Bell: 'I'll live with' decision to sign with Jets
Le'Veon Bell became one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL after signing with the New York Jets in March. But his first season with the new club hasn't produced the results he might have expected.
Despite posting just 508 yards and three touchdowns through 10 games, Bell has made peace with his free agency choice.
"I made a decision," he said, according to Manish Mehta of New York Daily News. "And I'll live with it."
The 27-year-old back hasn't eclipsed 100 rushing yards in a game this season, and he's posted a career-low 3.2 yards per carry. He's hauled in 46 catches for 309 yards and one score.
Before sitting out in 2018 due to a contract dispute, Bell averaged 1,599 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns per year over five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"I feel like when I get those numbers here, people are going to look at me differently," he said. "Like, dang, he didn't even have to go to the Chiefs. He didn't have to go to the Colts or whatever team has a high-powered offense. I didn't have to go there to do it. I came here and helped this team turn around."
The 3-7 Jets have averaged 16.4 points and 248.2 yards per contest in 2019, which rank 29th and 32nd in the league, respectively.
"At the end of the day," Bell said, "I've never been a person that really cares about trying to go to a team and joining a whole bunch of other good players."
Bell's four-year, $52.5 million contract ranks third among running backs in average annual salary ($13,125 million), per Over The Cap.