Steelers place franchise tag on Le'Veon Bell

The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed the franchise tag on running back Le'Veon Bell, the team announced Monday.

Bell and the Steelers face a July 15 deadline to reach a long-term extension; otherwise, he'll be forced to play under the one-year tender for the 2017 season.

Under the terms of the exclusive tag, Bell can't negotiate with other teams this spring.

Bell rushed for 1,268 yards and seven touchdowns across 12 games in 2016, adding 75 receptions for 616 yards. Despite missing four games, he was named to the second Pro Bowl of his career.

The 25-year-old was slated to become an unrestricted free agent prior to the tag.

One of the preeminent running backs in the NFL, Bell is an integral part of the Steelers' offense and the franchise can rest easy knowing that one of its core pillars has been retained for the upcoming season.