PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 16: Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Le’Veon Bell (26) is announced during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 16, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Photo by Mark Alberti/ Icon Sportswire)
Le’Veon Bell sat out all of last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but despite a recent report, Bell’s weight never became an issue.
Le’Veon Bell is not shaped like a nose tackle.
On Wednesday, the New York Daily News published a piece stating Bell allowed his weight to balloon to 260 pounds during his holdout. Bell’s trainer, Pete Bommarito of Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, tells FanSided that’s false.
“It’s so untrue it’s laughable and ridiculous,” Bommarito stated. “He has stuck to the plan and stayed in shape all year. It’s ridiculous. Where does this stuff come from? Who says this? Nobody asked me.”
Bell, who’s playing weight is 217 pounds, is about to hit free agency following news earlier this week that the Steelers will allow him to hit the open market. There’s a thought from people close to Bell that the Jets are trying to lower the price on the former All-Pro by floating stories about weight gain.
New York has reason to play that game. With a bevy of suitors expected to come calling when free agency begins on March 11, softening the market is always a tactic. Still, the Jets have the second-most cap space in the league behind the Indianapolis Colts. If New York is forced to get into a bidding war — and any team attempting to sign Bell will be — the Jets have the cash to win out.
With the league readying to descend upon Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine next week, the talk around Bell is going to intensify.