Per the terms of the contract that he signed nearly a year ago, Le’Veon Bell received a fully guaranteed $2 million roster bonus on Sunday.
Despite rumors circling that Bell could be on the trading block this offseason, the roster bonus makes the likelihood of that happening that much harder. The Jets’ All-Pro back has another $11 million in guarantees coming his way. Not only is Bell set to make a base salary of $8.5 million during the 2020 season, but he will receive a $2.5 million roster bonus on Oct. 15.
Joe Douglas already said that he expects Bell to be back, knowing it would be nearly impossible for the Jets to receive reasonable compensation for him.
Coming off the worst statistical season of his career in Adam Gase’s offensive scheme, Bell finished his first season in green and white with a career-low 789 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. He ran for over 1,000-yards three times during his five-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His best game as a Jet came against a former foe in the Baltimore Ravens, in which he ran for 87 yards.
Earlier in the offseason, ESPN reported that the Jets felt Bell gained weight throughout the season and lost explosiveness as a result. Whether there’s any credence to that is irrelevant; there appears to be some tension between the two parties.
With Bell receiving his roster bonus, however, it’s just another thing the two sides are going to have to get past. Moving forward.
