Le'Veon Bell appreciation thread

[Fire Goodell]

I used to hate Le'Veon Bell, but now I honestly think him holding out was the best thing for the Steelers.

1- We found our RB of the future, who's putting up better numbers than PRIME Le'Veon Bell. For 1/16th of the cap hit. With that said, I hope Conner gets paid a bigger contract than Bell was offered after years of solid production. Conner doesn't come across as stupid as Bell and should know a good deal when he sees it.

2- Conner's running style in my opinion is giving this offense some identity. No longer are they a cute finesse team, they're taking on the look of a power football team that can also beat you with the big play. The Steeler offense is becoming fun to watch, the physicality of the running game is punishing opposing defenses, which I haven't seen since the mid 2000's. Although Bell is a bigger RB, he doesn't seem to finish his runs with the same violence that Conner does.

3- The offense seems like more of a complete unit. I'm seeing a lot less of the preening and rah-rah celebrations for making routine first down plays. I have a feeling that Conner's blue collar approach to the game is rubbing off on the rest of the team. I'm just going by the eye test here, but this offense looks more like an actual functioning team rather than just a collection of talented individuals.

4- He's given our future RB a chance to establish himself, and his holdout so far saved nearly another 8 million so far to our cap that will carry over next year. Thanks Le'Veon for making the Steelers a better team! Now come back, cause we could use a solid #2 :chuckle:

[fansince'76]

No animosity toward Bell for me. He simply played his hand...badly.

Tip for Le'Veon: steer clear of the poker table.

[Lady Steel]

Thank you, Le'Veon, for simply being you... a dumbass.

[steelreserve]

Now come back, cause we could use a solid #2 :chuckle:

Yup, I've had horrible diarrhea all weekend, and he's a real piece of shit, so that all works out perfectly.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

Thank you Le'Veon for making me not want to go to a strip club ever again!

[86WARD]

I’m cool with LeVeon sitting out and just making contact with Conner vis text and phone. He’s given the kid some nice tips and Conner has clearly been taking advantage of the advice. He’s combining his style with Bells tips and it shows.

[tube517]

“We need volunteers— not hostages”


:tomlinism:

[stillers4me]

And look at all the money in the cap space to sign a free agent in the off season!

[teegre]

I’m cool with LeVeon sitting out and just making contact with Conner vis text and phone. He’s given the kid some nice tips and Conner has clearly been taking advantage of the advice. He’s combining his style with Bells tips and it shows.

:nod:

Bell has been very supportive of Conner... which tells me that Bell’s return “could” indeed work.

[polamalubeast]

1059425765849219072

[86WARD]

:nod:

Bell has been very supportive of Conner... which tells me that Bell’s return “could” indeed work.

I think it could. He’s going to have to come in humble and know that he has to re-earn the respect of his teammates. Otherwise, it’s not going to turn out well for him. There’s a lot of awkwardness floating around and I think this has gone farther than he thought it would.

[Craic]

2- Conner's running style in my opinion is giving this offense some identity. No longer are they a cute finesse team, they're taking on the look of a power football team that can also beat you with the big play. The Steeler offense is becoming fun to watch, the physicality of the running game is punishing opposing defenses, which I haven't seen since the mid 2000's. Although Bell is a bigger RB, he doesn't seem to finish his runs with the same violence that Conner does.

Hmm, haven't you been watching the Steelers with Bell, then?

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000763535/Le-Veon-Bell-runs-over-defender-on-10-yard-run
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000888396/Bell-trucks-Kirkpatrick-to-turf-on-key-fourth-down-conversion
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000299004/Week-15-Le-Veon-Bell-highlights 56 second mark. At both the beginning and end of his run
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8CbZi6ajBU :chuckle: watch him finish this one off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb5NnPB4LlU Finishes this drive by driving right through a tackle for a TD (55 second mark).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqLiF72INV0 2:38. The commentary is annoying, but check out his hit.
https://youtu.be/WbBPLoTRFak?t=63 This one isn't about big hits as much as driving the pile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-xHb43GYTE Another brutal stiffarm. Bell owns Kirkpatrick
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000391116/Week-1-Le-Veon-Bell-highlights :32 second mark. Finishes by driving through player... then runs some more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2aUkfwf0S0 This one, he just drives the pile at the end finishing off the run.
https://youtu.be/XD3FCNpW-YU?t=92 Same as previous, he delivers a nice hit at the end.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000861947/Le-Veon-Bell-s-Top-5-Runs-Week-6 No big hits, but watch his drive on more than one occasion.

And, those are just ones found on highlight clips after a few minutes of searching. If you actually watch the games again, he has several others. So, I'm not sure where this "Bell isn't physical" or "Bell doesn't finish runs violently" comes from, because he can and does do both.

[Fire Goodell]

Hmm, haven't you been watching the Steelers with Bell, then?

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000763535/Le-Veon-Bell-runs-over-defender-on-10-yard-run
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000888396/Bell-trucks-Kirkpatrick-to-turf-on-key-fourth-down-conversion
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000299004/Week-15-Le-Veon-Bell-highlights 56 second mark. At both the beginning and end of his run
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8CbZi6ajBU :chuckle: watch him finish this one off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb5NnPB4LlU Finishes this drive by driving right through a tackle for a TD (55 second mark).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqLiF72INV0 2:38. The commentary is annoying, but check out his hit.
https://youtu.be/WbBPLoTRFak?t=63 This one isn't about big hits as much as driving the pile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-xHb43GYTE Another brutal stiffarm. Bell owns Kirkpatrick
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000391116/Week-1-Le-Veon-Bell-highlights :32 second mark. Finishes by driving through player... then runs some more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2aUkfwf0S0 This one, he just drives the pile at the end finishing off the run.
https://youtu.be/XD3FCNpW-YU?t=92 Same as previous, he delivers a nice hit at the end.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap3000000861947/Le-Veon-Bell-s-Top-5-Runs-Week-6 No big hits, but watch his drive on more than one occasion.

And, those are just ones found on highlight clips after a few minutes of searching. If you actually watch the games again, he has several others. So, I'm not sure where this "Bell isn't physical" or "Bell doesn't finish runs violently" comes from, because he can and does do both.

It's just the eye test, not saying that Bell isn't capable of physical running. It's just that Conner does it a lot more consistently. Instead of dancing around behind his blockers, he's full steam ahead and dish out the pain if a db tries to tackle him.

I know it's a lot to do with the OL, but the physicality in the running game has shown especially in the RZ. Conner already has more rushing TD's than Bell ever has in a season.

[Craic]

It's just the eye test, not saying that Bell isn't capable of physical running. It's just that Conner does it a lot more consistently. Instead of dancing around behind his blockers, he's full steam ahead and dish out the pain if a db tries to tackle him.

I know it's a lot to do with the OL, but the physicality in the running game has shown especially in the RZ. Conner already has more rushing TD's than Bell ever has in a season.

Except, that's what Bell does all the time as well. The "eye test" is the worst possible way to tell because it becomes the "who have I last seen doing it and what do I think about the other guy test" Memory is a tricky thing and it will tell you that what you've last seen is reality. Bell punishes as well, it's just not talked about because he's danced and juked around two or three guys before punishing the last guy trying to tackle him.

As for Running TDs, don't you think that has as much to do with the OC as anything else? Last year this offensive line was a mess for the first four or five games, and Ben was a mess as well. This year, the offense got it on track a whole lot quicker. So no, I don't agree that RZ numbers means physicality. I think RZ numbers means a new OC is coaching the team better.

[Mojouw]

Except, that's what Bell does all the time as well. The "eye test" is the worst possible way to tell because it becomes the "who have I last seen doing it and what do I think about the other guy test" Memory is a tricky thing and it will tell you that what you've last seen is reality. Bell punishes as well, it's just not talked about because he's danced and juked around two or three guys before punishing the last guy trying to tackle him.

As for Running TDs, don't you think that has as much to do with the OC as anything else? Last year this offensive line was a mess for the first four or five games, and Ben was a mess as well. This year, the offense got it on track a whole lot quicker. So no, I don't agree that RZ numbers means physicality. I think RZ numbers means a new OC is coaching the team better.

Why is no one else talking about this? Everyone wants to attribute the 2018 offense to Conner's mystical ability to bring balance to the offense or run more north-south, or insert platitude here.

But no one is talking about how Randy Fichtner is doing exactly what he was hired to do. Increase the offensive efficiency and ensure the offense has a back-bone identity to build from when things are not going well. You know, the stuff that got Haley fired.

Conner is a good RB. Bell is a good RB. They have constrasting styles. But to attribute all the offensive improvements to the swapping of one for the other is to ignore a big blinking difference in the offense -- Haley isn't calling the plays anymore. Fichtner seems to realize that in the run game he should not worry about getting cute, but fall back on what the offensive line does well -- pin and pull power runs. Whenever Haley did that, Bell racked up physical yards. There was one game against the Bengals were Haley used the same run play for like an entire half to just run the Bengals off the field. But then Haley would forget about this kind of approach for like games at a time.

ANyway, just something I feel should be being talked about more. Great on Craic for bringing it up.

[43Hitman]

Let's not forget that Bell probably has one of the greatest runs since Bettis' trucking of Urlacher. He literally bounced a Bengal with a stiff arm off the GRASS field like a basketball. To say that Bell doesn't run physically is just nonsense, anyone with an eye for football knows this. Honestly, in my opinion, people are acting like they were dating Bell and he just broke up with them. The dude is an extreme talent and when he shows up he WILL help this team. I think fans are taking this way too personally when in reality it's just business. I'm not saying that I think its good business, but it is business.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

Let's not forget that Bell probably has one of the greatest runs since Bettis' trucking of Urlacher. He literally bounced a Bengal with a stiff arm off the GRASS field like a basketball. To say that Bell doesn't run physically is just nonsense, anyone with an eye for football knows this. Honestly, in my opinion, people are acting like they were dating Bell and he just broke up with them. The dude is an extreme talent and when he shows up he WILL help this team. I think fans are taking this way too personally when in reality it's just business. I'm not saying that I think its good business, but it is business. Agreed and again ain't like he murdered someone! I welcome another player that can help us bring 7 home.

[Dwinsgames]

sorry ... I do not trust him ...

4th and 2 down by 6 and 1:30 left in the game at midfield does he lower the boom and get the first down or go down on first contact to avoid a big hit ...

Conner is the guy now ... Bell should get Ridley touches and mop up duty

[Mojouw]

sorry ... I do not trust him ...

4th and 2 down by 6 and 1:30 left in the game at midfield does he lower the boom and get the first down or go down on first contact to avoid a big hit ...

Conner is the guy now ... Bell should get Ridley touches and mop up duty

I can see what you’re saying. But I don’t think anyone is arguing that Bell should be reinserted as the lead back. Just that he could have positive role in a package.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Craic]

sorry ... I do not trust him ...

4th and 2 down by 6 and 1:30 left in the game at midfield does he lower the boom and get the first down or go down on first contact to avoid a big hit ...

Conner is the guy now ... Bell should get Ridley touches and mop up duty

And that goes against everything we've seen from him on the field his entire career. Moreover, it also goes against standard understanding that playing anything less than 100 percent invites more injury. Adding to that is the idea that Bell knows he has to maximize every carry because every yard gained after contact, every broken tackle is a multiplier for his supposed payday salary. If anything, the only place not to trust him is because he might not go down when it is wise to do so. Instead, he might fight for extra yards even when it hurts the team (four-minute offense, for instance) or stay inbounds to get more yards when he should step out to save the clock in a two minute offense.

[Dwinsgames]

And that goes against everything we've seen from him on the field his entire career. Moreover, it also goes against standard understanding that playing anything less than 100 percent invites more injury. Adding to that is the idea that Bell knows he has to maximize every carry because every yard gained after contact, every broken tackle is a multiplier for his supposed payday salary.

but we would then have to assume he is smart enough to consider all of this and come to the same conclusions we have ...

I am not convinced he is smart enough to do that , and I actually believe that he believes he has already proven his worth and its now just a waiting game until he cashes in ....

I hope he proves me wrong , but I still believe this is Conner's team now

[GoSlash27]

Let's not forget that Bell probably has one of the greatest runs since Bettis' trucking of Urlacher. He literally bounced a Bengal with a stiff arm off the GRASS field like a basketball. To say that Bell doesn't run physically is just nonsense, anyone with an eye for football knows this. Honestly, in my opinion, people are acting like they were dating Bell and he just broke up with them. The dude is an extreme talent and when he shows up he WILL help this team. I think fans are taking this way too personally when in reality it's just business. I'm not saying that I think its good business, but it is business.

^ Absolutely this. Off the field, Bell is self- centered, all about the money, and more than a bit of a jackass. Once he's on the roster, however, he is a machine. He's a workaholic during training and practice, and completely selfless on the field with a maniacal drive to win. How easily people forget that he held out last year too, but was MVP once he ended it. Just like A.B; he's just wired that way.
This is almost certainly his last year with the Steelers and having a player of this talent in our arsenal is an opportunity we cannot ignore due to petty anger. We'll be paying him and have him at our disposal. We need to make the most of it this season.
Conner is still our starting RB, but we must use Bell where we can and have him in reserve for the big push. We want the Lombardi this year and so does he.

[st33lersguy]

LOLOL! Red Forman had a name for people like Bell, it's dumbass

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

I can see what you’re saying. But I don’t think anyone is arguing that Bell should be reinserted as the lead back. Just that he could have positive role in a package.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Exactly!

[GoSlash27]

but we would then have to assume he is smart enough to consider all of this and come to the same conclusions we have ...
Nah. We just have to assume that he will revert to type. Which he obviously will. He wants to maximize his payday and we want a Lombardi. This is a symbiotic relationship with a common goal, same as it has always been with him. He will perform because it's in his personal best interest.
And he will work harder than any other 3 Steelers combined to make sure that happens because that's who he is.

After this season, we'll be shut of him for good. Hopefully with #7. He'll get his big payday and we'll start the push for #8. Everyone leaves satisfied.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

Mr. Conner is the starter from here on out till the remainder of the season. If James needs a breather, would sooner have Bell in there instead of the rookie. Specially when the Steelers held Conner out the whole set of downs when we could have used another score.

[Craic]

but we would then have to assume he is smart enough to consider all of this and come to the same conclusions we have ...

I am not convinced he is smart enough to do that , and I actually believe that he believes he has already proven his worth and its now just a waiting game until he cashes in ....

I hope he proves me wrong , but I still believe this is Conner's team now

I disagree with most of this, but the last sentence I completely agree with. This is definitely Conner's team now. He's earned it and should get the majority of work. I just hope Bell gets enough work to be able to step in and take the game on his shoulders in the playoffs if his name is called on.

[86WARD]

Since this is a Bell appreciation thread, I’d like to reiterate the fact that Zeke Elliott has no business being placed in any kind of category with LeVeon Bell as far as talent goes and for that matter, James Conner. Just watching this guy on MNF, he’s just not as talented as either player and he doesn’t have the passion or football smarts that either Bell or Conner have. Watching plays breakdown and he literally stands there watching Prescott get chased instead of trying to work his way open? Lol. He’s a joke. I’d take a held out Bell before Elliott any day.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

Since this is a Bell appreciation thread, I’d like to reiterate the fact that Zeke Elliott has no business being placed in any kind of category with LeVeon Bell as far as talent goes and for that matter, James Conner. Just watching this guy on MNF, he’s just not as talented as either player and he doesn’t have the passion or football smarts that either Bell or Conner have. Watching plays breakdown and he literally stands there watching Prescott get chased instead of trying to work his way open? Lol. He’s a joke. I’d take a held out Bell before Elliott any day. Yep Zeke is very overrated and The Cowboys is a train wreck! Garrett needs to go! Anyhow as for Bell I welcome him back and the team will too. Again it's not like he raped your wife, killed your dog and set your house on fire.

[86WARD]

Again it's not like he raped your wife, killed your dog and set your house on fire.

Answer: Who is Aaron Hernandez?

[tube517]

Yep Zeke is very overrated and The Cowboys is a train wreck! Garrett needs to go! Anyhow as for Bell I welcome him back and the team will too. Again it's not like he raped your wife, killed your dog and set your house on fire.

Keep Jason Garrett at Dallas and Marvin Lewis at Cincinnati. :nono:

No need to fire coaches every season that they are mediocre and laughable.

[ALLD]

Bell was a great example of not what to do in contract negotiations when you have a drug and injury history. He could have played out the contract in good faith and taken home the $ except he wanted the Rooney's to kiss his ring. Never going to happen. He is done in Pittsburgh.

[DesertSteel]

Everybody keeps saying that "some team" is going to pay him what he wants. I didn't believe it in September and I certainly don't believe it now.

[GBMelBlount]

Thank You Le'veon!

[Iron Steeler]

Just win the damn superbowl. I dont care with who

[Mojouw]

Everybody keeps saying that "some team" is going to pay him what he wants. I didn't believe it in September and I certainly don't believe it now.

The amount of cap space teams like the Jets have in 2019 is jaw dropping. They have to pay someone. Why not Bell?

[pczach]

The amount of cap space teams like the Jets have in 2019 is jaw dropping. They have to pay someone. Why not Bell?



I agree.

I wouldn't pay him what he wants.

The Steelers won't pay him what he wants.

Most of the teams in the NFL won't pay him what he wants, but desperate teams that need to overpay free agents to come play for their shitty organizations are willing to do things that keep them as shitty organizations.

There is always an idiotic organization that gets fooled by an agent, is desperate to land an elite player, and ends up competing with themselves on a financial level to overpay that player to play for them.

I'm not convinced he's going to get $19 million a year with a huge portion of it guaranteed. I wouldn't do it. You wouldn't do it....but some teams aren't rational.

[teegre]

The amount of cap space teams like the Jets have in 2019 is jaw dropping. They have to pay someone. Why not Bell?

Jets and Raidahs have tons of cap space AND a need... plus, the latter has a coach who goes against the grain.

[teegre]

I agree.

I wouldn't pay him what he wants.

The Steelers won't pay him what he wants.

Most of the teams in the NFL won't pay him what he wants, but desperate teams that need to overpay free agents to come play for their shitty organizations are willing to do things that keep them as shitty organizations.

There is always an idiotic organization that gets fooled by an agent, is desperate to land an elite player, and ends up competing with themselves on a financial level to overpay that player to play for them.

I'm not convinced he's going to get $19 million a year with a huge portion of it guaranteed. I wouldn't do it. You wouldn't do it....but some teams aren't rational.

:nod:

There is always a team wanting to “win March”. Many years, it has been Dan Snyder.

[86WARD]

Jets and Raidahs have tons of cap space AND a need... plus, the latter has a coach who goes against the grain.

The Raiders may not have as much of a need as many think though. Chris Warren III was tearing it up in preseason until he got injured. He looked like the real deal so they may not be so fast to empty the bank account on Bell...but then again, it is the Raiders we are talking about.

[AtlantaDan]

Jets and Raidahs have tons of cap space AND a need... plus, the latter has a coach who goes against the grain.

Yep - refusing to pay a 27 year old Khalil Mack but breaking the bank for a 27 year old Bell would be a Gruden move

[polamalubeast]

I heard a rumor that the ravens might be interressed, I do not know if it's credible, but I do not remember the last time the ravens signed a big free agent and I do not know if the ravens are going to have the cap space even if they release Flacco.

But any team that is not close to winning a super bowl like the jets, raiders, dolphins, etc. would be dumb to sign a 27 years old running back to a big contract.

[AtlantaDan]

I heard a rumor that the ravens might be interressed, I do not know if it's credible, but I do not remember the last time the ravens signed a big free agent and I do not know if the ravens are going to have the cap space even if they release Flacco.

But any team that is not close to winning a super bowl like the jets, raiders, dolphins, etc. would be dumb to sign a 27 years old running back to a big contract.

Ravens are headed for a teardown if they do not make the playoffs (and maybe even if they do) - this was their all in year

I heard several times during Sunday's game/post-game the Ravens are the oldest team in the league

Throwing $$$ at Bell would not seem to be the cornerstone for a multi-year rebuild

[GBMelBlount]

Ravens are headed for a teardown if they do not make the playoffs (and maybe even if they do) - this was their all in year

I heard several times during Sunday's game/post-game the Ravens are the oldest team in the league

Throwing $$$ at Bell would not seem to be the cornerstone for a multi-year rebuild

I can't vouch for the accuracy of these stats but according to this, they were closer to the middle of the pack by final roster cutdowns, along with the Steelers.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/ranking-nfl-teams-age-after-53-man-cutdowns-2018-edition/

[polamalubeast]

I can't vouch for the accuracy of these stats but according to this, they were closer to the middle of the pack by final roster cutdowns, along with the Steelers.

https://www.phillyvoice.com/ranking-nfl-teams-age-after-53-man-cutdowns-2018-edition/

We need to look at the average age to the starters, not every player on the roster.