Le'Veon Bell Evokes MLK In Celebrating Exit From Steelers

PITTSBURGH, PA - When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. went to the Lincoln Memorial in August 1963, he delivered a landmark moment in the civil rights movement by uttering the words, “”Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty we are free at last!”

Former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell used those words Wednesday in delivering a farewell to the team. Via Twitter, he cribbed the words found on King’s tombstone after the Steelers said they would not use a transition tag on him that could have further tied him to the team.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert told reporters Wednesday that the team will allow Bell to become an unrestricted free agent. That means the team will get a compensatory draft pick in 2020 that’s likely to be a third-round selection.

Colbert said the Steelers could not afford the $14.5 million it would have cost to transition Bell, especially when Pro Bowl running back James Conner and rookie Jaylen Samuels filled the void productively.

Bell, 27, refused to sign his franchise tender last year, preferring to sit out the season and forego a $14.5 million salary.

Photo: Getty Images.

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