Media Still Won't Shut Up About Le'Veon Bell to Packers
Stop trying to make Le'Veon Bell to the Packers happen. It's not going to happen!
By TimBackes
If you've been following the ongoing Le'Veon Bell saga over the last year or so, you'd know the Packers are one of the teams that get a lot of talk in national (and even some local) media as a potential landing spot for the star running back, who just sat out the season due to a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In addition, if you've paid any attention to the Packers, you'd know that bringing in Bell at the price he'd command would be a horrendously stupid move.
It follows, then, that ESPN clearly doesn't pay attention to the Packers:
On the morning program Get Up!, viewers were "treated" to a segment asking whether the Packers or the Houston Texans would be the better fit for Bell. The segment included such gems as "All [Rodgers] has got is Davante Adams" and "they lack a running game."
It's absurd that these takes somehow continue to spew forth uncorrected from anywhere in sports media.
This isn't even the first time Get Up! has harped on this issue. The program devoted a segment to Le'Veon Bell going to the Packers in November as well.
As anyone who watched the Packers take the field this year know, the "lack of a running game" certainly is not due to a lack of running back talent, but rather a commitment to running the ball. The Packers finished the year second in yards per rush, thanks in large part to Aaron Jones once again breaking off an average of five yards per carry, but simply did not run the ball enough times to rack up volume stats.
Anyone who's paid attention to Jones knows he is a difference maker when he's on the field, and good things happen when he gets the ball. Though he's only two years younger than Bell, he also has significantly less wear and tear on his body, and costs a fraction of the money.
Bell is looking for an unprecedented contract for a running back, in an era in which running backs simply are not worth absurd contracts. Jones and Jamaal Williams have both proven themselves to be more than capable of reliably sharing the load.
As far as I'm concerned, paying for Bell when the team has so many other needs would be a colossally stupid endeavor, and anyone in the Packers organization who would be willing to make such a move should be fired on the spot.
[But if it's spicy offseason takes about Steelers stars heading to Green Bay you want to discuss, I'm willing to hear arguments for bringing in Antonio Brown.]
Stop the madness. Le'Veon Bell is not coming to Green Bay.
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Tim Backes is a lifelong Packer fan and a contributor to CheeseheadTV. Follow him on Twitter @timbackes for his Packer takes, random musings and Untappd beer check-ins.
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Comments (24)
Bert
February 12, 2019 at 05:08 pm
I find that most of the media types, outside of the organizational media, don't really know much about the details of the Packers or most any other teams actual needs. They form an opinion based on something they heard somewhere and just go with it. Kinda pathetic that they get paid pretty good $$$ not to know very much.
CoachJV
February 12, 2019 at 05:34 pm
I firmly... firmly... believe that Aaron Jones will eventually prove to be as good as Bell.
I think that once he's featured in LaF's running scheme, as well as pitchbacks, tosses, and passes in the flat, Jones will be every bit the difference maker that Bell is.
Aaron Jones is the real deal.
TKWorldWide
February 12, 2019 at 07:00 pm
Durability.
Handsback
February 12, 2019 at 07:27 pm
I don't think that will ever happen, but Jones could and should be a very solid RB. Jones needs to stay healthy first and let his performance speak for itself.
Minniman
February 12, 2019 at 09:45 pm
I don't disagree with you coach but he needs to be set up for the "win" with a better-than-average o-line and tight-ends and slot receivers that do their jobs or are schemed appropriately.
slightly off topic but that is my hesitation with the thoughts around drafting the TE TJ Hockenson so high......... that he won't be used to his or the team's strengths........ hopefully with MLF that thought will be dis-proven.
..... but Aaron Jones is exceptional and with the right supporting cast could be Bell 2.0
Rak43
February 13, 2019 at 01:32 pm
I can't see it coach. Jones is 5'10 198 lbs and Bell is 6'1 228. That's 3 inches and 30 lbs difference. Jones will most likely never be as durable as Bell.
Lare
February 12, 2019 at 06:12 pm
Sports writers don't have to deal with the salary cap. They can propose signing every free agent player available without any considerations for the cost.
MarkinMadison
February 12, 2019 at 06:32 pm
I was a Bell fan when he was drafted in the same round as Eddie Lacy. No way I would want the Packers to sign him now. Not because I really believe he is worn out (hell, he just took a year off) but because at the price he wants he would have to be the "missing piece." I just don't think a RB, no matter how good, is that missing piece for this team right now. The Packers have a field tilter on offense. They need one on defense.
splitpea1
February 12, 2019 at 06:54 pm
They need at least one on defense, including major upgrades at OLB and FS. Hopefully the front office will mostly concentrate on the defense during the off-season, though I wouldn't be opposed to getting some O-line help and selecting a TE high in the draft if the right opportunity presents itself.
Leatherhead
February 12, 2019 at 07:18 pm
Last year, Jones had 159 touches and Williams had 148. We could use somebody for another 100 carries, preferably a short-yardage pile mover.
CAG123
February 12, 2019 at 08:09 pm
I don’t know about all this LB stuff but Jeffrey Simmons has an ACL tear nothing better than first round talent scooped up in 3rd or 4th.
stockholder
February 12, 2019 at 10:56 pm
Cross him off the board Rd. 1 . Wilkins just went higher. But Remember J. Smith of Notre Dame going to the Cowboys with the 34 pic?. And also Jerel Worthy who tore his ACL, and never was the same. Packers should pass.
dobber
February 13, 2019 at 07:38 am
...AND Jaylon Smith had deadfoot issues to go with. It was a pretty gnarly injury. Jerrah has a reputation for being a bit of a risk-taker in his drafting, but Myles Jack also went 2nd round to Jax with his degenerative knee. Based on the injury, I don't think Simmons slides very far. The wild card will be how the off-field problems he has combined with the knee push him down or off some teams' boards.
stockholder
February 13, 2019 at 08:01 am
I don't see the off field problems as trouble. The kid went straight. The problem is he's a Nt, not a Lb. He will regress now.
KeepErMovin
February 13, 2019 at 09:41 am
There was talk that the off field would cause Simmons so slip to round 2 and that was before the ACL. I would take him no sooner than the 3rd round.
Rossonero
February 12, 2019 at 08:36 pm
The Bell stories are click bait hype and hot air on talk shows. Zzzzz....
carlos
February 12, 2019 at 09:03 pm
Don’t want either of the Steelers problems. Talented, but nothing but troubles.
marpag1
February 13, 2019 at 06:25 am
Apparently, ESPN has a show by the name of "Get Up!"
Good to know.
Next.
carlos
February 13, 2019 at 09:11 am
It’s mostly all NBA talk. Mike Greenberg is the host. I don’t watch it. Skip over all the basketball stuff.
PatrickGB
February 13, 2019 at 07:50 am
Good grief. Some writers in the national sports media don’t have a clue on how the packers work and who we are as an organization. Lame click bait.
Doug Niemczynski
February 13, 2019 at 09:06 am
I would rather have the Packers sign FA Tevin Coleman!
KeepErMovin
February 13, 2019 at 09:42 am
Agreed. Bell is more of a thrower than a runner anyway.
Art
February 13, 2019 at 10:18 am
ESPN creating stories/rumors to fill time and space. Packers have more pressing issues to spend resources on. Any story regarding Packers creates lots of interest due to large loyal fan base. Just a unsubstantiated story to create views.
ILPackerBacker
February 13, 2019 at 11:51 am
Since Disney dumped the people who knew what they were talking about to save $$$ and keep ESPN afloat ESPN is basically about the worse place to get packer information. They hired a bad homer who apparently like to work cheap and not go outside.