MINNEAPOLIS -- Le'Veon Bell is now in Minneapolis for the Super Bowl and he'd like to avoid the drama that surrounds his contract status.
In fact, after saying last week that his agent and the Steelers have begun working on a new deal with a deadline of Feb. 20 -- at least according to Bell -- the Steelers' All-Pro running back told TMZ he doesn't want to play anywhere other than Pittsburgh.
But, while speaking at the EA Sports party Thursday night, he also reiterated that he doesn't want to play under the franchise tag again this year as he did in 2017. Bell made $12.1 million in 2017 and stands to get a raise to $14.5 million if the Steelers place the franchise tag on him again.
"I'd think about it. I don't want to, but obviously, I don't want to play on the tag again," Bell said when asked if he would consider retirement if the Steelers place the franchise tag on him again. "If it happens, it happens. I'll make my decision when it happens. I just want to get a deal done. I'm tired of dealing with this every year."
But, Bell noted he thinks he and the team are closer to a deal now than they were a year ago. Bell reportedly turned down a deal that would have paid him $60 million over five seasons.
"I think in the contract situation, myself and the organization are in a better spot than we were last year," Bell said. "It's only positive. I'm in a good spot right now. I want to be a Steeler. I don't want to have to go anywhere else. I just want to get the contract done and make myself happy, the organization happy and the fans, so we can move on."
Bell also was asked for his reaction to the news that teammate Ryan Shazier had been released from his rehabilitation hospital as he continued to recover from a spinal cord injury suffered Dec. 4 in a win at Cincinnati.
Shazier posted photos of himself standing -- with help -- including one of he and Ben Roethlisberger.
"We just got the news. It's a blessing," Bell said. "For him, I'm just glad he's passing barriers each step at a time. He's got to worry about his whole life and what's in front of him."
Bell also said he thinks Shazier, who was suffering from paralysis from the waist down, could possibly return to play football at some point in the future.
"If he wants to, I know he'll work hard and go do that," Bell said. "I don't know how long it will take him, but if he puts his mind to it and he wants to get back on the field, he'll get back on the field."