On Thursday night, Le’Veon Bell agreed to join the Chiefs on a one-year deal. There were other suitors, but none of those teams offered Bell a multi-year pact, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Previously, the Dolphins were believed to have offered a two-year deal to lure Bell to Miami. Apparently, that’s not the case. The Bills were also in the hunt, but Buffalo didn’t offer up a deal to extend into the 2021 season, either.
Ultimately, Bell got what he wanted – an opportunity to reassert himself with a bonafide Super Bowl contender. At minimum, Bell figures to serve as rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire‘s top supporting cast member, slotting him ahead of Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson.
Bell’s production and constant clashing with Adam Gase made his $13.25MM-per-year price untenable for the Jets. The former Steelers dynamo lumbered for a career-low 3.2 yards per carry in 2019 and suited up for just two games in 2020. But, upon return in Week 5, Bell did average 4.62 yards per tote. And, considering his overall track record and reduced price, it was a no-brainer move fr the Chiefs.
With Bell, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Mitchell Schwartz, and Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs’ offense now features five former first-team All-Pros on the active roster. As a Steeler, Bell posted 1,800-plus scrimmage yards three times en route to the 2014 and ’17 All-Pro teams. He added three 75-catch seasons in that span, making him one of the league’s most dynamic offensive weapons.
How many times do players who have Le’Veon Bell, TO, Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown etc. type attitudes have to see their situation a play out negatively before they stop acting like Prima Donnas?
They think money and status excuse bad behavior
Understand your point, but man to group Bell in with those other 3…he’s been a distraction at times but I don’t think he’s that bad
Well, he sat out a full season and settled for less money than his franchise tag from the Steelers and then had 2 drug suspensions that made the Steelers play without him for…5 games (?) during two seasons. Not exactly Mr Innocent.
What does sitting out have to do with his behavior or being a distraction? The Steelers are the ones who dragged it out, refusing to give him an extension he deserved after the way they ran him out there. Youre so far off base here but alas at the end of the day we convince ourselves of anything and remain steadfast in that belief wrong or not.
I’m sure the Steelers are really upset for dragging it out and not giving him the extension.
bell’s suspensions are one thing, although they were early in his career and for something that doesn’t warrant suspensions. I don’t think him choosing to sit out instead of playing on a franchise tag is something to knock the guy for when you look at how brutal a game football is
For the $$ they were paying him he should have been getting 5-8 targets a game out of the backfield Gase never wanted him and misused him badly
I know it’s unrealistic, but after COVID going away, my second wish for 2021 is that Gase gets fired and Le’Veon returns to the Jets but becomes a superstar again. We all could use a good laugh.
This is so amazing. All that money he lost holding out from the Steelers, he got a LOT of guaranteed money from the Jets. Barely had to play for them, now he gets a deal with the SB champs and gets to play for another multi-year deal this offseason. Le’Veon Bell won this whole situation and the haters and Adam Gase are the losers lol
how many guys in any sport get multiple years during the year?
No free agent in the middle of the season ever get multi your offers. Do not know why this is such a breaking news.
Everyone who watched the Jets workouts said Bell was slow to the hole. It will be interesting to see how much of that was attitude and how much was wear and tear of 300 carries a year in Pittsburgh.