"You can't turn down playing with Tom Brady & AB" - Le'Veon Bell reveals how the Buccaaneers stopped him from retiring
New Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Le'Veon Bell was a free agent and seemingly lost to football after his short stint with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens; until the call came, that is.
Bell was ready to give up his football career after nine years to focus on another sport -- boxing. Speaking to the media, Bell said the chance to work with Tom Brady and Antonio Brown and work under Bruce Arians convinced him to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wednesday.
“It kinda wasn’t working out for me for the last couple of spots I had been at," Bell said.
"This was literally the only spot that I felt like could've made me want to play football and got there and be excited to play. This was literally the only place that could've called me and got me ready to go play because I was going to start boxing, you know, but I think this is a great opportunity."
"It’s something you can’t really turn down with coach Arians, Tom Brady and you know obviously AB (Antonio Brown). They got a good thing going over here and to come over here and try to help, I’m going to try and do my thing," Bell finished.
Le'Veon Bell aiming to help out Bucs' Super Bowl bid
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Buccaneers signing RB Le'Veon Bell. (via @TomPelissero) https://t.co/6pJazttImG
Bell will be hoping that he can help shoulder some of the workload for the Buccaneers' running game as Leonard Fournette went down with a hamstring injury during the Buccaneers 9-0 loss to the Saints last Sunday and will miss the rest of the regular season.
Bell will likely be used in tandem with Giovani Bernard and Ronald Jones, with each of the backs giving Brady and the Buccaneers a more versatile running game.
As they gear up for the final stretch of the regular season, Bell will be looking to get into football shape over the next three games and help the Buccaneers' push for a deep playoff run. The Buccaneers are currently 10-4.
No. 6⃣
Welcome to Tampa Bay, @LeVeonBell! https://t.co/nBQku9dqGs
In his day, Bell was an unstoppable force, both running and catching the football as he was a true dual-purpose running back, something that Brady likes to utilize. Bell was the first NFL player to rush over 150 yards in his first two playoff games, and he had the most rushing yards in a player's first two playoff games (337). His is a 2-time First-team All-Pro (2014, 2017), a 2-time Second-team All-Pro (2016, 2017), and a 3-time Pro Bowler (2014, 2016, 2017).
While not the back he once was, Bell brings experience to the Buccaneers' running back room and will prove to be another great addition to the NFC team.
Also Read: NFL fans call Le'Veon Bell 'biggest ring chaser' after RB signs for Buccaneers