NFL
Le'Veon Bell Just Narrowed His NFL Future Down to 2 Teams
Stephen Sheehan began his sportswriting career as a high school student covering sports for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel through a student outreach program. He wrote for Bleacher Report and Fan Rag Sports and worked full-time for Sports7 in 2020 and 2021. Stephen specializes in covering the NFL, particularly the New England Patriots. Stephen is inspired by the stories sports can tell, from money to tragedies to breaking news; there are so many different ways to cover the industry. He monitors Twitter and various websites every day to find stories to tell in unique ways. Stephen was a 2008 Culpepper Journalism Foundation Fellowship winner, received a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2013 and a master's in sports management in 2015 from the University of Florida, and is an active rugby player and former rugby and football coach.
Get to know Stephen Sheehan betterUpdated15 Oct 2020
Once the New York Jets brought an end to the disappointing Le'Veon Bell era, speculation swirled about his NFL future. Several teams have been mentioned as possible landing spots, including a few top AFC contenders. Still, the talented running back has yet to put pen to paper.
However, Bell reportedly just narrowed his NFL future down to two teams. But which franchise will win the sweepstakes for his services?
Le'Veon Bell faces an uncertain future
RELATED: The New York Jets Paid Le’Veon Bell More Than $9 Million per Rushing Touchdown Before Cutting Him
Le'Veon Bell became a superstar in Pittsburgh thanks to his dual-threat capabilities. Showcasing tremendous hands as a receiver and underrated power as a runner, he earned three Pro Bowl berths and two first-team All-Pro selections. Of course, his Steelers career came to an unceremonious end after he decided to sit out the 2018 season due to a contractual dispute.
Still, that didn't stop the Jets from making Bell a rich man. New York signed the superstar tailback to a four-year, $52.5 million contract with $27 million guaranteed. Let's just say that investment didn't pay off.
Bell's first season with the Jets included just 789 rushing yards and four total touchdowns. He averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry and did not break off a single run longer than 19 yards.
This season, a hamstring injury caused Bell to miss three consecutive games. He returned in Week 5 and ran for 60 yards on 13 carries in a 30-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. On Tuesday, the Jets released the highly-paid and under-performing running back.
Bell narrows down his options
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Le'Veon Bell has a monumental decision to make. Considering he hasn't played at an elite level since 2017, he needs to carefully weigh all the factors involved when determining his next NFL home. While the three-time Pro Bowler has been connected to a few teams, he reportedly just narrowed his NFL future down to two franchises.
According to Nate Taylor and Josh Tolentino of The Athletic, Bell plans on signing with either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Miami Dolphins. The 28-year-old lives and trains in South Florida during the offseason, which makes Miami a logical fit.
On the other hand, the Chiefs obviously offer the potential to win a Super Bowl ring. Playing alongside Patrick Mahomes certainly can't hurt, either. Ultimately, if those truly are Bell's final two choices, he shouldn't have any trouble picking his destination.
Should the Pro Bowl RB sign with Kansas City or Miami?
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Choosing between the Dolphins and Chiefs seems like a no-brainer. After all, who wouldn't want to join forces with the reigning Super Bowl champions?
But for Le'Veon Bell, the financial implication of picking Kansas City over Miami could be massive. Florida does not have a state income tax, which means Bell would save a substantial amount of money by playing for the Dolphins. Plus, Brian Flores' team has plenty of cap space to entice Bell with a lucrative offer.
On the other hand, the Chiefs do not have as much financial flexibility. Kansas City currently has $6.5 million in cap space compared to Miami's $17 million.
However, given he has already made $44 million in his career, Bell shouldn't make money the priority when deciding his NFL future. And ultimately, if he wants to cash in again, his best bet is to partner up with Mahomes and Co.
Bell would join an offense that's already loaded with premium talent at the skill positions. As a do-it-all threat out of the backfield, he could inflict serious damage as both a runner and as a receiver. It wouldn't be surprising to see him score double-digit touchdowns if he's playing in a Mahomes-led offense coached by Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy.
Plus, joining the Chiefs would give Bell an excellent chance at winning a Super Bowl ring. He could then enter free agency with the chance to sign a multi-year deal just a few years after inking a monster contract.
Ultimately, the decision shouldn't be a difficult one for the eighth-year pro. If Le'Veon Bell wants to win a ring and re-establish his value, the right choice is to join the Chiefs.
All contract data courtesy of Spotrac. All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
