Jets' Bell: 'I could carry 50 times' in Week 1
New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell said earlier this offseason that he would carry the ball 500 times if that's what the team needed.
The three-time All-Pro doubled down on that proclamation on Wednesday when discussing the Jets' Week 1 contest against the Buffalo Bills.
"I could carry 50 times if they ask me to. I've been waiting a long time for this moment," Bell said, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.
The 27-year-old's comments came on the heels of Jets head coach Adam Gase's press conference earlier Wednesday, during which he said Bell told him not to "hold back" when it comes to his workload, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday.
Gase was reportedly strongly opposed to the five-year, $52.5-million deal that New York gave to Bell in the offseason, but he's since changed his tune.
"No. Not close," the head coach said Wednesday when asked if he's ever worked with a running back as talented as Bell is, according to Iannazzone.
Bell hasn't played in an NFL game in 608 days but is no stranger to carrying a heavy load, as he led the league with 406 touches during his last full campaign in 2017.