Former Pittsburgh Steelers star Le'Veon Bell has warned fellow running back Saquon Barkley ahead of his franchise-tag saga.
Barkley finds himself in the same position Bell did in 2018 - when he refused to sign his franchise tag after failing to agree a long-term deal. Bell was far and away the best running back in the league at the time, and wanted an extension which did not come.
After being franchise-tagged, he chose not to sign the deal and did not play for the entire season - something Barkley has threatened to do ahead of the new year. Barkley was slapped with the franchise tag after failing to come to an agreement with the New York Giants, and has until Monday evening to agree a long-term deal.
Should they not come to an agreement, Barkley either must play on the tag - a one-year, $10million (£7.7m) deal - or sit out the entire season - costing himself millions. And speaking on Sunday, Bell admitted he regrets sitting out the season, and has apologised to Steelers fans.
In a video posted to his Instagram, he said: "I never apologised to the fans for really sitting out or leaving the Steelers. I never apologised. So, I’m gonna say I apologise for leaving the best fans there is in this damn world. I shouldn’t have left. I apologise." Bell spent five years playing in Pennsylvania after being selected by the Steelers in the second round of the 2013 draft. He went on to make three All-Pro teams and was a three-time Pro Bowler, while being a dominant force on the ground and as a receiver.
But his eagerness to be given a long-term deal cost him millions when he sat out the season, before eventually moving on to the New York Jets. Barkley wants a long-term deal with the team after they signed both Daniel Jones and Dexter Lawrence to big extensions. Last month, Barkley spoke openly about the negotiations and his displeasure with being tagged.
When asked by ESPN on a long-term deal, he said: "I don't know. I don't know. I think they're open to talking. I'm open to talking. I think at the end of the day, if you really break it down and look at it as a whole, there is no rush. There is still time on the table to get to July 17. July 17 is not tomorrow. It's not in a week. That is how I look at it.
“Maybe that is the naive way to look at it, I could be completely wrong. But for me, that's how I look at it. I could be completely wrong. Hopefully. I trust in the Giants that we could get something done." Barkley is coming off the back of an incredible season in 2022, with 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns.