Steelers: Le'Veon Bell Signs Franchise Tender
Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- Pro Bowl running back Le'Veon Bell is officially back at work with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bell signed his franchise tender on Monday, clearing him to return for the 2017 season.
The Steelers posted the news on Twitter:
Le'Veon Bell has signed his franchise tender.
MORE: https://t.co/JNIYJlp5Hj pic.twitter.com/ULQlKF9m7B
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 4, 2017
- RELATED STORY: No Long-Term Deal Between Le'Veon Bell, Steelers
The team placed the franchise tag on Bell in February. He declined to sign his one-year, $12.1 million tender while waiting to see if a long-term deal could be reached. When the Steelers and Bell did not come to an agreement by the mid-July deadline, Bell opted to skip training camp and work out on his own.
Last month, Bell teased fans on his Twitter account by retweeting a fan asking when he would return to the field, then replying "9-1-17."
Then, he was spotted at Steelers headquarters on the South Side last week.
The Steelers were given a two-week roster exemption for Bell, meaning they can carry an additional player on the 53-man roster.
Bell worked out with the rest of the team Monday. His status for Pittsburgh's season opener in Cleveland is uncertain.
The 25-year-old Bell ran for 1,268 yards and seven touchdowns and caught another 75 passes in 12 games for Pittsburgh in 2016.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
