Although Le’Veon Bell‘s NFL profile has taken a significant hit since his Steelers days, the former All-Pro running back is still in his 20s and plans to play in 2021. As for the reasoning behind his tumble off the Pro Bowl level, the veteran back took aim at the Jets.
In a brief Q&A with fans, the two-time All-Pro said he is taking his time in free agency. We have not heard any Bell news since his Chiefs contract expired, but the 29-year-old back said he will not rush this decision (Twitter link).
A first-team All-Pro in 2014 and 2017, Bell played a pivotal role in the ’17 Steelers going 13-3. But after he became the first franchise-tagged player to sit out a full season since Chiefs defensive lineman Dan Williams in 1998, a swift decline followed. Bell signed a four-year, $52.5MM deal with the Jets in 2019 but averaged just 3.2 yards per carry in his first New York season, which involved a far inferior offensive line compared to the setup he enjoyed in Pittsburgh. In 2020, the Jets cut their losses after just two Bell games.
In one of his responses, Bell said the Jets met his financial goals but failed on every other front (Twitter link). He also cites a lack of usage with the Jets as a reason for his regression. Bell indeed logged an NFL-high 406 touches in 2017, but his 311 for the Jets in 2019 ranked eighth that season. The Bell-era Steelers also featured a veteran-laden offensive line and top-level O-line coach Mike Munchak, whereas the ’19 Jets lacked both continuity and talent on their offensive front.
“Lol the only difference with the Steelers was they gave me opportunity… haven’t had that since I left,” Bell said (Twitter links). “I probably need to play for a defensive minded head coach instead of these offensive minded guru’s (sic). “I had more touches in 2017 for the Steelers than I had my entire time with the Jets… that’s what I mean by ‘opportunity.'”
After Bell caught on with the Chiefs midseason, he totaled 254 rushing yards (4.0 per carry) in nine regular-season games. Kansas City, however, did not use him in either the AFC championship game or Super Bowl LV. Bell’s lighter 2020 workload (113 touches) — after a throwback usage rate in Pittsburgh — may help extend his career. Of course, his production since leaving the Steelers leaves a lot to be desired.
It certainly will not surprise if Bell receives another opportunity. Running back injuries are rampant every year, and a few teams — the Bengals, Chargers, Dolphins, Falcons and Seahawks, to name five — feature some health- or experience-related questions in their respective backfields. (The Jets fall into this category as well, but that bridge is burned.) Bell, however, is running out of chances to revive his career.
That’s why RB’s need to get paid early.
He chose Money over success
And I’m totally fine with players going for money, as long as they work hard to better their team. Nfl life span is short. Make your money. But you could see a mile away that bell has no interest in winning. If he did, he wouldn’t sit out on a Steelers team that needed him. Knew his contract would be bad for whoever signed him
He chose the wrong offensive line. And as soon as the Steelers O-line diminished, so did Connor and Ben.
Not just money. Millions and millions of dollars. I’d call that a success.
It was guaranteed money he was missing out on as if i remember correctly the steelers offered him 3 48 but only 15 or 20 was guaranteed ie the first season where the jets i think was nearly half the contract was at 24M
if he did 2 seasons he would have made more dollars and probably still be a higher ranked rb also this does not factor in the money he could have gotten from sitting out the one season.
As he should
The same guy who was publicly saying he was concerned that the Steelers would overuse him? Really??
Wow is he full of himself. One of the main reasons he left the Steelers was that he was concerned with his workload. The other main reason was he wanted to get paid. Pretty much everyone said something similar to “Jets will pay him, but that team isn’t built for success”. Which is what he claims now. Shocking turn of events there Cotton.
He also conveniently leaves out the fact he sat on his butt/jet ski for a year and reported to the Jets out of shape and heavier than he’d ever been in his career.
Lev has made mistakes. Many mistakes. Bad choice of agents, mostly.
Even making those mistakes, dude’s got millions of dollars, a ring and…made the acquaintance…of many pleasant looking women.
Doesn’t have a ring
Doesn’t everyone on the roster get a ring?
Id rather the women than the ring! Lol jk
Everyone knew the Jets were not the team to go too.
Bell is right, and I do believe touches are the biggest determining factor in a RB’s production. teams give a guy the ball less, then fans act like that means the guy’s worse. if teams would give older RBs touches they would find their production doesnt fall off as quick as expected.
Clearly you didn’t watch many Jets games. Can’t blame you, but the dude is just toast.
What did he think would happen when he went to the Jets for the money.
It was obviously the worst Gase scenario
I suppose he could always go back to working at Dairy Queen.
Always someone else’s fault
He sat out a season and then came back as garbage. His own fault. Bad decision.
Miami wanted him last year. Be interesting to see if he signs with them this year.
He could sign with the other occupant of MetLife Stadium as insurance for Saquon who may not be ready for the start of the season as he just had the surgery on his ACL & MCL in October. Right now they have Booker and Clement as fill-ins. Then again, stranger things have happened – he could return to the Jets since they now have the defensive minded coach he spoke about and they invested another top pick on the O-line. If his problem was more with Gase than Douglas, it could happen.
I’d be okay with it. I’m not mad at him; he’s right. He was used incorrectly by Gase, 100%
Build with the lines………….he was great behind a great line. Behind bad line–he was bad….
Rb’s are dime a dozen with a few exceptions. Last position I’d ever , EVER give a monster contract to.