Tag: Le’Veon Bell

Before you ask: No, Le’Veon Bell isn’t coming back to the Steelers

Le’Veon Bell says he’s planning an NFL comeback.

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. This is a hard lesson many former Pittsburgh Steelers learn when they leave in free agency for more money. One of the best examples of this was when running back Le’Veon Bell left for the New York Jets and watched his career crumble. Bell himself has admitted it was a mistake, and now he’s taking it a step further.

Bell took to Snapchat and said that he plans to start training in March for an NFL comeback. He also said there is only one team he’ll come back for. Bell wouldn’t say who, but he indicated we all knew who it was. Obviously, it’s the Steelers.

While we can appreciate Bell’s renewed loyalty to the franchise that made him a star, there’s no spot for him on this team, and he knows it. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are both young stars at running back and aren’t giving up reps to a guy who hasn’t played since 2021.

Had Bell re-signed with the Steelers and not put the team through all his nonsense, he could easily have had a Hall of Fame career.

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Maybe Le’Veon Bell was right about Najee Harris

Najee Harris should take Le’Veon Bell up on his advice.

Najee Harris’ weight has been a hot topic since he entered the league in 2021. We’re obsessed with weight as a society, but in the NFL, it’s under even more of a microscope tied directly to on-field performance.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell knows just what taking some weight off between his first and second seasons did for him. As a 244-pound rookie in 2013, Bell rushed for 860 yards. After shedding 20 pounds, he put up a 1,361-yard performance and nearly doubled his receptions (45/83), which earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

Bell talked about what Harris could do to improve his game on two separate occasions and both times advised that he lose weight.

“Sometimes it’s just the extra step, that’s all you need to take a run from two yards to about nine — just barely squeeze the hole,” Bell said on a September episode of Not Just Football with Cam Heyward.

“I think he’s a special runner. I think he can see the holes. I even think he knows how to set up runs. Some guys need a hole, some guys really need it, and some guys know how to finesse a run and know how to set it up to make something out of nothing, and he’s so good at that. And I think he can be even better if he’s a little lighter.”

Bell shared a similar sentiment on the Steel Here podcast in May.

A Harris fan, Bell isn’t trying to be critical, only offering words of wisdom based on his successful experience. Perhaps he should heed the advice this offseason, heading into what could be his final season in the Black & Gold. If results follow, it could mean cashing in on a lucrative contract — whether it’s in Pittsburgh or elsewhere.

Should Harris continue around his current 49 yards-per-game average, he’ll finish with a career-low 833.

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Le’Veon Bell calls Giants’ Daniel Jones a ‘bottom-tier’ quarterback

Former NFL running back Le’Veon Bell called New York Giants QB Daniel Jones a ‘bottom-tier’ quarterback when discussing Saquon Barkley and the RB market recently.

Last season, Daniel Jones had his best year and led the New York Giants to their first playoff berth since 2016. Jones’ performance silenced many of his biggest critics and earned him a long-term extension from Big Blue this offseason.

However, there are plenty who still don’t believe in the Giants’ quarterback.

Over the weekend, former NFL running back Le’Veon Bell, who last played in 2021, took aim at Jones, calling him a ‘bottom-tier’ quarterback while discussing the running backs market and Saquon Barkley:

“Daniel Jones, he’s in the bottom tier. He’s in the bottom tier of NFL quarterbacks,” Bell said on the AP Pro Football podcast with Rob Maaddi.

“He’s not mediocre. There are average quarterbacks, he’s in the bottom tier. I’m not here trying to talk bad about Daniel Jones. I’m just trying to be real for everybody who’s hearing it. He’s in the bottom tiers. Saquon [Barkley] is in the top tier of his position, running back. So how does that make sense?”

With the running back market being a hot topic this offseason, many have talked about Bell, who sat out an entire season during the prime of his career. His performance on the field was never the same after that.

Bell’s name was connected to Barkley when the star running back didn’t rule out sitting out. Barkley’s contract was, of course, resolved earlier last week just in time for training camp, and he went on to say that sitting out would not have been a wise decision.

Jones has been unfazed by his doubters over the course of his career. There is an obvious belief in him from the Giants’ front office following the extension earlier this offseason.

Naturally, more will be expected of DJ this coming season after he took a massive leap in his 2022 campaign.

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Le’Veon Bell says Najee Harris ‘needs to lose weight’

The former Steelers RB says Najee Harris should lose weight before the 2023 NFL season if he wants to be more nimble.

Former Alabama football running back Najee Harris is preparing for the upcoming 2023 NFL season, which will be his third year in the league with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Harris’ rookie season was his best, but his stats from 2022 weren’t too far behind. If he wants to have a strong 2023 season, former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell recently said he thinks Harris should lose some weight.

“I felt with him, he needs to lose weight,” Bell said on the Steel Here Podcast. “Because I feel like he’s kind of like how I was when I first came into the league. I feel like he wants to be nimble.”

Curt Popejoy of Steelers Wire writes, “[a]t the beginning of the offseason there was some debate about just how heavy Harris played as a rookie. The Steelers site lists Harris at 242 pounds. By comparison, Bell played at Michigan State at 237 pounds and after his rookie struggles, slimmed down to closer to 220 pounds and turned into one of the best all-around backs in the NFL.”

This is a rather blunt message from Bell and honestly isn’t an issue I had thought would be applicable to the elusive running back that has become known for hurdling defenders. Then again, I’m not a professional football player.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Harris and other former Alabama players in the NFL as the 2023 season approaches.

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Former Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict responds to Le’Veon Bell’s boxing match request

In weird offseason news, featuring former Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict.

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In things that could only make headlines during the quiet parts of the NFL offseason, former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict has responded to a boxing match request from one of his former Pittsburgh Steelers rivals.

Former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell recently went on a podcast and said he wants to have a boxing match with Burfict, bringing up at least one play where a Burfict tackle resulted in injury.

Burfict actually responded in an Instagram story, essentially saying the two had a chance to “change the narrative” and solve problems without violence, suggesting a golf match with charities involved.

For what it’s worth, Bell has been involved in boxing exhibitions after his football career, besting fellow former running back Adrian Peterson in a match. He’s 1-1 professionally, the win coming over British YouTuber JMX.

Burfict’s response:

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Ex-UFC fighter Uriah Hall beats ex-NFL standout Le’Veon Bell in pro boxing debut, calls out Jake Paul

Former UFC standout Uriah Hall said he plans to continue boxing after his win over Le’Veon Bell – and he wants a piece of Jake Paul.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] started his boxing career with a win.

The former UFC middleweight contender defeated ex-NFL standout [autotag]Le’Veon Bell[/autotag] by unanimous decision Saturday night on the main card of Jake Paul vs. Anderson. Hall won 40-36 on all three judges’ scorecards at Desert Diamond Arena after four rounds.

Immediately after the win, Hall said he’s here to stay in the ring and called out Paul.

“F*ck yeah, I want to do this,” Hall said. “I want Jake Paul. I want to expose him. If Anderson doesn’t do it, I’m gonna be the one to f*ck you up.”

The bout against Bell was more competitive than maybe many expected.

In Round 1, the dynamic was set for the rest of the bout. Hall chased, while Bell looked to stay on the outside. Bell would stick and move with his jab, but it was clear Hall had the better striking early as he connected more and had the more powerful shots.

There were lapses of the fight where there was little action, and the crowd made sure to let the fighters know with boos. The two would turn it up here and there to calm down the crowd.

In Rounds 3 and 4, the fight got more competitive. Hall had a much tougher time finding Bell and Bell had several shots land clean, snapping Hall’s head back. Either way, Hall looked to still have the edge all the way through.

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This was Hall’s first fight since his UFC departure in July. Hall left the UFC with back-to-back losses to contenders Sean Strickland and Andre Muniz. Prior to that, he was on a four-fight unbeaten run, with wins over former champions Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman.

For Bell, this marks his first defeat since taking up boxing. Although this was his professional debut, he had competed in an exhibition bout against fellow NFL running back Adrian Peterson, whom he defeated by KO in Round 5 last month.

For complete coverage of the card, check out MMA Junkie’s event page for Paul vs. Silva.

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Photos: Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva ceremonial weigh-ins

Check out these photos from the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva ceremonial weigh-ins in Glendale, Ariz.

Check out these photos from the [autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag] ceremonial weigh-ins for the boxing event taking place at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz. (Photos courtesy of Esther Lin, Showtime)

VIDEO: Uriah Hall, Le’Veon Bell on weight for pro boxing debut

Watch Uriah Hall and Le’Veon Bell step on the scale ahead of their boxing debut.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Former UFC middleweight contender [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] is ready for his professional boxing debut.

Hall takes on ex-NFL standout [autotag]Le’Veon Bell[/autotag] at the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva and the bout is now official as both fighters made weight on Friday morning. Hall came in at 198.6 and Bell at 197.6.

You can watch Hall and Bell making weight in the video above.

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The two are set to compete in a four-round, professional boxing bout on Saturday night at Desert Diamond Arena. The main card airs at 9 p.m. ET/6p.m. PT on Showtime pay-per-view.

For complete coverage of the card, check out MMA Junkie’s event page for Paul vs. Silva.

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VIDEO: Uriah Hall, Le’Veon Bell on weight for pro boxing debut

Watch Uriah Hall and Le’Veon Bell step on the scale ahead of their boxing debut.

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Former UFC middleweight contender [autotag]Uriah Hall[/autotag] is ready for his professional boxing debut.

Hall takes on ex-NFL standout [autotag]Le’Veon Bell[/autotag] at the Jake Paul vs. Anderson Silva and the bout is now official as both fighters made weight on Friday morning. Hall came in at 198.6 and Bell at 197.6.

You can watch Hall and Bell making weight in the video above.

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The two are set to compete in a four-round, professional boxing bout on Saturday night at Desert Diamond Arena. The main card airs at 9 p.m. ET/6p.m. PT on Showtime pay-per-view.

For complete coverage of the card, check out MMA Junkie’s event page for Paul vs. Silva.

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