Steelers’ Bell receives exclusive franchise tag
Five NFL players have been given the franchise tag, with only Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell getting the exclusive tag Tuesday.
Bell, who has been adamant about not playing under the tag for a second straight season, can’t negotiate with any other team. Pittsburgh must offer him the average of the top five running backs’ salaries. Both sides plan to continue negotiating.
Also getting franchise tags were Miami wide receiver Jarvis Landry, Detroit defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, Dallas defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, and Los Angeles Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner.
They can talk with other teams, but their current team would get compensation if they leave. Landry and Lawrence have already signed their tenders.
The only player given the transition tag was Chicago cornerback Kyle Fuller. It gives the Bears a chance to match any offer he might receive in free agency, which begins March 14.
The franchise tag value for running backs is $11.866 million. But Bell is scheduled to make $14.54 million in 2018 because it is his second straight tag.
For defensive ends, it is $17.143 million, while it’s $15.982 million for receivers and $11.287 million for safeties.
Fuller’s transition tag guarantees him $12.9 million next season. In other NFL news: • Former Oakland Raiders player Aldon Smith on Tuesday surrendered to police who said he is a suspect in a domestic violence incident reported three days earlier. Smith was booked on four misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and related counts and released on $30,000 bail from San Francisco County Jail.
The Raiders released Smith on Monday.
• NFL referees Ed Hochuli and Jeff Triplette are retiring. One of the replacements will be former back judge Shawn Hochuli, Ed’s son. The other is former side judge Alex Kemp.
Ed Hochuli, among the most recognizable of NFL officials because of his muscular build, joined the league in 1990. Triplette came aboard in 1996.