Appearing on Colin Cowherd’s radio show on Wednesday, Albert Breer from the MMQB declared that disgruntled Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell will end up on the Bucs next season.
.@ColinCowherd: The Green Bay Packers next coach will be….@AlbertBreer: Josh McDaniels@ColinCowherd: Le'Veon Bell next year is the starting running back for…@AlbertBreer: Tampa Bay Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/b1H80L3lWn
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) January 2, 2019
While Breer didn’t give an explanation due to the rapid fire question and answer to the segment, Cowherd also said he had heard that through the grape vine.
Bell is one of the most prolific running backs in the entire NFL, known for his patience in the backfield and an excellent pass catching back. He has two all-pro honors and three Pro Bowls on his resumé.
Bell sat out the 2018 season because of a contract dispute with the Steelers. He wanted to be the highest paid back in the league, but the Steelers elected to use the franchise tag on him instead. Bell gave up $14.5 million in guaranteed money by sitting out this year, looking to cash in on a long-term contract.
The Bucs had bruising running back Peyton Barber as their starting running back, who ran for 871 yards with a 3.7 yards per attempt in his first season as the starter, all behind an underachieving offensive line. After Barber, the Bucs running back situation gets murky as rookie Ronald Jones had a disappointing year, running for just 44 yards, and eight-year veteran Jacquizz Rodgers was mostly a third down back.
Making room to get a player like Bell would force the Bucs to make plenty of roster cuts for the kind of deal that he wants.