(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Former Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell went on a Twitter rant on Thursday, essentially complaining about people thinking that he's washed up and saying that 2021 will be the year that everyone is reminded of how talented he is. If it was 2016, Bell's tweet would have had more merit, but he hasn't looked the same since leaving the Steelers and sitting out the entire 2018 season due to a contract dispute.
After his fallout with the Steelers, Bell cashed in on a four-year, $52 million deal with the Jets in March of 2019. Bell wouldn't last long with the Jets, however, as he really never saw eye to eye with head coach Adam Gase and was released by the team on Oct. 13, 2020, after the Jets couldn't find a trade partner. Four days later, Bell signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs.
Bell, 29, wasn't very productive with the Chiefs either and was the team's third-string running back by the end of the season. In nine regular-season games with Kansas City, Bell rushed for 254 yards on 63 carries (4.0 average) and two touchdowns. In addition, he had 13 receptions for 99 yards. In the divisional-round game against the Browns, Bell rushed for just six yards on two attempts.
Despite things not working out with the Jets and taking on a backup role with the Chiefs, Bell didn't regret sitting out the entire 2018 season when he was with the Steelers.
"No. That never crossed my mind," Bell said in February on the idea of regretting his decision via Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports. "Me sitting out, looking at it, it has kind of helped me on the back end of my career. Last year when I came back, it kind of felt like I was a rookie all over again. I was so excited to get back on the field and get my gatherings back. It really helped my body. I feel like it's going to help me for the end of my career, elongating my career."
In Bell's series of tweets on Thursday, he mentioned that the only difference was that the Steelers gave him an opportunity and he hasn't had one since he's left, along with that he probably needs to play for a defensive-minded head coach instead of these offensive-minded guru's, referring to Adam Gase and Andy Reid.
Bell can say whatever he wants, but the fact of the matter is that he's at the tail end of his career. He's 29 years old and a running back. He was very productive when he was in his prime, but he has fallen off drastically since sitting the entire season out in 2018. Unless you're Frank Gore, running backs just don't last long in the league. That's just the nature of the position.