Last season Le'Veon Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to come to terms on a long-term deal that would keep him as the Steelers' running back for the foreseeable future. As a result, he played under the franchise tag this season.

After pro bowl practice this week, Bell stated that he believes a long term deal can get done this time around (quotes via NFL.com):

"I think where we were last year at this point, we're a lot further than we were last year. I think we'll eventually come to an agreement and hopefully everything goes well," Bell said Wednesday after Pro Bowl practice.

It was reported last year by NFL Insider Ian Rapoport that Bell turned down a deal from Pittsburgh that would've paid him $30 million in the first two years of the contract. 

Bell said he would turn down the deal again if offered it today, and noted that there's more than just guaranteed money that led to no deal being made - but wouldn't go into any specifics.

He also noted that he wants to reset the market for young running backs such as  Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliott, who are the workhorses for their respective teams:

"There's not really a number that kind of sets it," Bell said when asked if there was a contract figure he had in mind.

"I just know the running back market is a lot lower than it should be. Us, as a position, we do a lot of things that we don't get credit for.

"Yeah a lot of teams have two-running back systems and things like that, but talking about literally kind of do-everything for their team, like the Todd Gurley's, maybe they only get a couple plays off.

"There was a lot of games where I had to play like 85 snaps, that's a lot of snaps.

"So, I think just trying to set a market value for a lot of the top guys at the position so they can get paid like a top guy at the position is my goal. And that's what I'm going to continue to try to do."

What are your thoughts on Bell saying that he's confident a long-term deal between himself and the Steelers can get done this offseason? Do you think that Pittsburgh will be able to lock up Bell for the foreseeable future? And what are the chances he has a new home in the 2018 NFL season? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below!

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