Report: Steelers considering transition tag for Bell

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still considering using the transition tag to retain the rights to pending free agent Le'Veon Bell, a league source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The tag would give the Steelers the right to match any offer sheet the running back signs with another team.

The 26-year-old sat out the entire 2018 season after refusing to sign a franchise tag valued at roughly $14.5 million.

The NFL and NFLPA have yet to agree on the value of Bell's transition tag for the 2019 campaign. The players' association will want the number to be around the $14.5 million Bell missed out on in 2018, according to Schefter, while the league is likely to campaign for a number closer to $9.5 million because he missed a year of service time.

A two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, Bell has amassed 5,336 rushing yards, 2,660 receiving yards, and 42 total touchdowns over 62 career games with the Steelers after they selected him in the second round the 2013 NFL Draft.

Second-year running back James Conner earned his first Pro Bowl nod while filling in for Bell this season. He ran for 973 yards and 12 touchdowns over 13 games, adding another 497 yards and one score as a receiver.

Copyright (C) 2019 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.