Le’Veon Bell - Pro Football Rumors

Free Agent RBs Adrian Peterson, Le’Veon Bell Discuss Their NFL Futures

July 12th, 2022 at 8:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Former All-Pro running backs Adrian Peterson and Le’Veon Bell will face off in an exhibition boxing match later this month in Los Angeles. The duo discussed the fight during a press conference this afternoon, but they were also naturally asked about their NFL futures. While Bell doesn’t seem all that focused on playing football in 2022, Peterson still seems to be keeping the door open.

“This is something that I definitely can see myself doing going forward as well, just depending on how things kind of play out for me,” Peterson said (via NFL.com’s Grant Gordon). “I just been kind of grinding, so I might see this continue to do something going forward. So, even after this fight, I will still be on my same routine, waiting for that next opportunity to present itself.”

While Peterson only topped 1,000 rushing yards once since 2016, he still had a consistent job, appearing in 16 games as recently as 2020. He had a tough time finding a gig in 2021, however. He ended up getting into only four games in stints with the Seahawks and Titans, collecting 106 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 42 touches. The 37-year-old was arrested earlier this offseason on a felony domestic violence charge, but the felony charge wasn’t pursued. Peterson hasn’t been connected to any squads since the season ended.

Bell is seven years younger than his boxing opponent, but he also struggled to hold on to a gig in 2021. Perhaps the lack of NFL interest ended up playing a role in Bell pursuing boxing, and it sounds like the athlete will be sticking with his new sport.

“Boxing is something that, you know, they always say it’s something you can’t play boxing,” said Bell (via Gordon). “Last year, I almost sat out the whole year to try to focus on boxing because I kind of knew that was what I wanted to transition to. This year, I know I’m not going to be playing this year because I want to focus on boxing. So, this transition for me has kind of been like, I guess, another opportunity for me. I’m just ready to showcase what I’m about…This is not just a one-off. This is, I guess like my introduction to kind of show what I’ll doing and how I’ll be going about myself. Just an intro.”

The 30-year-old RB got into eight games with the Buccaneers and Ravens last season, collecting 131 yards from scrimmage and three scores on 44 touches. Similar to Peterson, Bell hasn’t been connected to any teams this offseason.

Le’Veon Bell Clears Waivers

January 25th, 2022 at 9:55am CST by Adam La Rose

After having been waived by the Buccaneers on Saturday, running back Le’Veon Bell has, not surprisingly, went through unclaimed. As Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports (via Twitter), he is now a free agent.

Bell signed with Tampa Bay in December to provide depth for a banged-up halfback room. With Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones missing time down the stretch, Bell found himself in essentially the same situation as when he joined the Ravens earlier in the year. Season-ending injuries to J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards had Baltimore searching for veteran replacements, ultimately settling on Devonta Freeman and Latavius Murray throughout the campaign.

The three-time Pro Bowler ended what wound up being a very brief stint in Baltimore with 31 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns. In Tampa Bay, meanwhile, he totalled 12 touches for 49 scrimmage yards, including one receiving touchdown. Prior to Fournette’s return, Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Giovani Bernard handled a larger share of the workload in the backfield.

Bell’s likeliest move may well have been to re-join the Bucs’ practice squad had they won on Saturday. Now that their season is over, and Bell went unclaimed, he is free to sign anywhere and continue trying to find a new permanent home in the NFL.

Bucs Signing RB Le’Veon Bell

December 21st, 2021 at 5:28pm CST by Ely Allen

Running back Le’Veon Bell is back on an NFL roster, according to a tweet from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Bell is expected to sign a deal with the Buccaneers, pending a physical.

Bell appeared in five games for the Ravens this year after getting signed to the practice squad in early September. He joined Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman to create a trio of veteran running backs tasked with filling the void created by season-ending injuries to the team’s original 1-2 punch, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. In limited time spelling Murray and Freeman, Bell carried the ball 31 times for 83 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Bell is once again being asked to replace some production lost to injuries with Ronald Jones II banged up and Leonard Fournette likely joining Chris Godwin and Pat O’Connor as recent additions to the Injured Reserve list.

The move reunites a dynamic duo of days past from Pittsburgh as Tampa Bay is now home to Bell and former-Steeler Antonio Brown. The Killer B’s will certainly be satisfied replacing Ben with Brady.

Ravens Work Out Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman

September 6th, 2021 at 7:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens’ running back search is underway. After losing Justice Hill to a torn Achilles, the Ravens auditioned running backs Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman, and Elijah Holyfield, per the league’s official list.

Bell is undoubtedly eager to prove that he still has upper-echelon ability. He did not record a 20-yard run as a Jet or as a Chief. Bell’s most recent 100-yard rushing game came in 2017, during his Steelers heyday. In Pittsburgh, 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, so he could provide Lamar Jackson with an intriguing short-range option.

Freeman is also out to prove that he’s more than just a name at this stage of his career. The former Pro Bowler ended up with the Giants last year and averaged just 3.2 yards per carry on 54 totes. The Saints picked him up towards the end of July, but his New Orleans run ended after just one month.

Defensive tackle Reginald McKenzie and quarterback Kenji Bahar also worked out for the Ravens on Monday. And, in other Ravens news, they’ve locked up standout tight end Mark Andrews on a four-year, $56MM deal.

Le’Veon Bell: “I’ll Never Play For Andy Reid Again”

June 13th, 2021 at 12:39pm CST by Rory Parks

Le’Veon Bell wants to continue his playing career in 2021, but he’s not exactly endearing himself to teams that might be interested in his services. Bell commented on a recent Instagram post by RapTV — a post concerning someone’s outlandish McDonald’s bill — and fellow commenters began asking him questions about his NFL future (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk).

In one of his responses, Bell said, “I’ll never play for [Chiefs head coach] Andy Reid again. I’d retire first.” Of course, Bell joined up with Reid’s Chiefs following his release from the Jets last October, and he ended up appearing in nine regular season games (two starts). He tallied 63 carries for 254 yards (4.0 YPC), and added 13 catches for 99 yards. However, he did not see the field in the AFC Championship game or the Super Bowl.

The nature of Bell’s beef with Reid is unclear, though the coach’s decision to keep him on the sidelines for KC’s two biggest postseason contests probably explains some (or all) of the animosity. Still, publicly airing grievances against one of the most respected and affable head coaches in the league is probably not in Bell’s best interests.

He recently cited his lack of usage with the Jets as the reason for his regression from his halcyon days in Pittsburgh, though his 311 touches in 2019 — his first and only full season in the Meadowlands — were the eighth-highest total in the league that year. He was tremendous with the Steelers in 2017, piling up nearly 2,000 scrimmage yards and 11 TDs en route to his second First Team All-Pro bid, but he sat out all of 2018 due to his infamous contract dispute with Pittsburgh, so he is now three years removed from his best work. As far as we know, neither the Chiefs nor any other club have expressed interest in Bell in 2021.

Obviously, Bell’s underwhelming performance with the Jets is at least partly attributable to the dearth of offensive talent on Gang Green’s roster (including the O-line), and the fact that he is still only 29 and hasn’t run up the odometer too much in recent years theoretically makes him an attractive option for any number of clubs. His inability to generate any interest on the open market could be indicative of what teams think about his fit in a locker room, and comments like those he made about Reid aren’t helping his cause.

Le’Veon Bell Plans To Play In 2021

May 28th, 2021 at 4:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

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.

No Multi-Year Offers For Le’Veon Bell?

October 16th, 2020 at 9:56am CST by Zachary Links

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.

Jets Release Le’Veon Bell

October 14th, 2020 at 9:21am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets announced that they will release Le’Veon Bell from his contract on Tuesday night. The release is now official, and the former All-Pro running back is free to sign with any team.

“After having conversations with Le’Veon and his agent and exploring potential trade options over the past couple of days, we have made the decision to release Le’Veon,” the team said in a Tuesday night statement. “The Jets organization appreciates Le’Veon’s efforts during his time here and we know he worked hard to make significant contributions to this team. We believe this decision is in the best interests of both parties and wish him future success.”

The Jets signed Bell to a four-year, $52.5MM free agent deal in the 2019 offseason. A few months later, they fired GM Mike Maccagnan. Then, before the trade deadline in October, new GM Joe Douglas attempted to trade him. There were no viable deals then, and there were no takers this time around. The Jets were willing to eat some of the $6MM left on this year’s base salary, but teams were warded off by Bell’s $8MM injury guarantee, plus a number of other red flags.

Last year, Bell averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry. Gase and Bell butted heads throughout the season, which saw the multiple-time Pro Bowler put up the worst numbers of his career. Bell ran for just 789 yards and three touchdowns on 229 carries – that comes out to just 3.3 yards per tote, a sharp contrast from his best work in Pittsburgh, which included back-to-back 4.9-yard averages. His 66 catches for 461 yards and one score weren’t too shabby, but that’s still a notch or two below expectations. With the Steelers, Bell averaged 8.5 yards per reception and averaged 80 grabs in each of his final two seasons with his former team. Soon, Bell will have an opportunity to start fresh with his third pro team.

Jets Looking To Trade Le’Veon Bell

October 13th, 2020 at 12:31pm CST by Zachary Links

Here we go again. With a couple weeks to go before the trade deadline, the Jets are shopping running back Le’Veon Bell, sources tell Manish Mehta of the Daily News (on Twitter).

The Jets signed Bell to a four-year, $52.5MM free agent deal in 2019. Months later, they considered moving him. Bell claims the Packers, Chiefs, Texans, and Steelers (yes, the Steelers) all expressed interest in acquiring him before last year’s deadline but, ultimately, there were no takers.

It’s hard to imagine teams chomping at the bit for Bell. Last year, he averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry. So far this year, he’s played in just two of the Jets’ five games. For what it’s worth, he managed 4.62 yards per carry this past Sunday, but he’s come nowhere near matching his performance in Pittsburgh since joining Gang Green.

Between his two disappointing Jets campaigns and his 2018 holdout, Bell is three seasons removed from his best work. Meanwhile, he continues to clash with team brass. This week, he dished out social media likes to a number of followers who were criticizing Adam Gase for his limited usage of Bell.

“I know he’s frustrated that we haven’t won,” the head coach told reporters on Monday. “It wasn’t necessarily the plan of not targeting him in the past game, it just kind of ended up being that way with how they were they were playing us. So that’s what it is, I mean, just try to find ways to move the football that’s all we’re trying to do, and it doesn’t always go exactly as planned..I hate that’s the route that we go with all this. Instead of just talking to me about it but seems the way that guys want to do it nowadays.”

Bell will earn a guaranteed $8.5MM base salary for 2020. In the past, he’s rebuffed the Jets’ attempts to restructure his deal. But, if he truly wants a trade, he may have to reconsider his position.