The deadline for franchise players to sign long-term deals with their teams has come and gone, and the Steelers and Le’Veon Bell were not able to come to terms on a new deal.

Bell will play this season for $12.12 million, all guaranteed, though he had not signed his one-year franchise tender before Monday.

The Steelers wanted to sign Bell to a long-term contract and tried hard in hours before the deadline. Team president Art Rooney II and general manager Kevin Colbert were vocal about that after the season and throughout the spring.

“Unfortunately, we were unable to agree to terms on a long-term contract with Le’Veon Bell prior to today’s deadline,” Colbert said in a statement. “Le’Veon is scheduled to play this year under the Exclusive Franchise Tag designation. We will resume our efforts to address his contract situation following the 2017 season.”

In the end, it proved to be a tricky negotiation for both sides. Bell knows he’ll be able to make $26 million guaranteed at minimum if he is able to avoid a major injury this season. It’s a gamble he is willing to take as others have in the past.

Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins will play on the franchise tag for a second consecutive season and will make another $24 million this year after raking in $20 million on the franchise tag last season.

Bell has not been able to finish the season in each of the past three years. He was pulled out of the AFC championship in the first quarter due to a groin injury that eventually needed surgery to repair this spring. In 2014, he suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the AFC wild-card game against the Ravens. In 2015, he sustained a major knee injury that required surgery and forced him to miss the final 10 games of the season, including both playoff games.

The immediate question for the Steelers is whether Bell will report to training camp. Bell can sign the tender anytime, but he is under no obligation.