Le’Veon Bell is sorry for publicly declaring he would rather retire than play for Andy Reid again. But the three-time Pro Bowler isn’t apologizing for his opinion.
On Twitter Sunday night, Bell said he shouldn’t kept his thoughts to himself. "I'll admit that's somethin I could've and should've kept to myself & I apologize about that and that only,” Bell wrote. “But I don't regret what I said, because that's how I feel.”
Bell posted on Instagram he’ll “never play” for Reid again, adding he would “retire first.” The Chiefs signed Bell last October following his release from the Jets.
While serving as the second option to first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Bell averaged four yards per carry, rushing for 254 yards in nine games with the team. But he was a non-factor in the postseason, only receiving two carries in the AFC Divisional Round, despite Edwards-Helaire being sidelined due to injury.
Bell, 29, was inactive for the AFC Championship against the Bills.
It’s uncertain whether Bell’s lack of playing time in January is fueling his apparent animosity towards Reid. In a follow-up tweet, Bell inferred that Reid disrespected him.
“I said what I said & I don’t regret at all what I said,” Bell tweeted. “For those who have a PERSONAL PROBLEM with me because of what I SAID, that’s fine...you have your right! just understand I ALSO have MY RIGHT for how I feel about MY PERSONAL problem with dude because of what HE SAID to me.”
Later, Bell said he enjoyed his time in Kansas City, even though he clearly dislikes Reid.
"Never did I say I didn't enjoy my time in KC, because I loved my time there, and was probably the closest locker room full of players I ever been around,” he wrote.
It’s been quite a fall for Bell, who sat out the entire 2018 in Pittsburgh, rather than play for the franchise tag. His last great season came in 2017, when he rushed for 1,291 yards and added 655 receiving yards.
Since then, Bell has run for just 1,117 yards and racked up 599 receiving yards in 26 games. He’s currently unsigned.