Getty Former New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell warming up during practice.
One of the biggest free agency busts in New York Jets history is apparently done with football.
Le’Veon Bell revealed in an interview with Karisa Maxwell of Sporting News that his football chapter is closed for good.
“There hasn’t been a time where I was like dang bruh I just want to go play football now. Football I’ve got that in my rearview. I’m not really worried about football right now just because I can’t if I’m worried about boxing.”
✌️@LeVeonBell tells SN’s @KarisaMaxwell that his football chapter is closed for good.
Le’Veon Bell Didn’t Deliver on His Jets Contract
After the former Michigan State product sat out the entire 2018 season as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers he became an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
The Jets didn’t hesitate to sign the former All-Pro to a four-year deal for $52.5 million featuring $27 million in guarantees.
Gang Green and its fans had massive expectations for the star running back. The hope being his ability to affect the game on the ground and through the air would provide opposing defenses someone to gameplan for.
For a variety of reasons none of that ever came to fruition.
Bell lasted a season and a half appearing in 17 games. He rushed for 863 yards, scored three touchdowns, and only averaged 3.3 yards per clip. Bell caught 69 receptions for 500 receiving yards and caught one touchdown.
Gang Green ended up cutting bait in the middle of 2020 and the veteran bounced around the league as a backup over the next two seasons.
Most recently the 31-year-old has transitioned from the gridiron to the boxing ring.
Jets Could Dive Into RB Waters in 2023 NFL Draft
Thankfully the Jets have gone away from major free agent bucks spent on running backs and have transitioned to the cheaper draft plan.
Breece Hall looks like a future star in the NFL, but he’s coming off of a torn ACL in 2022.
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic recently provided a massive list of prospects to watch on the second and third day of the 2023 NFL draft.
Running back was a position that was highlighted and specifically DeWayne McBride out of UAB was mentioned as a possibility.
“He met with the Jets recently and would add an option to help out in the running back rotation as Breece Hall works back into form. He ran for 3,084 yards and 32 touchdowns [in] the last two years and [Dane] Brugler wrote that “his contact balance, vision, and lateral agility are among the best this running back draft class has to offer.”
The Jets have had a lot of success selecting prospects on the third day of the draft. Most recently the team selected Michael Carter with the No. 107 overall pick in the fourth round out of North Carolina.
He didn’t have to be the main squeeze in the backfield but MC1 was an important rotational cog. That is exactly what they’d be seeking in the 2023 draft.
Hall is expected to make a full recovery and should be ready to go for Week 1. However just in case he isn’t or the team is cautious with his reps they will need another body to turn to.