How close were you to signing a long term deal with the Steelers this past summer? So close. Like you're in town. Or Where were you? Like how? Like I almost did it. Maybe you're nice. Smile. Good. Yeah. Thanks. Percent down with us, Levian. Appreciate it. Thanks for having me. Yeah. So you just filmed your s. I cover Shoot. Life's a gamble. Same title is your rap album. Um, just signed a four year contract with the New York Jets. How do you feel? I feel amazing. What? To be honest, I feel like the decision I made. And, um, all the layover and the long sitting out all paid off in the long run. And I'm happy where I am today. Yeah, I mean, let's dive into that. What was your goal? Sitting out of football for a year. I'm you know, ultimately, I wanted to get a long term contract, and we'll be happy, you know, go somewhere where I'm happy and where I feel fit and feel valued. You know what? I want to get guaranteed security. I'm over the course of my contract and playing football. So ultimately, you know I got that. How did the Jets make you feel that way? That I was a place you wanted to be? Um, you know, honestly, um, just growing up, being a little biased because I was a fan growing up on the Jets because one of my favorite football players was running back. Curtis Martin and I grew up idolizing him and love him later the way he ran the ball, things like that. So I'm I love the Jets. So when I when I had the opportunity, I'm getting free agency And then, you know, everybody kind of talked about me going to the Jets and things like that. I just felt like the stars kind of aligned, you know, and, um, everything worked out for a reason. So on day made me feel, you know, welcome doing talking on the phone and guys recruiting me. And, you know, it's just the whole process. We know it was just, you know, the fans recruit me was just everything about it. I have no choice but to go toe. Jamal Adams was playing G m a little bit. Anyone else get involved? You know, Sam Donald, you had You know, Gary V is a huge Jets fan, but he's a guy who, you know, I'm a huge fan of watching YouTube videos and things like that. But he's a huge Jets fan. He was, you know, recruit me and things like that. It was just No, not even just the guys on the team. You know what? You know the fans and people who love the Jets, who may be played an organization, you know, talking to Curtis Martin, things like that. It's just a lot of things drew me towards that, and, you know, I've got to make a decision. Did you talk about what your role would be in the offense? And what did they tell you? Instant. When I got to the Jets in New York, I felt loved instantly. I talkto, you know, Coach Gays. I felt like, Hey, talk to me like me and him on the same level. He's not talking to me like, um, under him, you know, he's the head coach, but he's talking to me like we're on the same level when I know talkto the GM he talked to me were on the same level initially, you know, there's a guy who you know was hired to me. Don't get me wrong, you know he's a GM, but it's like we're talking like we're talking like Like you respect me. I respect you. Yeah. You felt like you didn't necessarily feel that in Pittsburgh. Yeah, when I first got to Pittsburgh, I didn't get that feeling What I'm saying. I'm not saying they greeted me wrong or indifferent, but it's like when I when I got to New York with the judge and things like that just talking like even like the teammates is like, I felt like welcome. I felt it. You can you get a sense when people were genuinely want you around when they generally want you here, they generally want you to be good. They generally want you to be, you know, way. Want you toe be good Here. It's like the vibe I got, you know, But when I first got when I first got drafted, the Pittsburgh I didn't I wasn't thinking like this. That bad spot. Well, no. I was thinking I was happy I got the picture. I was happy. I'm thinking this is how I'm supposed to be. I'm thinking this is how it supposed to be. I didn't know because I was 20 year old. Got drafted, came here. So I'm I'm thinking, like when you're talking to me, I'm thinking it's not supposed to be. Oh, you're opposed to talk to me like that? Your post talked about that. So what? I'm seeing guys walking around all that. Oh, that's how they treat being all your business like that. I'm saying all babies like that. Policies like that. Like at that time, that's all. I knew Hillary didn't hit me and change until I was a free agent. And then I'm talking toe Adam gets on the phone. That's when he laid here, literally hit me. When I'm talking to him, I'm talking to him like like normal. I'm talking to you like I would talk to my friends. It's like, you know, I'm like, I feel like we're on the same level. You know what I'm saying? Like Ben had a relationship with. You know, the GM and head coach maybe had a relationship with GM and head coach, but the relationship be different than anybody else. Relationship. That's one team. Okay, so you felt like you were treated differently than a certain group of no. Eventually I got there. So eventually I got to the point where I was, like all lady honest, like how a B is now what I'm saying, But it's like is like being And then like Jim, what I'm saying is like he's like he's like they all like it seems like they're on the same level than everybody else's, like lower. Okay, so it's been the GM and then all the rest of the players. In a sense, Well, that's the vibe I got. I'm saying, When I got to the Jets, I feel like I could talk to you and you talk to me. We got we It's even everything even right, Okay, but yeah, but you felt in Pittsburgh that the quarterback I didn't feel I didn't feel in Pittsburgh that we're even. I don't feel like we're even. I never felt that, and at that time, that's all I knew. I just think that's supposed to be Yeah, you weren't because I would never in a different situation, I would never know where else. I just think it's supposed to be, Yeah, yeah, I just feel like if we're teammates were teammates were all the same. We're all the same thing. And you felt like you weren't even with Ben. Been is. You know, Ben has been He's the quarterback at the time. I'm thinking that's how I'm supposed to be. He's supposed to be like that. Like quarterbacks are leaders. Yeah, everybody going quarterback. It is what it is. But like it's still you're still a teammate. But then today he's not what I'm saying. You're not Kevin Colbert, right? I'm not Mr Rooney. Yeah, I'm saying. Yeah, still teammates. Yeah, I mean, certainly several players. You know, Antonio Josh Harris also said that some things in recent weeks about Ben's leadership abilities What was your relationship like with him? And was that a factor? Why you didn't want to stay in Pittsburgh? I mean, that was part of it. That's part of it. It wasn't the factor. That was a factor. Factor. Your relationship with actor, you wanted it to be different in the way. Yeah. How would you have liked it to be different? I'd like to be more open, more genuine, more riel. More than what I'm saying. Like we're friends, every team mates. And you did not feel that way. It's interesting because, you know, killer bees. Looking back, would you have ever thought a few years ago that you guys wouldn't be together right now? E. I wanna thought that you wouldn't have your 2014 like I'm thinking about like, I would have thought that I thought we all have been in Pittsburgh for what I'm saying My whole career release e thought that Yeah, and with Antonio also kind of, you know, you each obviously took different paths. But Thio, high caliber players that did not want to be in Pittsburgh anymore has raised a lot of questions. You know what's going on? There's what's what's happening under the surface. What would you say? Like Pittsburgh is like, You know what I'm saying? They're great organization, you know? They got a great owner head coach. There's they kind of treat you like. Or if you like that, right? Don't you like human? What I mean by that is like I'm I'm NFL athlete, but still, I'm a human being, you know? I'm saying, like I still play video games. I still make music. It's like they don't wanna, like, allow you to be yourself really, it's like they want you to be. If you're a Steeler like you're really supposed to be playing football 24 7, you're not supposed to be, uh, playing video games and like making music, playing basketball. You're not supposed to be doing that. Supposed to be working out. What I'm saying is like it's like it's not realistic. A lot of things, like it's not realistic. So So if I do something, say something, I'm doing some on social media or whatever that's different than football is like not accepted, you know, like it's not a bad place to be. You know what I'm saying? Just I wasn't happy. You know, I'm saying like it's not my place. What I'm saying is not a bad place. It just wasn't for me. What were some of the things that made you unhappy in Pittsburgh? There's a lot of things happen on the field. You know what guys evolved, you know, in in the locker room. And obviously the things that went publicly, you know, people know the public stuff about, you know, guys calling me on things like that, you know, and and I felt like for me to get my full potential and be the player that I can be. And I know that I could be I gotta go play with different players. I go play with people who wants to see me succeed. They gotta who wants to like me to be, you know, a great player, you know? I mean, I feel like getting a fresh start would be the best thing for me. You know, if I'm already playing in the locker room where guys already feel a certain way about me, you know their you know what I am. They know what type of type of talent I have and what I can bring to, ah, football team. You know, not even just on the field, but even off the field, like in the locker room. I'm I'm a great teammate, you know? So I think you're referring toa after Week one. Some of the your teammates said publicly, you know that you're being selfish or they questioned your decision. I think that's what you're referring Thio at that point, you know, you were still considering the idea that you would report at some point that season. Yeah, I mean, originally, I had I was thinking like I was I was just not gonna come weeklong. That was my original goal Original playing in my head. But it just, like, happened. Like certain things leaving leading up to a week. One certain things like, Why would you why that happened? Like, why would you say that? You know, because it was like, You know what I'm trying to dio I'm saying, you know, when I was trying to do so, it's like, you're if you, my teammate, if you're her brother, you know, you probably on my side. So your initial plan was to report after week one and sitting out one week Would what sort of reduced the workload or show the team that they missed you or, um, yeah, first I was just at first I was literally just thinking like, Yeah, I'm outta got down by just showing, you know, blase, blase, because mhm, I want to play camp because camp in O t A s. I haven't camp. Okay, so I'm just like, preserving my bottom like I'm not playing. I'm not playing. I'm just thinking like, you know, when we go on come, I'm you know, I'm gonna come, but things kind of laid up the weak ones like I'm I'm not playing play with things after even Week one. You know what I'm saying? It's just it's just kind of like certain build up. So it's just making me It's not making me feel comfortable, like over the course of time. That's what I was getting at is like I can't remember, like, little details or little things that was happening. But just leading upto week one, or when it was in camp and I wasn't I was training just leading up today. It's kind of like I don't even okay, I'm cool. Then we too will Come on, I'm cool. Then it got to a point where it's like, regardless what they say, I'm just I'm just gonna come back after the bye week. I'm just gonna bite the bullet. I'm gonna come back after the bye week and I got to that point and then, you know, new information that came out there, I feel like that was that was really important to me. Also, I heard that I didn't have to play to get credit. I mean credit season. My name had to play and I wouldn't have to get You have to give you another franchise tag on me. So that's when I got to the point. It's like, Oh, yeah, I don't got to come back then I'm not gonna come back unless I was literally feeling welcomed. And then I took some time off When I When I figured I won't come back, I took time off. I stopped. I didn't play basketball and run jump. Nothing. I was very chilling. I was just focused on music. Oh, for about two months and then around, like mid December. Uh, I start back in my training, you know, getting back right and things like that. So you said you took a little time off training. There was obviously reported out there that you were to 60 at one point, just were you ever that many pounds? And the thing about it is, I don't walk around and be to 20. I walk around and be 200 and I could go around 2 40 nobody when everybody are different, you look the same like the same all the time. So when that report came out, it was just funny, because I'm thinking like nobody ever seen me step on the scale. So how would anybody know? Like things like that is like, I don't ever entertain it just cause it's funny. What was the highest you weighed in that break from working out? I honestly, I don't know. Probably like 2 40. You know, I feel like if I just a normal guy, I'm not playing football, not working out. I'll be easily walking around 2 40 to 50 you know? I mean, I'm a bigger guy, you know, when I'm playing football, I'm training and working out my play around with 2 15 to 20 you know, to 25. And somewhere between that range is like I It's easy for me to just lose weight and get there. It's easy. You just walk around 2 40 it's easy for me to just play it to 20. You know? How much are you right now? Um, Levian Bell is coming to the Big Apple, of course, sat out the entire 2018 seasons, his year long holdout worth it. So your decision has been dissected. I mean, I don't know if you've been reading every article, has opinions on the money. They'll say there's less money through two years, right? There's less money. Through three years, 26 through two versus the Steelers offer had 33 32 So, you know, do you worry that the end result that the earnings will be less that you won't make up the 14.5? You don't seem concerned with that No right law, because in life is the long game, you know, so everybody worried about that one year for 14 5. But let's say if I play so I played that way for 14 5. I got there Week seven. You know me. I just don't want to say that the real ***, but you get my point if I get hurt and I can't play for one more. Yeah, I got 14 5, right E u Good 45. He's like you happy. It's like, Yeah, 45. Good, but I can't play no more. Or maybe I might get a long term contract because I can't play no more. You know what I'm saying? Like football, a violent game. I see one of my teammates get hurt. You know, it's up in the air about if you're gonna play. I'm saying you literally seen this. It was like, Yeah, 45. I could have got that that first year year. But I'm not worried about losing it because at the end is a long game. So if I know for a fact that e when I like the fast forward I get to the Jets and I signed a guaranteed contract a real guaranteed contract off 30 35 I know I'm getting that no matter what. So I put my name on this paper. I'm getting that. Oh, yeah, I'm happy. And what I'm saying, I know I'm getting that. And then that's like long term security. Yes, I'm secured. In Pittsburgh, it was just one. The year one year one is guaranteed. So all the other stuff you talk about the year over year to year three. I understand it. I completely understand it like some people. Like I said, Well, what it took that I completely understand it. But when you're one, if something happened and I can't play anymore, I'm not entitled to that right. I'm gon title to that first year. That's it. Did the she's ear injury really impact your view on course. How so? Of course. Just like because that's football. That could just happen. Any given play what I'm saying, that's like my brother, too. It's like you hate to see it happen, but it's reality that you're playing. This game of football can happen, you know? And then when it's like when I'm sitting out, you see guys who is playing who is trying to hurt long term contracts like Thomas and things like that. Alex Smith just got paid and he got hurt. But you see the difference between he had long term security. He's like Oxman's like you don't want everyone's Nobody could hurt. Obviously you don't But it's like he got hurt, but he's still he good. E. Smith. Like if you he signed like he got guaranteed money. Like so. Even if you're not the same player no more ever again. If you never, ever perform again, you still sustained. You're still good. You played a dangerous game that you put your bite online. You know may not be ableto beauty. Play with your kids, you know, you really taking that risk, you know? But if you do is like I want to be compensated for it. So there's two different buckets, right? You don't sign the Steelers second offer part of it's because you don't wanna be there long term. The other part is it was really the guarantees that was locking in that deal, right? It's a lot of it is like like, guaranteed, like the money, the money part of the series. That was really the first, Like the first time to get the contract came around. That's when I was really big on the money part. I was like, What I'm saying I wasn't You know, I was I was really big on the money part the first time around. But the second time around, it was like kind of like a wave of everything. So I'm thinking, like, if I'm If I'm gonna stay here, it gotta be It can't be 80 20. It can't be 8% your way, 20% my way with the contract. And I'm not. And I'm not really happy here. My No, I'm not like I'm not about to do that. What would have made you happy enough to sign like numbers? Steelers? I feel like if they would just guaranteed so I feel like the contract was perfect. And they just said, You're assuming you sign your sign. This paper, you get 35 million guaranteed. Been perfect. Okay. Perfect deal. Perfect. So basically the deal they gave you just the second year guaranteed you wanted, they don't. Their policy is not a future guarantees. Right? But what I'm saying is the first one, it was like I was more money. But I'm saying the second one in the second one is the second one was like that. But the first one, I was bigger way bigger money, big money. The first one first time around. Second time it was like I'm not happy on the least. Asked that another and I was still, like about the size of that was gonna make me happy. You know, it's like I just can't How close were you to signing a long term deal with the Steelers this past summer? Clothes like you're in town or Where were you? No, I was in the town was like on the phone. I was like, Wait, a fax it over. I just signed about all that, but like what I'm saying is like, you know it was close and I was like and I was just thinking about it. It just came down to, like, the wire. And then at that time, it's like that time I don't like that deadline to. So it's like when I made the decision, I got us to stick to it. I was like, No, I'm straight. Did you ever tell them you were going to sign it? Hadn't gotten that far that you told them? No, I didn't tell him. I don't tell me. I was gonna say that. I think I might have told like my agent or something. I think I would do it about my agent, my mom or something. But I told them E was just in my head. I'm thinking right the whole time, just thinking, man, I'm not gonna be happy sign this contract, but I'm just thinking, so I make everybody else happy. I'm just thinking like, that's literally I remember thinking I was like, I'm not happy with this contract, but I noticed what everybody want me to do. That's why I literally was thinking that, like I know everybody want me to do this. Yeah, I think that shed some light for people because I think there was a missing piece of the equation, and I think the missing piece was that you weren't happy. And that's basically things that have probably built up from negotiations on Ben. Also, your usage on the field would that be inaccurate? Assessment. That's part of it is part of. But like I said, this when you like it somewhere for like, five years, you can't really pinpoint what's not make you happy. It's just like, you know, I'm saying just like a collective thing is just kind of building up. I literally cannot pinpoint it. I just know it's like a collective collective for things that I just didn't like. I just didn't like I was putting up with this because everybody's looking at me and say, You know what? Everybody's happy what I'm saying, because I'm you know, I'm a I'm a jolly person. You know, when I'm when I say when I'm meeting you, I'm going to talk to you. I'm not gonna come to you dry. You're not gonna get the vibe that I'm just not happy I'm against come to you like I'm a happy person. I'm saying, because the person I am, But I wasn't, like, literally, just for myself, like knowing I'm like, really happy here. How could you be sure you'll be happy in New York? Because it was like when I first Like I said, when I first got the Pittsburgh, I didn't think it was a bad place. I thought it was good. I was happy, right when I first got there and then over the course of time, I was thinking things supposed to be the way it's like they're supposed to be that way. But also, of course, the years I'm thinking this is how it goes, right? As in New York, First day I get there, it feels like we're on the same level, like, yeah, way right here, right here, right here, Right. So I'm just kind of thinking like soon as I got to New York is like, Oh, in Pittsburgh. That's not not just how it is in Pittsburgh, but here in New York. Maybe this is how supposed to be like something like, Oh, like, this is how I was surprised when I'm saying like what happened? It was like, Oh, this is supposed to be like we supposed to be talking like this. You know what I'm saying? Like I'm talking to the head coach like I was talking to, Like, somebody's on my level. I'm saying, like, Okay, like, this is supposed to be? Yeah. Did Adam Gates give you an idea of hatha use you on the field? Um, yeah. I mean, I mean, me and him been talking. I mean, he's excited. I'm excited. Um, no way he didn't talk to me about plays I like and designs. And you know what? Routes and things like to run and how comfortable my playing different positions wave talked like. And like I said, that's why I'm so excited. Because the fact that, like I feel comfortable that they even talk to him like that, just like really way should try to run this like, I think we should I I would never go to court time. I remember like, Wow, my rookie year when I was coming in the camp like it was like a Remember, this is like a playoffs. Like I like this play like I like this play we started to always play is like my rookie year because I was like because I was like, Shut up. L bell, you just run the ball. What is it? Shut up. Will you just run the ball? So, like, that's my rookie year, so I'm just thinking, Oh, that's supposed to be all right. I'm saying no over. Of course, now it's like you're I don't start making places like you're saying you're 23 and stuff like that. It started a little bit like coming around asking, like, maybe like suggestions, but never to a point where it's like, I will play you. Like, what? Play you like what I'm saying? Like what I'm saying? I felt even comfortable. And I'm saying, e I wanna comfortable enough to go like I want to run this place. We should try to put this in. You see this play? The the rain was around like you're gonna run this. Let's put this in. Yeah. I mean, you say you're happy. When's the last time you felt this happy? I can't remember. I let it, uh, a lot of you know, I can't remember the last time. You know, I felt this good. Like, um no, my goal. Remembering I'm just thinking like mid December of 2000. You know, 18. I'm thinking, you know, 2020 19. That's gonna be my year. Like we've come to year. I'm going. I'm going to strive for greatness. I'm I'm gonna do everything right. And make sure I mean, bumping into the right people. I take care of my family. I make, you know the right constant decisions. You know, stay out of trouble. Just get a fresh new start. You know, when I put that into the air and all, you know, I feel that I really believe that it's like everything has been going right, you know? I mean, everything I've really been wanting on, you know, kind of just dreaming about what's been happening. You know, when it's kinda no scary, But it's scary in a good way, you know, just because the fact that, like I am so happy and it's like I haven't been I haven't felt this way before. You know, I can't remember literally filling this happy and being such a good spot and filling fun this way by myself. Thanks so much for doing the cover. Shoot with us. Congratulations on your contract in New York and we'll see you again soon. I'm sure. Thank you so much for having me