Le’Veon Bell‘s first season in New York hasn’t gone as planned. After sitting out the 2018 season, the running back’s return to the NFL has been underwhelming, as he’s compiled only 508 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 161 carries (good for a career-low 3.2 yards per carry). The Jets are also sitting at 3-7, meaning Bell will likely miss the playoffs for the first time since his rookie campaign.
Making matters worse, there have been whispers that some in the Jets organization would rather use Bell’s money elsewhere. The 27-year-old inked a lucrative four-year, $52.5MM deal with New York this offseason, but subsequent reports indicated that head coach Adam Gase wasn’t in favor of paying a running back that kind of money. Following the firing of general manger Mike Maccagnan, the team brought in Joe Douglas, who also wouldn’t have been in favor in that kind of investment.
After ditching Pittsburgh in pursuit of an organization that valued him on the field and via a paycheck, Bell now finds himself with career-worst numbers, a struggling team, and trade rumors. Through it all, the veteran has been a respected member of the locker room, and he’s generally spoken words of encouragement instead of criticism.
Bell took the same approach in a recent interview with Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, although he discussed some player-movement topics that he’s generally avoided throughout the season. While the entire interview is worth a read, we snagged some of the notable soundbites below:
On choosing to sign with the New York Jets:
“I made a decision. And I’ll live with it.”
On his lack of production and whether he would have put up superior numbers on a playoff contender:
“I feel like when I get those numbers here, people are going to look at me differently. Like, dang, he didn’t even have to go to the Chiefs. He didn’t have to go to the Colts or whatever team has a high-powered offense. I didn’t have to go there to do it. I came here and helped this team turn around.”
On whether he thought of restructuring his current contract to help facilitate a trade to a contender:
“It depends on the (financial) situation. You know what I’m saying? I had sat out a whole year… I’m not so much worried about the (Average Per Year). Everybody cares about the APY… So, when you say taking a pay cut, it depends on what you’re talking about.”
On the perception that he can no longer be as productive as he was in Pittsburgh:
“A lot of people will take the first hole they see. I don’t. I’ll take the best hole I see. Some people see the first hole and they try to hit it. They might end up breaking through and getting those 12 yards. Or the D-tackle might rip off and get a tackle for no gain. With me, I’m going to be consistent. I might not get 12 yards, but I’m going to make sure I get seven. The next time, it’s going to be that same situation and I’m going to get seven again.”
Don’t normally do this but fix the first sentence. The mistake is obvious by what you mean but It is laughable at the same time because of how badly it has gone
can’t get through the first line without an error. the writing on this site is very poor. just list transactions at this point.
Look, it’s a minor error and they will correct. Don’t use typos to say writing on this site is poor. I see typos on ESPN, CNN, NYT and many others all the time.
Levine “made a decision and will live with it”
Terrible editing process for most of the articles across this site.
First line is error. That line he is quoting Bell directly. You don’t edit quotes
There’s nothing wrong with the line, “made a decision and will live with it.”
First line of article has been updated.
Quote was used as sarcasm towards his efforts.
So Bell thinks by picking what hole to go through he gets 7 yards every play yet he’s only averaging like 3.2 yards ??
I think he may have meant 7 per drive
I’m not sure if this article HAS or HASN’T been proofread.
“I might not get 12 yards, but I’m going to make sure I get seven.”
(good for a career-low 3.2 yards per carry)
Lev is bad at math, but at least he isn’t a predator like Big Chest.
The Jets might have thought about trading him. When neither the GM nor the coach likes the signing, I’m not sure he’s a keeper.
It may be the reverse. He may be the keeper, but the coach and GM may not be. The Johnsons aren’t going to cut bait with them in year one, but a start like this next year would push them that way.
Lessons learned from all involved. Bell should have worked something out with the Steelers and realized his o line played a huge part in opening those holes for him.
Pittsburgh hopefully realizes they paid the wrong guy. Although I know RB is a not for long position but Brown winded up being the biggest headache they could have ever imagined.
And the Jets better realize that Oline needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Especially with a young franchise QB trying to develop.
I hope Bell can find his way back to the Steel City and they can appreciate him and him appreciate them.
I understand he felt underpaid but hopefully he realizes some situations you can’t put a price on. Football is a business but the Rooneys run theirs in a different way.
Why do running backs always think they can succeed despite the offensive line? SMH…..
Since both the Steelers and jets now are terrible, I think both sides screwed this one up. Bell should have signed for less and stayed in Pitt…who should have offered more.
The one flaw in your comment is that the Jets have almost always been terrible while the Steelers have not. When your as bad as the Jets are there generally isn’t much to lose by taking a high risk gamble because your already at rock bottom.
Bell’s decision was money over winning.
The Steelers could have a vintage Bell, Earl Campbell, or Barry Sanders, and it would not matter this year in the pass driven NFL. When Roth went down, and Rudolph having played like crap, it would not matter.
Personally i would rather cut Gase and Douglas (Gase’s hire for GM) and keep Bell. Atleast Bell has shown something on a few plays and Gase for being so offensive minded has done nothing for the offenses everywhere he has coached even when he brought in “his” QB out of retirement with the Dolphins.
Was a mistake in the first place in hiring him and giving him GM powers. Even Tannehill who was the qb he had the most there is probably playing his best, could this be the change of scenery, is he fully healthy, is the coach better, is team better, or maybe he is put in a position to win. The fact he is doing better in his new place where he was a backup to start the season is definitely something interesting.
Just another example of ‘the grass is not always greener’ especially if it is Gang Green
The Jets should have the greenest grass of any team. They’ve certainly spent enough on manure.
always thought Leveon would look good in Chiefs red but not at that cost. we’ve gotta pay Mahomes first
So many editors on here today.