Could Le’Veon Bell sign lead to success for one AFC roster?
They say revenge is a dish best served cold. For Le’Veon Bell, he’s going to be hot whenever he signs his new deal in the league.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the former New York Jet currently plans to sign with either the Bills, Chiefs, or Dolphins. Now, why do those three teams matter the most? If you just pull up the Jets schedule, you’ll see that all teams still have to play New York before the end of the 2020 season.
You could say that’s been ringing in Bell’s mind.
Both Miami and Kanas City would make sense for the 28-year-old to sign as the duo could use depth in the backfield behind Myles Gaskin and Clyde Edwards-Helarie, respectively. And with Kansas City sitting at 4-1 and seeming to be the front-runner for another AFC title, Bell could be ring chasing at this point in his career.
The biggest question is does Bell want to rebound. The three-time Pro Bowler never played at an All-Pro level while suiting up in The Big Apple. If hoping to regain. status as one of the league’s premier backs, splitting reps with the future won’t cut it. No matter where he signs, it’ll be at a discounted rate, since the Jets are paying him $8 million to play elsewhere.
If contention and revenge are all on Bell’s mind, the Bills are a no-brainer choice on where he should sign.
Buffalo and Bell make too much sense to pair.
Following Tuesday’s 42-16 loss to the Titans, the Bills need to address their staggering run game. The team ranks 28th in rushing yards and 26th in yards per play. Devin Singletary has only rushed for more than 70 yards once on the year and only scored one touchdown.
Secondary runner Zach Moss was supposed to pair nicely with Singletary as the long-term replacement for Frank Gore. He’s only suited up in two games as a toe injury as sidelined him since Week 3. The team’s third option, T.J. Yeldon, saw more action as a pass-catcher than through the trenches.
Lowering the rushing load for Singletary could provide more value to Buffalo when the second-year player is on the field. It also allows the Bills to add more stability to the run game and not rely on Josh Allen’s arm to make or break the score.
Speaking of Allen, Tuesday’s outing proved that more weapons could lead to higher production. The talk of the NFL through four weeks threw a pair of interceptions to go along with 263 yards and two touchdowns. One of the picks bounced off the chest of Andre Roberts and right into the hands of Malcolm Butler. The pass was timed perfectly, but the receiver broke concentration, leading to an early turnover.
Stefon Diggs has been a massive asset to Allen’s progression, and it’s evident the two are connecting as the former Viking currently ranks second in receiving yards with 509. John Brown and Cole Beasley have made life easy for the former Wyoming product, but they’ve seen their share of inconsistencies. And outside of Gabriel Davis, there’s a lack of quality should one of the starters miss time.
For Allen, he’ll have to be the answer for the Bills if they want to look like contenders. Since Sean McDermott arrived in Orchard Park, Buffalo’s identity has been known for strong defensive play. Five weeks into a 4-1 season, the pass defense ranks 24th in yards per game, 27th in touchdowns allowed, and 18th in sacks.
Bell’s ability to win past the line of scrimmage as both a runner and receiver adds value. The Bills offensive line is more stable than either unit in his two years with the Jets, and Bell also can shine as a pass blocker, helping Allen have ample time to connect early and establish a passing attack against a weaker defense.
If beating the Jets’ isn’t enough, why not go for the double strike? After ending on a sour note with the Steelers in 2018, Bell could have the last laugh. The Bills will travel to face the Jets on October 25 before hosting Pittsburgh on Sunday Night Football in December.
All factors aside, the Bills will have to be willing to cough up the dough. After a struggle outing in the Music City, Brandon Beane must face the tune of turmoil.
The Bills aren’t a complete team, but Bell fits the bill of keeping them the front-runner in the AFC East all season long. Both sides need each other, so call this a smackdown signing for Bills Mafia is the former Jets can soar to new heights in Brian Daboll’s system.