Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley supports fellow rusher Le'Veon Bell as the Pittsburgh Steelers star seems to be headed into the 2018 season on the one-year franchise tag.
Bell finished just 14 yards behind Gurley for second among rushing leaders in 2017 behind the Kansas City Chiefs' Kareem Hunt. Still, Bell failed to land a long-term contract with the Steelers before Monday's 4 p.m. ET deadline. He said he plans to skip training camp for the second straight year but won't miss games. Bell reported to the team on Sept. 1 last season.
"As a player, I definitely feel where he's coming from," Gurley told NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti on Tuesday. "I don't know exactly what he wants. But if he did what he did I'm pretty sure in his mind he did the right thing. I definitely stand behind him and definitely support him. I wanted him to get that long-term deal but unfortunately, it didn't work out."
Gurley will play the 2018 campaign on the fourth year of his rookie contract and already had his fifth-year option exercised. He remains a luxury for a Rams team with the least cap space in the league, according to Over The Cap. The front office will still need to work out a long-term deal with three-time All-Pro defensive end Aaron Donald this year before considering an extension for Gurley after the 2019 season.
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Of course, the Rams could choose to follow the path that the Steelers took with Bell, retaining him under the franchise tag for consecutive seasons.
Bell earned $12.12 million in 2017 and will make $14.544 million for 2018 once he signs the tender.
"(Bell's) playing on the tag for the second time, which is not bad at all, but you know you just want that security. It's definitely a sad situation for a guy to be a top-three back since he's came into the league and put in the work and can't even get the money that he deserves," said Gurley. "Definitely a sad situation."