Former Jets running back Le’Veon Bell, in response to Reggie Bush calling for guaranteed NFL contracts in the wake of Damar Hamlin’s frightening collapse on the field on Monday night, said to his Twitter followers that this was one of the reasons why he shouldn’t be criticized for holding out in 2018.
That extended holdout, which led to the running back signing a four-year deal with the Jets before the 2019 season, came after he earned a third Pro Bowl selection and led the league in rushes, logging a career-high nine rushing touchdowns along the way.
But Bell was never the same when he returned to play, and his Jets career was filled with disappointment before he was released in October of 2020.
Fans brought this truth up in reply to his tweet about his holdout, pointing out that Bell’s holdout led to him never having the same production in the NFL again, likely costing him future earnings. That was when Bell used Adam Gase as a reason for his poor production in New York.
“I was a better player,” Bell said. “It’s just hard to get off when Adam Gase is your coach calling dives on 1st and 10…he had dives in his first 10 plays.”
Gase of course was a head coaching disaster in New York, but Bell wasn’t able to find more individual success after he moved on from the Jets and joined the Chiefs, Ravens, and Buccaneers. Clearly, he still isn’t a fan of how his Gang Green tenure turned out.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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