Le'Veon Bell would consider sitting out, retiring if franchise tagged again

Le'Veon Bell really doesn't want to be franchise tagged again.

The star running back put the Pittsburgh Steelers on notice Thursday, announcing he's prepared to sit out for a season or even retire if the team places a franchise tag on him for a second straight year.

"I hope it doesn't come to that, but I would definitely consider it," Bell said prior to practice Thursday, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.

The 25-year-old's 2017 franchise tag was worth $12.1 million, and his 2018 tag is projected to be about $14.5 million. Behind him, the NFL's highest-paid running back is Devonta Freeman, who signed a five-year, $41.25-million extension with the Atlanta Falcons in August.

Bell insisted the Steelers need to value him this offseason, though seemed more concerned about setting the market for younger players at his position than getting a specific dollar amount.

"Just get the numbers straight, exactly where we want them. I'm not going to settle for anything," Bell said. "I know what I do and what I bring to the table. I'm not going out here getting the ball 400 times if I'm not getting what I feel I'm valued at."

He added, "I don't necessarily care about the money aspect of it. I just want to be valued where I'm at. If I am playing this game, I want to set standards for all the other running backs behind me, like Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliott, Melvin Gordon, guys like that. I'm a guy they can kind of look at. I feel I can do that. I'm in a position where I can do that, and I'm going to do it."

If he did sit out the 2018 season, Bell said his football career would "probably be done."

He rushed for 1,291 yards and nine touchdowns on 321 carries this season, adding 655 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 85 catches.

After his comments made news in the afternoon, Bell tweeted a message on Thursday evening clarifying that his main focus is on the upcoming playoff game this weekend.