If they go out and get him, yea I'd be excited to an extent. He's an All Pro back and outright elite. However it would not be the best use of resources in terms of how a team is constructed to win in the NFL nowadays. Bell would cost a ton of money and that money could be better spent bolstering several other positions. And not with quick fixes, but fixes that can be mainstays throughout this window of opportunity to win that's about to open in 2019 Backs can and are found everywhere. Denver is going to get 1,100 yards and 35-40 catches from Phillip Lindsay this year. Undrafted. Marlon Mack...4th round is going to hit 1,100 yards and 30+ catches. We have Crowell and McGuire. Nothing special but nothing terrible either. Frankly I'd rather keep those two, and draft a Mike Weber or Bennie Snell. You'll have an efficient ground game without tying up a ton of money in the position. And I think Mac understands this. Since he's been here he's tried to put together 3 headed monster backfields. In 2015 it was going to be Ivory/Powell/Ridlay (didn't quite work out that way) 2016 it was supposed to be Forte/Powell/Khiry Robinson (Robinson got badly hurt in the preseason IIRC) 2017 Powell/Forte/McGuire was the plan This year it was going to be Crowell/Powell/McGuire So if you look at the way Mac has done things, I wouldn't guess Bell is in our future. Though there is a lot of smoke...
If we could somehow materialize two very good and experienced FA OL of the same age as Bell, with the same $$$? Insta-click.
Bell would be a great pass catching check down option for Darnold and he's a solid blocker picking up the blitz. At the same time I wonder how effective his 'patient' wait-for-the-hole-to-materialize running style would be behind this OL...
I’ll take Lev Bell all day...I don’t think he’s a must or anything but I love his receiving ability as an RB. It’s easy to find an adequate back but pretty tough to find an elite all around back that is as good as he is out of the backfield or even in the slot As for Snell thatd be fine also...Matt Snell is related to him which would be a cool storyline
It’s pretty much what it comes down to, when you watch the Steelers oline, they are pushing defensive linemen 2 and 3 yards back from LOS on initial engagement. Jets oline barely move defensive linemen from LOS. Laveon is a good weapon but he’s no Barry Sanders.
Those tweets are wrong. The Jets only have 29 players under contract for next season. By the time the Jets sign 15-20 of their own players, they'll have a lot less money to spend. IMO it would foolish to sign Bell, when we could probably sign 2-3 good FAs for the same money at other positions of need that can help the team for longer than Bell can. IMO signing Bell would be trying to rush the rebuild and would show a lack of patience, and would not be the best or wisest way to help the team. The Jets need OL help and targets for Sam more than they need an expensive RB, who rarely plays a full season.
I think I read the Colts have the most Cap Room next year. Wouldn't that be a much more attractive landing spot for Bell? He has a great QB in Luck, looks to be a good Head Coach in Reich, the O-line has improved, they have plenty of draft picks (including some of the Jets'), the defense is greatly improved, but they still need a RB. Seems like a perfect fit to me. Mac (if he is still the Jets GM) needs to improve the team this off-season. Pursuing Bell makes sense, but I wouldn't make him a priority or bank on him wanting to play for the Jets.
Well I guess I understand Macc's "logic" as you suggest, but there's a major problem with it: He can't find even one "monster", let alone three. He's been trying to build an offense on the cheap and it's not working. I'm not saying they need to sign Bell - although he brings to the table exactly what they need - but they'd better find somebody who can do what he can. I just don't trust Macc's ability to find that kind of talent. OTOH, in thinking about Shanahan, he was always able to find great RBs, coupled with his ability to build great OL, that would be a huge help to Darnold. I would love the Jets to tap into that knowledge in some way, as HC, GM, or POFO.
Shanahan hasn't been in the league in years and hasn't been good in forever. He reminds me too much of Jon Gruden or a football Phil Jackson, a winner in the past but not capable of winning in the present.
If we had a better record of success in the draft I'd be on board with drafting a RB, but I have 0 confidence in our GM finding gems in the later rounds of the draft. We need a dynamic playmaker on O... one that gives DC's fits... Bell is dynamic as a WR & RB . We get an OC that is innovative and can find different ways to get the ball in Bell's hands he'll be deadly for us , & open up the rest of the offense for the WR's & TE's... we need to go all in and get Sam some dynamic playmakers .
Why does the thread title kinda sound like the 'Our Father'? I guess it's that brain-washing thing I was subjected to as a kid. :/
There will only ever be one Barry Sanders. No back has ever done more with less around him. Bell reminds me more of a guy like Walter Payton. Not attitude wise obviously but running style and skill wise. Bell is a patient runner who finds a seem and slips through. He's good enough to make you miss in the open field and strong enough to break tackles. Hes a fantastic receiver out of the back field. He would be by far the best RB we have had since Martin. He would be a great talent to help support a young growing QB for the next three years. Yes he's too expensive, but what else are we spending 100 mill on this offseason? If you want more weapons for Sam, he's the best one on the market.
Talent like Leveon Bell in prime of career don’t hit FA very often if at all. For a team as desperate for high end offensive talent as the Jets are, they should be at his front door at midnight with a wad of cash.
