REALLY do…I’ll take the heat right now, everybody will forget about that once January comes around.” He then took a screenshot of the response and tweeted it with the caption: “Public Service Announcement.”

Bell attended the opening week of voluntary workouts, close to over a month ago, but hasn’t been seen since. Head coach Adam Gase has shown little concern about the running back’s absence since the team started their three-day voluntary minicamp.”It’s voluntary. That’s what it is. It’s the CBA,” Gase said.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW 

Gase said that players who don’t attend the workouts can still follow along with iPad playbooks. The Jets start practice officially on May 21 but that’s also voluntary. June 4 is the start of mandatory events.

The Jets and Bell came to terms on a four-year, $52.5 million deal this offseason.

Antonio Brown will be an Oakland Raider. Just days after trade talks with the Buffalo Bills collapsed, the Pittsburgh Steelers have found a way to ship out the Pro Bowl wide receiver who they believe to be the cause of their locker room drama.

The Raiders will send a third-round and a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft in exchange for the former sixth-round pick. They’ve also agreed to renegotiate Brown’s contract by increasing his salary from $38.9 million to $50 million.

Raiders Land WR Antonio Brown Via Trade

In the new deal, $30 million of Brown’s contract would be guaranteed. Previously, none of it was. According to ESPN, with incentives, Brown could pull in over $54 million in the next three years.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

While the contract upgrade may seem ridiculous, the Raiders can afford it after giving up very little to acquire the pass-catcher. In 2018, Brown caught 104 passes for 1,297 receiving yards and a league-high 15 touchdown catches. Though at 30, it may seem like his best days are behind him, he possesses the skills to age gracefully.

Brown also seems more than happy to be in Oakland. After shooting down the Buffalo trade, he took to Instagram to celebrate this one. Moments before news of the swap broke, Brown posted a photo of himself in a Raiders uniform.

After a lackluster year, coach Jon Gruden looks to fix up the Oakland roster. He seems to still have confidence in quarterback Derek Carr and may add another weapon this offseason. Some around the league think it’s perfectly reasonable that Le’Veon Bell could receive the same contract the Raiders gave Brown. Adding Bell is another high-risk, high-reward move for an Oakland squad in need of hype for a move to Las Vegas.

Tuesday at 4 p.m. EST was the deadline set for All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell to be eligible to play in the 2018-2019 season on a franchise tag.

Le’Veon Bell to miss rest of 2018 season

However, Bell failed to report to the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ (6-2) headquarters by the league’s official deadline and will thus miss out on the rest of the season and $14.5 million.

“I want to confirm that Le’Veon Bell did not sign his Franchise Tender today and, as a result, he will not be eligible to play football during the 2018 season,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said in a statement.

Bell missed the 2017 training camp when both sides couldn’t agree on a contract, but he eventually played on a $12.12 million tag.

Bell took it a step further this year by going AWOL after turning down a five-year, $70 million offer because of what he calls a “low true guarantee” of $17 million.

The Steelers explored dealing Bell before the Oct. 30 trade deadline, but no deal was possible without his signature.

In the offseason, the Steelers could consider using a $14.5 million transition tag, which would allow them to match any outside offer for Bell or let him walk in free agency. If he signed a lucrative deal elsewhere, the Steelers would receive a mid-round compensatory draft pick.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

When asked what happens if Bell never returns to the Steelers, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday afternoon, “So be it.”

Bell’s replacement, James Conner, is currently ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards (771) and rushing touchdowns (10). He also leads the league with eight runs of 20-plus yards. Conner is essentially out-performing what Bell himself did last year.

“I’m not going to comment on someone who’s not in this locker room right now,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said when asked about Bell after Thursday’s 52-21 win over the Carolina Panthers (6-3).

Pittsburgh will head to Florida on Sunday to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6). This game will air at 1:00 p.m. EST on CBS.

Pittsburgh’s offense could be altered drastically in the coming days with All-Pro RB Le’Veon Bell expected to rejoin the team by Tuesday’s deadline.

Bell set to Rejoin Team By Tuesday

The Steelers (6-2-1) are on a five-game winning streak and could see their already dominant offense improved in the coming days if Bell returns by Tuesday.

On Thursday, Steelers president Arthur Rooney II took to Sirius XM radio to announce that the team expects Bell to return next week.

“We’re in uncharted territory here in terms of, this really has never happened before as far as I know,” Rooney said. “So, there are questions that we may get to at the end of the season. We’ll cross those bridges when we get to them at the end of the season.”

Bell, who refused to sign a $14.5 million franchise tag in the offseason, has missed ten games and must report by Tuesday or he forfeits the 2018 season.

The Steelers front office have tried to remain quiet on Bell’s absence, but the story has grown unavoidable since Bell has held out longer than any NFL player on a franchise tag.

Counting the weeks missed, he has officially lost out on $8.52 million worth of earnings.

“I don’t know what his plans are, but I would say that at this point we expect him to come back next week,” Rooney said. “We know he’s back in Pittsburgh, so we’re hoping to have some communications with him over the weekend. We’re kind of expecting he’ll be back next week.”

The Steelers could try to apply a transition tag to Bell after the season, which would give them the right of first refusal on Bell and an opportunity to see his true market value.

Bell took to Twitter Wednesday night to post two upside-down messages saying in part that he is “not apologizing” for holding out.

“Just about everybody has an opinion on my life & worried about what I’m doing,” Bell wrote. “… Don’t judge me off my decisions because maybe this isn’t what you’d do … but most people don’t take the time to just simply read between the lines … & that’s clearly on them … I’m not apologizing for what I believe is right for myself, family, and the rest of my peers, period … also if you’re really finding the time to figure out what I’m saying, you’ve proved my point.”

The Steelers have extended their AFC North lead over the Cincinnati Bengals (5-3) to a full game, while giving them the fourth-best record in the conference heading into the weekend.

After winning five games in a row, Thursday nights matchup against Carolina (6-3) was the first time in Pittsburgh’s hot streak that running back James Conner didn’t rush for at least 100 yards. 

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

In Bell’s absence, Conner has produced a total of 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns through the team’s first nine games. Coach Mike Tomlin said Conner was placed into concussion protocol after Thursday’s 52-21 victory against the Panthers.

Pittsburgh will head to Florida next Sunday to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5) who are enthralled in a four-game losing streak. The game will air on CBS at 1:00 p.m. EST.

All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell will likely sit out the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ regular season opening game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday and will probably be away from the team for months, according to his agent.

Le’Veon Bell Has Holdout On Steelers Contract

Bell has a holdout on his contract: the running back hasn’t yet signed his $14.5 million exclusive franchise tag Pittsburgh exercised in March and could enter free agency next year provided he signs this tag on or before Week 11, according to ESPN. Bell hinted at retirement in a tweet in July after contract negotiations with the Steelers fell through.

Many Steelers players were displeased by Bell’s decision, to say the least, but the running back’s agent Adisa Bakari suggested his client could sit out for several months in order to maintain his long-term health and value.

“Le’Veon has several years ahead of him in football. We know right now his days in Pittsburgh are precarious at best. We also know how he’s been utilized in the past by the Steelers organization,” Bakari said in an interview with NFL Live. “That’s nothing to say negative about the Steelers. They had one of the best players to have ever played this position and they rely on him heavily for the production he can provide, but in doing so, you take away from his future years.”

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According to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter Ed Bouchette,  Steelers guard Ramon Foster said of the situation involving Bell: “What do you do? Here’s a guy who doesn’t give a dam, I guess, so we’ll treat it as such. I just hate it came to this.”

Last season, Bell logged an NFL-high and career-high 321 carries for 1,291 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. Bell and Pittsburgh failed to agree to a long-term deal the previous two off-seasons, mainly because the running back reportedly did not believe he was being offered a contract that reflected his value as an NFL player and as the Steelers’ second-leading receiver.

“He f—ed us,” one unnamed Steelers player told ESPN on Wednesday.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

On Thursday, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on First Take that Bell’s teammates should be “ashamed” of what they said about the running back’s contract holdout, and that their behavior was a “punk sucker move.”

“I don’t respect what they did to Le’Veon Bell yesterday. I thought it was as weak as it gets,” said Smith of the Steelers. “They should be ashamed of themselves, that was a punk sucker move. You don’t do that to this man when you know he’s just trying to get his money.”

Smith continued: “This is not somebody who got in trouble off the field. This is not somebody who has been acting like a hooligan or an irresponsible juvenile or anything like that.”

After becoming the first team in NFL history to jump from the worst offense in the league to the best in just one season, the Los Angeles Rams have had a busy offseason, bringing in a host of new players including wide receiver Brandin Cooks, cornerback Marcus Peters, and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in order to make themselves serious Super Bowl contenders in 2018. Now it appears they’re looking even farther into their future, as they are close to finalizing a contract extension with running back Todd Gurley.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal is $60 million over four years with $45 million guaranteed. Gurley was also given a signing bonus worth $20 million. With two years left on his current contract, the extension guarantees that Gurley will be with the Rams until 2023.

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Gurley’s contract extension extends farther than himself and the Rams, though, as it could set a new precedent for deals given to star running backs, especially when the likes of David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott finish out their rookie contracts. However, the most pertinent NFL player on the periphery of this deal is Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, who continues to express frustration with his current contract with Pittsburgh, a sentiment which he has echoed over the past couple of seasons. He wants a long term deal and a ton of money to go along with it, much like the one Gurley was just given by the Rams.

Bell took to Twitter to congratulate Gurley on his new deal, while also saying that his demands are not entirely farfetched.

NFL teams are typically hesitant to sign running backs to long term deals such as the ones they give to quarterbacks, as running backs take perhaps the most hits of anyone else on the field, and are thus heavily prone to both injury and fluctuating production.

30 SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2018 – TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

However, it looks as though Gurley will be worth every penny. He won NFL Rookie of the Year honors in 2015, and after a poor sophomore season (which one can attribute to just being in a terrible situation with both coaching and personnel), he had an MVP-caliber 2017-18 campaign in which he rushed for 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns on 279 rushes (4.7 yards per carry). He also added 788 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns through the air on 64 catches.

Gurley is as valuable as any non-quarterback offensive player in the NFL and should continue to thrive under coach Sean McVay’s hyper-explosive offensive scheme. It will be very, very interesting to see how this influences running back contracts in the future.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Le’Veon Bell failed to reach a contract extension on Monday, and reports suggest this is because the Pro Bowl running back turned down a major offer.

Le’Veon Bell Rejects Steelers Deal

According to NFL.com, the team offered 26-year-old Bell a five-year, $70 million deal hours before Monday’s 4pm EST deadline for franchises to agree to a new contract with franchise stars. Had Bell signed that deal, he would have become the league’s highest-paid running back on a per-year basis ($14 million annually).

However, NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala said in March after the annual league meeting between team owners that Bell was seeking a deal worth closer to $17 million per year.

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“He wants to be paid exactly like Antonio Brown is paid,” Kinkhabwala stated at the time. “So the Steelers are saying, ‘Well, we’re going to wait a little while before we address that fully because clearly the Steelers don’t feel that that’s where Bell’s value is.”

In a tweet just minutes after Monday’s deadline, Bell said he has always hoped to retire with the Steelers, and suggested he may leave the sport soon by saying he wishes to deliver his best season yet next fall.

“The NFL is a hard business at times,” Bell wrote. “To the fans that had hope, I’m sorry we let you down but trust me, 2018 will be my best season to date.”

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According to CBS Sports, Bell recently said he might sit out the first eight games of next season, although his new tweet appears to contradict that. The running back is reportedly set to earn $14.5 million under the franchise tag in 2018.

In his career thus far, Bell has logged 5,336, 35 rushing touchdowns, 312 catches and 2,660 receiving yards, according to NFL.com. The Steelers franchise-tagged Bell early in the offseason.

New England Patriots fans have something to be happy about, despite the team not winning this year’s Super Bowl.

Tom Brady Is Top Player On NFL Top 100 List

On Monday, Tom Brady was voted the top player in the NFL by other league members for the second straight year.

Brady, who will be 41 in August, is the reigning NFL MVP. He recently opened up about many personal and professional subjects, and also discussed the state of the NFL in an interview with Oprah Winfrey. 

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Following Brady on the NFL’s Top 100 list this year were Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown, Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz, Atlanta’s Julio Jones and another Steelers player, Le’Veon Bell.

Brady, a five-time Super Bowl champion, is a three-time league MVP and a 13-time Pro Bowler. Last season, he completed 66.3 percent of his passes for an NFL-leading 4,577 yards and 32 touchdowns while throwing only eight interceptions.

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Brady also set a new record in his team’s Super Bowl LII loss to the Philadelphia Eagles by recording 505 passing yards. In recent months, there have been rumors circulating around tensions within the Patriots organization, which Brady, coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft have turned into a very successful franchise over the last 18 years since joining it.

Here are the reactions of other NFL players who made the 2018 Top 100 list:

As expected, the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise-tagged star running back Le’Veon Bell on Tuesday just before the 4pm EST deadline.

Le’Veon Bell Steelers franchise tag news

The two sides now have until July 16 to agree on a multi-year deal. The second tag for the 26-year-old running back will pay him $14.544 million in 2018. As in 2017, the Steelers used the exclusive tag, which means Bell can only negotiate with Pittsburgh. Bell is reportedly unhappy he and the team haven’t been able to agree on a deal he believes is worth his “value.”

The Michigan State product started off the 2017 season slow, but finished with 1,291 rushing yards (third-most in NFL) and nine touchdowns on 321 carries, adding 85 receptions (second-most on Steelers) for 655 yards and 2 TD catches.

Bell, a three-time Pro Bowler, was suspended for the first three games of the 2016 regular season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He and former Steelers teammate LeGarrette Blount were arrested on DUI and marijuana possession charges in August 2014.

PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 10: Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers carries the ball against Michael Pierce #97 of the Baltimore Ravens in the second half during the game at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Le’Veon Bell doesn’t want to leave Pittsburgh, and the Steelers have no plans to let him go.

Steelers To Use Franchise Tag On Le’Veon Bell

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday on NFL GameDay Morning that the team will franchise tag the fourth-year running back.

The tag should be more than $12 million for running backs this season. Franchising Bell– who will be 25 next month, will give both sides an opportunity to settle on a long-term deal.

Several factors could influence such a deal, including off the field concerns (suspensions the past two season) and health (knee injuries in 2014 and 2015).

Rapoport added that as one of the best pass-catching running backs in the NFL, Bell could earn “big-time playmaker money.”

Bell’s statistics are quite impressive. He ranks first in the league in touches per game (28.0) and scrimmage YPG (157.0) and was second in rushing YPG (105.7), despite missing four contests this season (3 to suspension, 1 to rest).

From Weeks 4-16 (when Bell played), he led the NFL in touches (336) and scrimmage yards (1,884) — 28 more touches than David Johnson’s 308 and 189 more scrimmage yards than Ezekiel Elliott’s 1,695 (both 2nd-most in that span).

Rapoport also stated that the Steelers would like to extend Antonio Brown ahead of his final season under contract. Locking down both Bell and Brown in 2017 would help stabilize Pittsburgh’s offensive future as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s tenure with the team nears its end.

Bell rushed for 167 yards in Sunday’s 30-12 victory over the Miami Dolphins, a Steelers postseason record. In his first six games this season, Bell recorded 16.6 carries per game, although that figure improved to an average of 27.1 carries per game in his last seven games.

PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 08: Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Wild Card game at Heinz Field on January 8, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Ben Roethlisberger threw five touchdown passes for the fifth time in his career and Le’Veon Bell racked up 178 yards of total offense to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 43-14 home thrashing of the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.

Ben Roethlisberger Has 5 TD Passes, Le’Veon Bell Shines In Steelers’ 43-14 Rout Of Chiefs

Roethlisberger connected with wide receiver Antonio Brown– who wore cleats featuring the profile of late golf legend and western Pennsylvania native Arnold Palmer– for two touchdowns.

The Steelers (3-1) quarterback also hit Markus Wheaton, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jesse James for scores as Pittsburgh rebounded from last week’s 31-point meltdown (34-3) in Philadelphia, the Steelers’ worst loss in 27 years.

Roethlisberger, known as ‘Big Ben,’ finished 22 of 27 for 300 yards and a rating of 152.5, just shy of a perfect 158.3 rating.

Bell ran for 144 yards on 18 carries–including a 44-yard zig-zag in the fourth quarter that showcased the running back’s supreme agility– and caught five passes for 34 yards in his return from a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

“I was in the flow of the game,” Bell said. “I wasn’t even thinking about (being rusty).'”

Brown praised his teammate for consistently pressing the Chiefs (2-2) defense.

It’s the ‘Juice,'” Brown said. “Anytime we have Le’Veon out there on the field, we know the problems he’s going to present to the defense.”

Bell, an All-Pro in 2014, also missed the second half of 2015 with with a torn MCL in his right knee.

“We asked him to do a lot,” Roethlisberger said of the 24-year-old pass rusher. “Not just be a running back and run the ball. But we put him in motion. We put him at wide receiver. We threw screens to him. We did a lot. And that’s the confidence and faith we have in him and his ability.”

The Steelers scored a franchise-record 22 points in the first quarter as their defense forced a pair of turnovers that Roethlisberger quickly converted into touchdowns. Pittsburgh reached the end zone three times in a span of six offesnive snaps in the quarter and added a  two-point conversion while the Chiefs struggled in the rain.

Kansas City’s Alex Smith finished 30 of 50 for 287 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns that came after the game was clearly the Steelers’ for the taking. Spencer Ware ran for 82 yards, but also fumbled in the first quarter that kick-started the Steelers’ record-setting run. The Chiefs allowed four sacks to a team that entered with an NFL-worst one on the season and appeared unable to do much right.

Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles ran one time for 6 yards in his first game since tearing the ACL in his right knee last October.

With the win, the Steelers handed the Chiefs their worst setback since coach Andy Reid took over in 2013.

The Steelers next host the New York Jets on Sunday, while the Chiefs have a bye week, and will then visit the Oakland Raiders on Oct. 16 for Week 6.

PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 02: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers hands off to Le’Veon Bell #26 in the second half during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Heinz Field on October 2, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)