Le’Veon Bell Skips OTAs to Continue Vacation
FLORHAM PARK, NJ — It didn’t take long for the former Steeler to ingratiate himself with his new team. Le’Veon Bell has decided to skip OTAs with the New York Jets. In a sentiment very reminiscent of Allen Iverson’s infamous “Practice” rant, Bell argues he doesn’t need the extra practice. And he isn’t entirely wrong. Bell skipped OTAs and almost all of the Steelers’ summer practices in 2017. He simply showed up for the first game, literally and metaphorically. Bell finished the season with over 1000 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. Le’Veon clearly demonstrated that he didn’t need to practice that summer. However, a year can be a world of difference for a running back (even one that didn’t add any mileage to their body last season). ESPECIALLY, a running back that has not participated in organized team activities in over a year. ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY a running back that must learn an entirely new offense. ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY ESPECIALLY a running back who must adjust to working with a 21-year-old quarterback. You get the point.
Le’Veon Bell has experienced a plethora of changes to his professional life since taking his yearlong vacation. New team, new culture, new city, new coach, new division…etc. He will need to adjust his game in order to sustain the success he had with the Steelers. In Pittsburgh, Bell was surrounded by more talent on both sides of the ball. Ben Roethlisberger is a much better quarterback than Sam Darnold. Antonio Brown is a better receiver than anyone on New York’s roster. What Gang Green lacks in talent, they make up for in potential. The Jets will need to lean on Bell as they develop their young players, particularly Sam Darnold. I expect opposing defenses to stack the box against Le’Veon. They will force Darnold to beat them with his arm. Those big runs won’t come as easy as they have in the past.
What exactly are the Jets getting in Le’Veon Bell? The organization hopes they are getting the same, dynamic player Bell was in Pittsburgh. However, is his potential to be an elite running back talent worth it? Do his abilities equate to the $52.5 million price tag? In the past decade, NFL teams have aggressively abandoned the run game in favor of passing. Not to say there isn’t a role for running on offense, but that role has undeniable diminished since the start of the millennium. From 2010-2017, passing yards, pass attempts, yards per game, and first downs dramatically increased. The sole exception to this trend was the 2016-2017 season where a number of starting quarterbacks and high-caliber wide receivers were injured. The passing renaissance, much like the three-point renaissance in the NBA, is here to stay.
Running backs are more expendable than ever before. The Patriots never seem to hold onto the same running back for more than three years. And yet, the Jets just signed Bell to a five year deal with more than half of his money guaranteed. Does it make sense for the Jets to spend $52.5 million on a talented, aging running back? Depends on who you ask. The Jets desperately needed to give Sam Darnold offensive weapons to work with in his second season. The top three offensive playmakers for New York last year were Isaiah Crowell, Robby Anderson, and Chris Herndon. Le’Veon Bell is a significant upgrade. However, his signing comes at the opportunity cost of upgrading other areas of the team.
Bell is a risk. He has also only played one complete season his entire career. In 2014, Le’Veon tore his MCL during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He missed the remaining ten games of the season. In back to back years (2015, 2016), Le’Veon was suspended for the first three games of the season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. His off the field behavior is a cause for concern. Since 2015, the only thing to keep Le’Veon off the field is Le’Veon. He has been his own worst enemy throughout his spectacular career. However, a yearlong absence from the league may have led to Bell regressing into old habits. It is unlikely the NFL drug tested the running back while he sat out the season. Will Bell be able to readjust to NFL life and resist the urge of substances prohibited by the NFL? It is difficult to say, but old habits die hard. An early lapse of character could be a dubious start for Bell in New York.
Will the Jets get the talented player they paid a handsome sum to acquire? Or will the organization just be the next chapter of the kabuki theater that is Le’Veon Bell’s saga? It’s hard to tell, but there’s exciting brewing at MetLife Stadium. Maybe that’s all the franchise ever wanted.
