Le'Veon Bell has waited a long time to be a free agent, and he doesn't appear to be in any rush to give up that status.
The Jets are one of the teams the star running back is considering joining. It's reportedly down to the Jets and Ravens for Bell. The Raiders also been mentioned as a possible landing spot for the three-time Pro Bowl back.
Multiple outlets reported that the Jets have made their final offer to Bell, and that they have given him a deadline to make his decision. If Bell doesn't agree, they want to move on to the next player on their list.
The Jets don't want to feel as if they were used to get other teams to raise their offers for Bell. The Jets felt that way last year when Kirk Cousins didn't immediately accept the Jets' fully guaranteed three-year, $90 million offer. When the Vikings came up to three years and $84 million, Cousins took their deal.
The Vikings, coincidentally, reached an agreement with another almost Jet. Linebacker Anthony Barr had a change of heart and backed out of the verbal agreement he gave the Jets on Monday and will re-sign with Minnesota.
The Jets used some of the money Barr turned down and used it to increase their offer to Bell, the soon-to-be former Steelers running back.
The start of the new league year begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday, which is when free-agent deals can be signed and trades can go through.
Bell, 27, remains the biggest free agent available, an instant game-changer and difference maker who would do so much for Adam Gase's offense and Sam Darnold's growth and development.
