Joique Bell

Multiple Offers On Table For Joique Bell?

June 4th, 2016 at 5:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nearly four months after the Lions cut him, Joique Bell said on Saturday he has multiple opportunities to return to the league if he chooses. The soon-to-be 30-year-old running back told Lev Facher of the Detroit Free Press that he has “two or three offers on the table.”

Bell said he’s “99% certain” he’ll be on a team this season, telling Facher, “Last time I checked, I had three offers on the table. I know two are still there. One might not be there anymore.”

A former Harlon Hill Trophy recipient out of Division II’s Wayne State (Mich.) who saw extensive action for the Lions from 2012-15, Bell was set to earn $2.5MM and count $3.5MM against the Lions’ cap in 2016. He rejected a Detroit proposal that likely mandated a paycut before being released but insists he remains in good standing with his former team.

“We just negotiated something, and we couldn’t come to a conclusion,” Bell said, via Facher. “We both kind of walked away from the table, so to speak, but on good terms. We understand that it’s all business. They did what they felt was best for the organization. I did what I felt was best for myself and my family.”

A Bills visit followed in March, but Bell left without a contract. The Lions opted not to address the position in the draft until their final pick, selecting Dwayne Washington in the seventh round. He joins projected starter Ameer Abdullah, passing-down specialist Theo Riddick, along with Zach Zenner and recently signed Stevan Ridley, who after joining the Jets last season in hopes of rehabilitating his value post-ACL tear saw just 36 carries.

Bell’s usage plummeted in 2015 as well after he strung together back-to-back strong slates in 2013-14. Sharing the backfield with Reggie Bush in those seasons, Bell totaled back-to-back 1,100+ yards from scrimmage in each campaign. In 2015, however, Riddick assumed the Lions’ main pass-catching duties out of the backfield, ranking second only to Danny Woodhead with 697 receiving yards among running backs.

Bell, gained 597 yards from scrimmage — a total that ranked behind Riddick and Abdullah. The veteran runner, however, missed three games after undergoing multiple offseason surgeries in 2015. Pro Football Focus, though, still rated Bell as the Lions’ best running back due to his versatility as both a runner and receiver.

PFR’s Dallas Robinson listed Bell as one of the honorable mentions among the best remaining offensive players available.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Best Available NFL Free Agents: Offense

May 19th, 2016 at 11:30am CST by Dallas Robinson

The most high-profile free agent signings occurred more than two months ago, but as we near June there are still talented NFL free agents available on the open market. Most of these players (with a few exceptions) won’t command much guaranteed money, and given that we’ve passed the May 12 deadline, none will factor into the compensatory draft pick formula. Let’s take a look at the players who will try to find a home as training camp approaches:

1. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB: The most obvious destination for Fitzpatrick remains the Jets, who don’t intend to play second-round pick Christian Hackenberg immediately but, as of the draft, hadn’t had meaningful talks with Fitz’s camp in awhile. The 33-year-old Fitzpatrick has apparently told people he’d “rather not play football” in 2016 than accept New York’s current offer, though that seems like a negotiating ploy to get the Jets to put more than $7-8MM on the table. Gang Green holds all the leverage in this scenario, as the only other club that might have still been searching for a quarterback — the Broncos — is thought to have ended their hunt for another signal-caller after drafting Paxton Lynch last month.

2. Anquan Boldin, WR: Even as he ages, Boldin continues to post solid production — he’s managed at least 65 receptions in each of the past four years, averaging nearly 1,000 yards and five touchdowns during that time. And while the 49ers have not asked him to return in 2016, Boldin could be an option for a number of wide receiver-needy teams, as the Bengals, Steelers, Colts, Chiefs, and Giants could all make varying levels of sense for the veteran pass-catcher, especially given that he’s indicated he’d prefer to play for a contender. Boldin has taken just one free agent visit this offseason, but that team — Washington — is unlikely to still have interest given that it selected TCU wideout Josh Doctson in the first round of the draft.

3. Arian Foster, RB: There’s no question that Foster offers the highest upside of any free agent on this list, as he’s topped 1,200 yards rushing in every season that he’s remained even remotely healthy. But health, of course, has remained a hindrance throughout Foster’s career — in 2015 alone, Foster was slowed by a groin injury during camp before suffering a torn Achilles in in Week 7. The Dolphins met with Foster earlier this offseason and could still be a landing spot, while the Raiders, Eagles, and Chargers (especially if Melvin Gordon‘s recovery from microfracture surgery doesn’t go well) could be options.

4. Jahri Evans, G: Knee and ankle injuries limited Evans to 11 games in 2015, but like Foster, Evans is a solid contributor when he’s on the field, as he graded as the league’s No. 27 guard among 81 qualifiers last year, per Pro Football Focus. Entering his age-33 season, Evans might have to be willing to engage in a camp battle for a starting role, or even wait until a club suffers an injury along its offensive interior. But a team like the Broncos, who are currently projected to start sixth-round rookie Connor McGovern at right guard, could express interest.

5. Louis Vasquez, G: Vasquez isn’t quite the guard that Evans is, but he offers a vast amount of experience, as he played over 1,000 snaps in 2015 with Denver, and has started 101 games since entering the league in 2009. Not yet 30 years old, Vasquez could help a number of clubs at either guard position — he met with the Titans earlier this offseason, and depending on its assessment of Jeremiah Poutasi, Tennessee may still be interested. The Chiefs, having failed to replace Jeff Allen, could also make sense as a destination.

6. Andre Johnson, WR: After posting the worst full-season results of his career, Johnson was released by the Colts just one season into a three-year pact. Whether interested clubs will determine that Johnson was victimized by a lackluster 2015 Indianapolis (and largely Andrew Luck-less) offense — or instead conclude that Johnson is just about finished at age-34 — is an open question, but the 13-year veteran has indicated that he’d like to continue playing in 2016.

7. Will Beatty, T: Beatty is expected to be fully healthy this summer after missing the entire 2015 season with a torn pectoral muscle, but he reportedly won’t be returning to the Giants. It’s a little surprising that Beatty hasn’t yet found a home for 2016, but he shouldn’t have to wait much longer, as he’s clearly the best tackle available on the open market (his top competition is the likes of Jake Long and Mike Adams). I could see the Bears bringing in Beatty to compete with Charles Leno on the blindside, while the Cardinals could also be a feasible landing spot if they aren’t happy with D.J. Humphries — who didn’t play a single snap as a rookie — at right tackle.

8. James Jones, WR: Another season catching passes from Aaron Rodgers, another successful year for Jones, who returned to Green Bay after a year in Oakland to post 50 receptions for nearly 900 yards an eight touchdowns. Jones, now 32, has indicated that he’d like to play for awhile longer, though the Packers have reportedly moved on. After waiting until July of last year to sign with the Giants (and September to reunite with the Pack), Jones could again have to wait awhile to find a new team, but whoever signs him will be acquiring a big-play threat — in 2015, Jones ranked fourth in the league with 17.8 yards per reception.

9. Ryan Wendell, C/G: Perhaps the least recognizable name on this list, Wendell spent the last seven seasons as a utility interior lineman with the Patriots, and ended up starting 44 contests from 2012-2014. A knee injury prematurely ended Wendell’s 2015 season in November, and a March report stated that Wendell would wait until he returned to full health before signing with a new team. A return to New England can’t be ruled out, but a club like the Cardinals — who are currently projecting A.Q. Shipley to start at center — could also be on Wendell’s radar.

10. Owen Daniels, TE: Daniels has spent all ten of his NFL seasons under the tutelage of Gary Kubiak, following the coach from Houston to Baltimore and, finally, to Denver. That streak of loyalty is now in danger after the Broncos released Daniels earlier this year, though Kubiak did not rule out re-signing the veteran tight end (Denver has since signed fellow TE Garrett Graham, however). Even at age-33, Daniels performed in line with his career averages, posting 48 receptions for more than 500 yards and four touchdowns.

Honorable mention: Tarvaris Jackson, QB; Joique Bell, RB; Bryce Brown, RB; Marques Colston, WR; Brian Hartline, WR; Roddy White, WR; Khaled Holmes, C; Amini Silatolu, G.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Joique Bell Visiting Bills

March 15th, 2016 at 8:56pm CST by Zachary Links

Running back Joique Bell is visiting the Bills tonight, according to Rand Getlin of NFL Network (on Twitter).

Bell saw time in 13 games last season, rushing for 311 yards off of 90 carries with four touchdowns. He also produced as a pass-catching back, hauling in 22 receptions for 286 yards. Bell was an important part of the Lions’ backfield rotation since 2013, but the club cut him earlier this year, opting instead to move forward with incumbents Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, and Zach Zenner. The Lions saved $1MM by cutting Bell while carrying $2.5MM in dead money.

Bell might not be a superstar running back, but he could help the Bills fill the gap in the event that LeSean McCoy is suspended. McCoy, who earned a Pro Bowl nod during his first season with the Bills in 2015, is under investigation for his role in an altercation at a Philadelphia nightclub in which McCoy and three of his companions fought with at least two off-duty police officers.

McCoy was held back by injuries in his first season with the Bills but was being counted on for a bounce back year in 2016. In 2013, McCoy was rated as the very best tailback in football according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), racking up a 27.3 overall rating which was more than 8 points higher than the runner-up, Jamaal Charles.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Joique Bell Rejected Lions Offer Before Release

February 20th, 2016 at 8:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Running back Joique Bell was released by the Lions on Tuesday after five seasons with the club, but he was offered a chance to stay in Detroit before he was cut, as Bell himself told reporters, including Justin Rogers of MLive.com.

“The NFL is a crazy business,” said Bell. “You never know. The Lions made me an offer. I thought I did what was best for my career. I ended up declining the offer.”

The 29-year-old Bell didn’t elaborate as to the details of the Lions proposal, but it likely would have included a paycut. Bell was entering the final year of an extension he signed prior to the 2014 season, and was due to earn a base salary of $2.5MM and count for $3.5MM against the salary cap. Detroit cleared out that $2.5MM from its 2016 books, and is now set to enter the offseason with about $26MM in cap space.

Bell saw time in 13 games last season, rushing for 311 yards off of 90 carries with four touchdowns. He also produced as a pass-catching back, hauling in 22 receptions for 286 yards. Bell has been an important part of the Lions’ backfield rotation since 2013, but the club — pending other additions — will move forward with incumbents Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, and Zach Zenner.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Lions Cut RB Joique Bell

February 16th, 2016 at 4:23pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have cut Joique Bell, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Bell entered last season as the team’s starting tailback before being leapfrogged by rookie Ameer Abdullah. Abdullah was up-and-down in his first season, but he is clearly the team’s tailback of the future.

Bell, 30 in August, saw time in 13 games last season, rushing for 311 yards off of 90 carries with four touchdowns. He also produced as a pass-catching back, hauling in 22 receptions for 286 yards. Bell has been an important part of the Lions’ backfield rotation since 2013, but the club apparently will look for a No. 2 back elsewhere in ’16.

Bell was due to earn $2.5MM in 2016, a sum that would be very reasonable for a No. 2 tailback. However, Bell was not projected to be the main understudy to Abdullah, thanks to the emergence of Theo Riddick. Much of Bell’s value is tied to his receiving ability, but that’s a role that Riddick filled very capably in 2015. Riddick caught 80 catches (99 targets) for 697 yards in 2015, making him a favorite in the Detroit locker room as well as in PPR fantasy football leagues. He also ran for 133 yards off of 43 carries.

The Lions save $1MM by cutting Bell while carrying $2.5MM in dead money.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Notes: F. Jackson, Cook, Rams, Lions

October 21st, 2015 at 8:56am CST by Luke Adams

The Renton Police Department issued a statement last night on the car accident involving Seahawks running back Fred Jackson, announcing that the collision resulted in minor property damage, but no injury to Jackson (Twitter link via Gregg Bell of the News Tribune). Renton Police confirmed that early reports of Jackson racing another team member were apparently false, suggesting that there’s “no indication” the former Bill was racing another vehicle.

Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk also hears from a team source that Jackson was uninjured in the accident, and that several teammates – including Richard Sherman and Marshawn Lynch – stopped to check on him before leaving the accident site.

Here are a few more notes from out of the NFC:

With teams around the league looking for athletic tight ends, Rams pass catcher Jared Cook has had his name come up in trade rumors early this season. Head coach Jeff Fisher has said he isn’t interested in trading Cook, but says the Rams have fielded calls about multiple players, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN (via Twitter).
Cook, who has only 15 catches in five games for the Rams, dismissed trade rumors and said he is happy with his role, according to Wagoner (via Twitter).
Fisher also had to make a statement about his job status after his alma mater of USC fired their head coach, saying he wouldn’t consider leaving the Rams to coach in college, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter). Fisher cited the commitment he made to Rams owner Stan Kroenke when he took over in 2012.
The Lions just put one running back on injured reserve, but could get another back in the lineup as Joique Bell is getting closer to returning, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Bell had missed the last three games, and with Zach Zenner out for the season, the team only misses him more.

Rob DiRe contributed to this post.

NFC North Notes: Zenner, Ford, Palardy, Richardson

October 9th, 2015 at 7:19pm CST by Rob DiRe

Lions running back Zach Zenner had two huge carries on Monday night against the Seahawks, and has made a compelling case to take some of Joique Bell‘s playing time, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Bell has missed time with knee and ankle injuries, and but was only averaging 1.1 yards per carry on 20 attempts so far this season. Zenner only has four carries on the season, but could see an increased workload going forward.

The Ford family has owned the Lions for years, and Bill has served as the team’s vice chairman for over 20 years. However, he admitted that it is actually his mother Martha who has been running the organization since William Clay Ford passed away in March, according to Aaron McMann of MLive.com. “She’s in charge. She absolutely is,” Bill said. “Since my father passed away over a year ago, my mother is in charge and she makes all the decisions.”
The Bears worked out punter Michael Palardy today at Halas Hall, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter). The rookie was previously with the Rams.
Packers safety Sean Richardson will miss the rest of the season with a neck injury, which could be career threatening according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Extra Points: Cobb, Pouncey, Okung

August 29th, 2015 at 9:27pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

A week after losing Pro Bowl receiver Jordy Nelson to a season-ending ACL injury, the Packers are hoping fellow Pro Bowl wideout Randall Cobb doesn’t join him on the shelf. Cobb suffered a right shoulder injury during the Packers’ game Saturday against Philadelphia. The severity of the ailment is currently unknown, but one injury that has been ruled out is a broken collarbone, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeted. A serious injury to Cobb would be a devastating blow to the Packers, given that their receiving corps already lost Nelson. He and Cobb combined for a whopping 189 catches (25 of which were touchdowns) and nearly 3,000 yards last year.

NFC North Links: Packers, Briggs, Bell, Smith

February 7th, 2015 at 1:59pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Packers kept three quarterbacks on the active roster last season for the first time in five years, but it is unclear whether the team will elect to do so again in 2015, writes Weston Hodkiewicz of PackersNews.com. Matt Flynn served as Aaron Rodgers‘ backup but the team was worried that putting Scott Tolzien on the practice squad would leave him vulnerable to being signed away from the roster.

If the Packers need the extra roster spot next season, they will have to make a choice between the two players. However, Rodgers hopes that he will once again get a chance to have both of them in the room with quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt. “Both different personalities, but great teammates,” Rodgers said. “Those guys are a lot of fun. It would be great to have them back.”

Here are some other links from around the NFC North:

Longtime Bears stalwart Lance Briggs could be looking for a new team for the first time in his career. However, there is one team that he has already crossed off his list, in the division rival Packers, writes David Just of the Chicago Sun-Times. Briggs said so very succinctly when asked yesterday about the possibility (via Twitter).
Lions running back Joique Bell is coming back from offseason surgery, and looking forward to another chance at getting into the playoffs, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.com. The biggest thing for Bell is bringing back star defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, suggesting that Calvin Johnson will have to restructure his contract to make sure they can re-sign him. “We’ll have to talk to Calvin, see if he can do something,” Bell said. “We just need him back. Come back, Suh.”
Vikings safety Harrison Smith is also coming back from surgery and focused on his future. As he is coming closer to free agency, he has made sure the team knows he is interested in staying in Minnesota for a while, writes Matt Vensel of StarTribune.com. “That’s all I’ve thought of doing,” Smith said. “I have no intentions of going anywhere else. I’ll just let [my agency] handle it. I’m just here to play football and we’ll see what happens.”

NFC North Notes: Bell, Raji, Rudolph

July 8th, 2014 at 2:57pm CST by Luke Adams

After rounding up several items out of the NFC East this morning, we’ll turn our attention to the North this afternoon. Here’s the latest:

Running back Joique Bell, who received a three-year contract extension from the Lions this offseason, is coming off a knee injury and will report to training camp a few days before the rest of his teammates in order to test out his body, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.com.
After reportedly turning down a longer and larger contract extension a year ago, B.J. Raji settled for a one-year, $4MM deal with the Packers this offseason. However, if his return to his old nose tackle position is successful, he could parlay that into a significant raise when he hits free agency again in 2015. Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com has the details.
Kyle Rudolph, an extension candidate for the Vikings, has been studying tape of tight ends Norv Turner has worked with in the past, and is looking for a big year under the team’s new offensive coordinator, as he tells Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel catches up with former Packers second-rounder Brian Brohm, who is now a backup quarterback for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

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