The Steelers traded cornerback Joey Porter Jr. on Thursday and a former Steeler is pointing out what he believes is a racial bias from the organization.
Former running back Le’Veon Bell, who went through his own contract issues with the Steelers said he wished that the organization “paid their black superstars they drafted just like they pay their white ones they draft..”
"Hate to see Porter get traded .. I thought same thing with Pickens? TJ Watt is worth every penny tho, so let’s not get it confused .. but something needs to change,” Bell added.
The numbers tell a different story though.
According to Over the Cap, six of the highest-paid Steelers in history are Black, three are white and one is Samoan.
But, with the exception of Kenny Pickett, the last several players to have a contract dispute or want out of Pittsburgh were all Black.
Still, Bell, seems to be looking for something that isn’t there.
When you look at historical and current contract data, the Steelers appear to pay their best players, unless they think they are asking too much, which had reportedly been the case with Porter Jr.
Bell sat out the 2018 season after the Steelers placed the franchise tag on him and he refused to play.
Bell then signed a free agent deal with the New York Jets in 2019, but never returned to the same player he was in Pittsburgh.
