Back in July 2016, weeks before Le'Veon Bell was to enter the final year of his rookie deal, the Steelers running back released a hip-hop single proclaiming that he wanted $15 million a year on his next contract. By August 2017, the $15 million had increased to $17 million. 

That's Antonio Brown money.

Which perhaps helps explain why, last offseason, Bell reportedly turned down a long-term deal that would have averaged $12 million annually and instead played on the $12.1 million franchise tender in 2017. Another offseason, another franchise tag -- this time it's worth $14.5 million -- and another hip-hop single from Bell giving his side of a saga with no end in sight.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Joe Rutter transcribed some of the lyrics, which include a not-so-subtle message for fans angry that he's holding out, as well as the organization that won't pay him what he thinks he's worth.

"So they put me on the tag, alright.
Definitely not going to trip like I that bad guy.
Wonder why they treat me like the bad guy.
You say I ain't the best, but that's a bad lie.
I'm a do what I want just leave me alone.
If I don't do what you want then you want me gone.
I'm a say you being real aggressive, the way you switch up on me real impressive."

And:

"You can see i'm doing shows, so you think I'm out of shape.
Hey, the fact I want paid all these people want to trade,
I'm the one they want to hate so to me I'm a target."

And more still:

"You think if I sit out, I'll be sluggish.
You think they won't pay me because of drug tests.
For a fact, I ain't never failed one, that's on me.
You so worried about the weed, what about them PEDs?"

Bell is one of the league's most dynamic players. He rushed for 1,291 yards last season to go along with 655 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Because of that versatility, Bell wants to be paid like more than just a running back -- he wants to be paid like a running back and a pass catcher. But it's worth noting that Bell's $12.1 million cap hit in 2017 made him the NFL's highest-paid running back  by $1.7 million. And his '18 cap hit of $14.5 million is $4 million more than the next closest running back.

Put another way: The Steelers are paying Bell like the league's most versatile running back. They're just not paying him enough -- according to Bell. 

And for as good as Bell is, he ranked No. 5 in total value among all running backs last season, according to Football Outsiders, behind Dion Lewis (who signed a paltry-by-comparison four-year, $19.8 million deal with the Titans this offseason), Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara and Kareem Hunt. Kamara and Hunt, by the way, were rookie third-round picks who earned $465,000 last season.

The point: Teams can find outstanding running backs for substantially less than what Bell is looking for. And if Bell doesn't come down on his demands, it's hard to envision a situation where he's in Pittsburgh a year from now. Then the question becomes: Will one of the 31 other teams want to pay a 27-year-old running back with a lot of miles like he's the NFL's best wide receiver?

The Steelers and Bell have until July 16 to reach an agreement on a long-term deal. Otherwise, Bell will have to play on the one-year franchise tender.