Money not well spent: Ranking 12 worst NFL free-agent signings of 21st century
With NFL free agency just heating up, we rounded up the worst signings of the 21st century, including Kirk Cousins and Albert Haynesworth.MARCH 10
LE'VEON BELL
Former Steelers, Jets RB Le'Veon Bell: I smoked pot before playing in games
Former Steelers and Jets running back Le’Veon Bell says he smoked marijuana before playing some NFL games during his career, and also critic...MAY 29, 2023
Minimal action in '21 Bell, who was active for Sunday's wild-card win over the Eagles but did not log a snap from scrimmage, finished the regular season with 39 carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns...
Impact Bell saw his first regular-season action Week 4 against the Broncos while with the Ravens and ultimately suited up for five games with Baltimore before being jettisoned after Week 10. After five weeks on the open market, the one-time Pro Bowler landed in Tampa Bay and was active for the last three games of the regular season, recording a two-point conversion rush versus his old Jets squad Week 17 and a one-yard receiving touchdown Week 18 versus the Panthers. Even with Leonard Fournette (hamstring) still on IR and Ronald Jones (ankle) inactive for the wild-card matchup Sunday, Bell didn't see the field, so his chances of any action in Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the Rams appear slim.
JANUARY 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Scores receiving TD in win Bell rushed three times for 14 yards and brought in his only target for a one-yard touchdown in the Buccaneers' 41-17 win over the Panthers on Sunday.
Impact The veteran running back served as the No. 2 option behind Ke'Shawn Vaughn with Ronald Jones (ankle) sidelined and was productive with his limited touches. Bell's one-yard scoring grab with 15 seconds remaining in the first half served as his first touchdown since Week 9 against the Vikings when he was with the Ravens. If either Jones or Leonard Fournette (IR-hamstring) are able to make it back for Sunday's wild-card matchup against the Eagles, Bell could well end up a healthy scratch or used even more sparsely than he was Sunday.
JANUARY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Set for some work Sunday Bell and Ke'Shawn Vaughn will be the Buccaneers' primary running backs Sunday versus the Panthers with Ronald Jones (ankle) sidelined and Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and Giovani...
Impact After Fournette was forced to IR due to a hamstring strain following a Week 15 loss to the Saints, Bell was brought in as insurance for the Tampa Bay backfield. Jones stepped in as the No. 1 running back for the ensuing two contests, but he suffered an ankle injury himself this past Sunday at the Jets and will miss the season finale. Vaughn likely will serve as the team's top RB in Week 18, what with averaging 6.7 yards on his 18 carries over the last three games. But Bell should get in the mix, too, after taking five carries for four yards and hauling in all three targets for 30 yards in two outings as a member of the Bucs. Behind Vaughn and Bell, Kenjon Barner also is a candidate to be elevated from the practice squad to provide a bit more depth to the position.
JANUARY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Pass-catching role in win Bell rushed three times for five yards and secured all three targets for 30 yards in the Buccaneers' 28-24 win over the Jets on Sunday. He also had a two-point conversion run.
Impact In his second game as a Buccaneer, Bell came through with his trademark receiving skills on an important drive in the game. The veteran recorded two of his three catches on a early fourth-quarter possession that culminated in a Ryan Succop 27-yard field goal to bring Tampa Bay within four points. Bell could see his role expand further in Week 18 against the Panthers with both Ronald Jones (ankle) and Ke'Shawn Vaughn (ribs) dealing with injuries and the offense down another pass catcher with the imminent release of Antonio Brown.
JANUARY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Minimal action in debut Bell logged just three snaps from scrimmage in the Buccaneers' 32-6 win over the Panthers on Sunday and netted minus-1 yard on two carries.
Impact The veteran had just joined the team early in the week, so his lack of work was no surprise. Bell was a distant third in the backfield pecking order behind Ronald Jones and Ke'Shawn Vaughn, and that scenario will likely carry over into a Week 17 road matchup against the Jets.
DECEMBER 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Signing in Tampa Bay official The Buccaneers officially signed Bell on Wednesday.
Impact Bell's presence will help provide depth in a backfield that could be without Leonard Fournette (hamstring) for at least three weeks, if he indeed ends up on IR. Ronald Jones projects to operate as the No. 1 running back in Fournette's absence, while a combination of Bell and Ke'Shawn Vaughn compete for complementary work. Across five games in Baltimore this season, Bell averaged just 2.7 yards per carry and caught one of three targets for negative one yards, but he did score twice on the ground.
DECEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Zeise is Right: The Colts will be a tough team to deal with in the playoffs Welcome to the Zeise is Right, Paul Zeise’s weekly wrap of the NFL weekend, combining some quick thoughts and observations with a healthy do...
DECEMBER 22, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Le'Veon Bell released by Ravens: 'I've enjoyed every second' The former Pro-Bowl running back played in five games for the team and bounced around between the practice squad and active roster.
NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
Sees expanded role in win Bell rushed 11 times for 48 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' 34-31 overtime win over the Vikings on Sunday.
Impact Bell saw fellow veteran backfield mate Devonta Freeman outpace him by two carries and 31 rushing yards, but it was the former who picked up a key first down early during the Ravens' game-winning drive in overtime and also subsequently ripped off a 12-yard gain on another third-down play later in the possession that took the ball to Minnesota's 19-yard line. Bell's carry and rushing yardage totals were season-best figures, and he figures to have a good chance to build on them in a Week 10 road matchup against the Dolphins on Thursday night.
NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Fades into background Sunday Bell had five carries for five yards and added a reception for a one-yard loss against the Bengals.
Impact Baltimore had trouble getting the ground game going Sunday, and Bell was no exception to that, averaging just one yard per carry. He played the second-most snaps (22) among Baltimore backs, but three of them in total played at least 20 snaps. Baltimore is on a bye this week before returning to action against Minnesota. Bell has produced a total of 17 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown in three appearances thus far, and it remains to be seen if Baltimore will settle on a consistent running back rotation that includes this veteran.
OCTOBER 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Jumps to active roster The Ravens signed Bell off the practice squad Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Impact With Latavius Murray emerging from Week 6 with an ankle injury, the Ravens again have a need for reinforcements in the backfield. If Murray sits out Sunday against Cincinnati, Devonta Freeman, Ty'Son Williams and Bell would be the players to take on RB duties for Baltimore. It's unclear exactly how much Bell can provide at this stage in his career, but he's earned 40 offensive snaps in two appearances for the team en route to 12 carries for 29 yards and one touchdown while failing to gather in his one target.
OCTOBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Back to practice squad Bell reverted to the Ravens' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Impact Bell had eight carries for 18 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's win over the Chargers, and he played 22 offensive snaps compared to Latavius Murray's 26 and Devonta Freeman's 21. Murray exited the contest due to an ankle injury, and Bell could receive expanded opportunities in the near future should Murray end up missing any time.
OCTOBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens run rampant in big win over Los Angeles Chargers
Lamar Jackson and a trio of Ravens running backs ran over the Chargers, helping Baltimore win its fifth straight.OCTOBER 17, 2021
Finds paydirt in easy win Bell rushed eight times for 18 yards and a touchdown but wasn't targeted in Sunday's 34-6 win over the Chargers.
Impact Bell, Devonta Freeman and Latavius Murray all got between eight and nine carries, with Murray working as the team's primary backfield option before he exited with an ankle injury. Bell scored his first touchdown as a Raven from two yards out in the second quarter, but his meager season average of 2.4 yards per carry won't inspire Baltimore to give Bell a significantly larger role in the event Murray misses additional time.
OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Suiting up Sunday Bell is active for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Impact Bell was elevated from the practice squad Saturday and will be active for the second time this season. The 29-year-old carried four times for 11 yards and failed to catch his lone target during his previous appearance in Week 4. Latavius Murray should lead the backfield while Bell and Devonta Freeman work as the secondary options.
OCTOBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Set to join roster Bell was elevated from the practice squad Saturday.
Impact Bell surprisingly wasn't elevated ahead of the Week 5 Monday night contest, but he'll make his return to the Ravens roster against the Chargers on Sunday. The veteran back did little in his first opportunity back in Week 4, earning just four carries while failing to catch his lone target. It's hard to imagine a larger workload with the full complement of Ravens backs available such as Latavius Murray, Ty'Son Williams and Devonta Freeman.
OCTOBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Won't join Ravens on Monday night The Ravens won't elevate Bell from the practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Colts, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Bell was summoned from the practice squad for his Ravens debut in the Week 4 win over Denver, playing 27 percent of the offensive snaps in the victory while carrying four times for 11 yards and drawing an incomplete target. The veteran apparently didn't make enough of an impression to get another call-up for Week 5, as the Ravens will instead have Ty'Son Williams -- who was inactive Week 4 -- serve as the third option out of the backfield behind Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman.
OCTOBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Reverts to practice squad Bell reverted to Baltimore's practice squad Monday.
Impact Bell was elevated from the practice squad for Sunday's win over the Broncos, and he had four carries for 11 yards and failed to catch his lone target while playing 20 offensive snaps. It was a solid debut for the veteran with Baltimore, as only Latavius Murray was more involved at running back. Bell can be elevated from the practice squad for one more game before the Ravens need to make a decision on whether to give him a roster spot.
OCTOBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Four carries in Baltimore debut Bell had four carries for 11 yards in his Baltimore debut Sunday against the Broncos and did not reel in his lone target.
Impact Baltimore elevated Bell from the practice squad and made Ty'Son Williams a healthy scratch. Bell played 20 snaps, which ranked second on the team among running backs behind Latavius Murray and ahead of Devonta Freeman. Still, Bell wasn't heavily utilized nor was he particularly effective. He could see his role expand as he gets more acclimated with the offense, but it's no guarantee at this stage. Baltimore hosts Indianapolis on Monday Night Football in Week 5.
OCTOBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Expected to suit up Sunday Bell is expected to be active for Sunday's game against the Broncos after the Ravens elevated him from their practice squad Saturday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Assuming that's the case, the 29-year-old will play in his first NFL game since the 2020 postseason, when he was a member of the Chiefs. Bell will be part of a crowded backfield that includes Ty'Son Williams, Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman, and it's unclear if the Ravens plan to make any of those three backs inactive for Week 4. Freeman is the most likely candidate to sit out if Baltimore keeps only three backs active, but even in that scenario, Bell would likely be in store for a light role as part of a committee. Williams has paced the backfield in snaps in each of the Ravens' first three contests, but he's hovered between modest 47 and 51 percent snap shares in each of those games.
OCTOBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Moves to active roster Bell was elevated from the practice squad Saturday.
Impact This move felt preordained after the veteran signed with the Ravens back in early September. It'll be interesting to see what kind of workload, if any, Bell will have considering the Ravens have a trio of capable running backs in Ty'Son Williams, Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman. It's likely the Ravens will simply have Bell work back into game shape given the aforementioned options ahead of him, but the upside scenario is certainly tantalizing given Bell's prowess as a multi-dimensional threat out of the backfield.
OCTOBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Ravens keep Bell, Freeman on practice squad for opener
The Baltimore Ravens kept running backs LeVeon Bell and DeVonta Freeman on the practice squad for the opener against the Las Vegas RaidersSEPTEMBER 13, 2021
Not in MNF mix Bell wasn't promoted to the Ravens' active roster in advance of Monday night's game against the Raiders, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.
Impact The same applies to fellow practice squad member Devonta Freeman, and as a result Ty'Son Williams, Latavius Murray and Trenton Cannon will handle the Ravens' Week 1 running back duties. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic noted Sunday that Bell still is working his way into game shape, but once the veteran back is up to speed both physically and in terms of Baltimore's playbook, he could enter the the team's backfield mix, though if so he'd likely work in a complementary role, at least initially.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
