Le’Veon Bell is causing a scene again. Here’s why the Pittsburgh Steelers made the right decision not to overpay for the sideshow running back.
After almost four years since the fallout between the Steelers and Le’Veon Bell, it is Pittsburgh who has gotten the last laugh. While the Steelers were criticized for letting Bell leave during free agency and allowing him to hold out the entire year, Bell’s recent comments about his situation in Kansas City only furthered the reasoning as to why the Steelers chose not to bring him back.
Bell recently stated on social media, “I’ll never play for Andy Reid again… I’d retire first.” While many were upset by Bell’s comment as Andy Reid is among the most beloved coaches in the league, many quickly pointed out that perhaps Bell needs a reality check.
After having issues with the Steelers front office during the contract holdout, his release from the Jets, and now the Andy Reid situation, Le’Veon Bell is proving everyone who criticized him right. He fired back on Twitter, in which he apologized but reiterated his thoughts when explaining what he said:
I said what I said & I don’t regret at all what I said...for those who have a PERSONAL PROBLEM with me because of what I SAID, that’s fine...you have your right! just understand I ALSO have MY RIGHT for how I feel about MY PERSONAL problem with dude because of what HE SAID to me
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) June 14, 2021
Why was the former Steelers running back so upset?
It still is not clear what Reid had said or did to Bell that would cause him to throw a social media fit. Still, given that Bell has had a history of talking down on his former teams, it leads me to believe that this has to do more with Bell not being the same player he was in Pittsburgh and not knowing how to handle the situation.
It is truly a shame to see someone like Bell implode over the last few years, especially when you consider how dominant of a player he was before leaving Pittsburgh. However, as time passes, it is easy to see how the Steelers made the right choice in moving on from Bell.
While Bell was sitting out, the Steelers rode on the back of the young running back, James Conner, and given how Conner performed, it became evident that Bell needed the Steelers more than they needed him. Later that offseason, Bell left for the Jets and burned bridges with the entire Steelers organization despite them helping Bell become the league’s best running back.
Maybe Le’Veon has played his final snap in the NFL as teams will now begin to consider how this behavior is a recurring thing throughout his career. While this would be devastating, especially to Steelers’ fans who watched him develop throughout five seasons, Bell will need to change his ways if he is going to finish out an exciting career. Yet until that day comes, the Steelers now have the opportunity to succeed with their new running back, Najee Harris, and return to that dominant run game they previously had with Bell, all while knowing they made the right decision.