Le'Veon Bell continues to demonstrate the patience of Job and the positive thinking of Norman Vincent Peale. In his latest news conference with reporters after today's practice the Jets' featured back explained his serenity in the swirl of trade rumors involving his name before Tuesday's trading deadline arrived as well as his optimism about what lies ahead for his 2019 team.
"As a guy that went through free agency and had to sit out a whole year, I understand the way the NFL does business, I understand the whole business aspect of it," Bell told reporters. "If I ended up getting traded or whatever, I would've understood that. They're trying to do what's best for the team, and the other team, whoever it would've been, they're trying to do the best for their team, and that's the way the business goes.
"I didn't take offense to it at all. But obviously I'm happy I'm here," he said, repeating sentiments he expressed in a video he tweeted after the deadline. "I'm just glad I'm a New York Jet and I'm excited about the process."
He was asked today why he likes it with the Jets so much after he and the offense have struggled to find those wait-wait-BOOM plays he was noted for as a Steeler. He didn't hesitate.
"Man, it's the process. I like and enjoy the process," he said. "Things are not going the way a lot of people envisioned it. Especially with free agency, new coach, new GM, I'm sure a lot of people envisioned it going different. That's what I embrace about the process. I can be a guy that can help change this whole thing. So I enjoy that and I embrace the challenge of it. I'm looking forward to it and that's why I won't shy away from it."
Bell feels so passionately that he said today that he didn't talk in the TIAA Bank Field locker room after the Jets fell to 1-6 with their 29-15 loss to the Jaguars because he was "frustrated" and "angry" by the loss and by his getting a season-low 11 touches. But he talked with head coach Adam Gase about the situation and says they're on the same page.
"I just want to help my team win. That's why I came here in the first place," Bell said. "I want to be involved and help the team win games. I'm not upset at all if I'm not touching the ball and we're winning, but lately we haven't been winning and I feel like I haven't been able to help. That's why I had to express a little bit, but we're fine and moving forward."
He also spoke with general manager Joe Douglas about the unsettled, unsettling situation Tuesday but similarly expressed appreciation for and said he "respected" Douglas for explaining things to him.
"He didn't have to call me after the trade deadline and express how he felt," Bell said. "He gave me the one-on-one, gave me the information on what went down behind the scenes. He didn't have to do all that. ... I respected it. It is what it is."
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And what the Jets are now are not what they will be in the near future. Bell preached understanding from the Green & White fan base to hang with him and embrace the process as the Jets try to climb out of their first-half hole.
"Obviously things are not all sunny and roses and stuff right now, but it'll get better," he said. "We've been losing games, but every time I watch the film or each and every game I'm playing, I feel it getting better. It's just that we're not putting everything together right now.
"I feel this team will be scary. We've just got to put it all together. I don't know when it's going to happen. It could happen this week, it could happen next year, it could happen in three years, I don't know. But I'm just saying when it does happen, it's going to be amazing."
