"After having conversations with Le'Veon and his agent and exploring potential trade options over the past couple of days, we have made the decision to release Le'Veon," said Jets general manager Joe Douglas
Wednesday 14 October 2020 22:59, UK
The New York Jets released disgruntled running back Le'Veon Bell on Tuesday night.
The team was shopping Bell in hope of working out a trade before deciding to end the rocky relationship with the 28-year-old.
"After having conversations with Le'Veon and his agent and exploring potential trade options over the past couple of days, we have made the decision to release Le'Veon," Jets general manager Joe Douglas said in a news release.
"The Jets organisation appreciates Le'Veon's efforts during his time here and we know he worked hard to make significant contributions to this team. We believe this decision is in the best interests of both parties and wish him future success."
Shortly after the announcement of his release, Bell tweeted a photo of himself and said, "got a lot to prove. I'm ready to go."
The three-time Pro Bowl selection signed a four-year, $52.5m deal as a free agent with the Jets in March of 2019.
There were issues from the start as rumours emerged that coach Adam Gase wasn't thrilled about the move. The signing was orchestrated by then-general manager Mike Maccagnan, who was dismissed two months later.
The relationship between Bell and Gase continued to go downhill and Bell was upset that only one pass came his way during Sunday's 30-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Bell declined to speak to reporters afterward but "liked" several comments on Twitter from media members and others who commented about him being misused. Those actions reportedly upset Gase.
On Monday, Gase told reporters, "I hate that that's the route we go with all this instead of just talking about it, but it seems that's the way guys want to do it nowadays."
Bell carried 13 times for 60 yards against Cardinals after missing the previous three games with a hamstring injury. In two games this season, he has 74 yards on 19 carries and three receptions for three yards.
Last season, Bell was a disappointment with 3.2 yards per carry while rushing for 789 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 66 passes for 461 yards and one score.
Bell topped 1,200 rushing yards three times in five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2013-17 while twice earning first-team All-Pro honors.
He missed the entire 2018 campaign in a salary dispute after refusing to sign a $14.5m franchise tag. Frank Gore, 37, is the Jets' leading rusher this season with 204 yards.
Bell is the second high-profile player to depart the Jets in three months. The team traded star safety Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks in July as contract talks between the two sides disintegrated.
Arizona Cardinals pass rusher Chandler Jones will miss the remainder of the season due to a right biceps injury.
Jones sustained the injury during the second quarter of the Cardinals' 30-10 win over the New York Jets on Sunday and was hopeful it would not require surgery.
However, Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury revealed on Wednesday that Jones is set to undergo an operation and he is expected to be sidelined for three to four months.
The Atlanta Falcons should consider putting All-Pro wide receiver Julio Jones on the trade block, former NFL quarterback Chris Simms said on Pro Football Talk.
"I understand it," Simms said of Atlanta's move to fire head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff. "I've got to think he [Quinn] lost the ear of the team a little bit, and the team was too top heavy.
"If I'm Atlanta, with the way their team looks, I'm putting Julio Jones on the trade block.
"It's a lot of money, and they might have to pay part of that salary, but they might have to start looking to do what the Miami Dolphins did, trade away and get assets to rebuild the team. I'll be interested to see if they take that route."
Former NFL coach Rob Ryan says the Dallas Cowboys will struggle to replace their quarterback and leader Dak Prescott, following the devastating injury he suffered on Sunday that will keep him out of the season.
A visibly emotional Prescott was carted off the field during the third quarter of the Cowboys' 37-34 win over the New York Giants after a gruesome compound fracture and dislocation to his right ankle.
Prescott had been playing brilliantly through the first four and a half games of the season, throwing for 1,856 yards and nine touchdowns (and scoring three on the ground), helping to keep the team competitive despite a leaky defence.
"You saw how much respect he had from both sidelines," coach Ryan said on NFL Overtime (Tuesdays, 9pm, Sky Sports NFL). "On that Dallas team, this wasn't a team-mate, this was a brother.
"This is their leader, and you can't just replace him."
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