The Rich Get Richer: Le’Veon Bell to Sign with Kansas City Chiefs

            Kansas City, MO– The Le’Veon Bell free agency sweepstakes lasted all of two days, as, per ESPN’s NFL Media Insider Adam Schefter, the former New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers running back is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, barring a COVID-19 screening and physical. The 28-year-old former all-pro back all but confirmed his signing with the reigning Super Bowl champs, tweeting a picture of him dawning a Chiefs jersey with the caption “Kansas City, #ChiefsKingdom, thank you for the opportunity. let’s go!” Bell becomes another play-making tool for Kansas City’s offensive arsenal, joining a star-studded cast that features a top-two tight end in Travis Kelce, speedy wideouts Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins (currently injured) and Mecole Hartman, along with a running back carousel that features second-year halfback Darwin Thompson and rookie standout Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Reports from as early as Wednesday showed that Bell had narrowed his signing options to the Chiefs, Bills, and Dolphins. Buffalo fell out of contention early on Thursday, with Bell officially choosing K.C. shortly after. 

Bell spent the last two years with the Jets, setting career lows in offensive production with Gang Green. In 17 games (15 in 2019, 2 in 2020) as a Jet, Bell recorded 863 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, no 100-yard rushing performances, and his longest run as a Jet went for 19 yards. Bell was cut from the Jets on Tuesday after his Twitter account was seen liking and retweeting posts that called the Jets organization out for misusing the veteran back, primarily targeting Jets head coach Adam Gase. Getting hired by the Jets days after losing his head coaching jobs with the Miami Dolphins, Gase was never in favor of the Bell signing, with reports stating that Gase didn’t want the Jets to sign Bell for the enormous price tag Bell was asking for. 

            Prior to his stints with the Jets, Bell was considered an elite dual-threat running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2013-2017; compiling 1,229 rushing attempts for 5,336 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns, while catching 312 balls for 2,660 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Bell then sat out the 2018 season after the Steelers franchise tagged him, ultimately leading to both Bell and Pittsburgh divorcing.  

            Bell is expected to be share touches with the rookie Edwards-Helaire, serving more as a reliever to keep the 2020 first-round pick. With Bell’s signing with the Chiefs being a one-year deal, it can be inferred that Bell’s chasing a ring, hoping it could lead to another big running back deal for him down the line.

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-By: Juan Guarin-Camargo