Saints pass on Bell

[rajncajn]

http://www.wwl.com/Saints-don-t-match-Bell-offer/6643284

 

Saints don't match Bell offer

 

 

Kristian Garic Reporting

Running back Mike Bell will not be in a Saints uniform any more.

 

New Orleans will not match the offer the Philadelphia Eagles made for Bell.

 

The restricted free agent opened last season with a lot of promise for the Saints. He rushed for over 100 yards in the season opener against the Detroit Lions, but saw his touches and production curtail as the Saints made their run to the Super Bowl.

 

Bell signed a one year offer sheet last week for $1.7 million dollars with Philly.

 

The Saints had until 11:00pm central time Tuesday to match the offer, but chose not to do so.

 

New Orleans had tendered Bell at the lowest level, meaning that the Eagles do not have to provide any compensation for signing the running back.

 

Last season Bell had 654 yards rushing. He averaged 3.8 yards per carry and had 5 touchdowns.

[i_am_the_swammi]

Will fill a much-needed, goal-line role in Philly. Expect 10-12 touches per game, perhaps more if he is more adept at pass-protection than the young McCoy.

[loaf]

he's not worth 1.7 mil to the Saints. Good move not matching

[Menudo]

Will fill a much-needed, goal-line role in Philly. Expect 10-12 touches per game, perhaps more if he is more adept at pass-protection than the young McCoy.

 

I agree that this is a good move for the Eagles. As a Pierre Thomas owner for much of the year, I was annoyed with Bell's vulturing, but, I was also impressed with they way he ran. The Eagles definitely needed a guy who could run with a physical style between the tackles, and I think he fills that void. He also came at a relatively cheap price.

 

As for how this effects Pierre Thomas...... I think Pierre owners will see this as something to be excited by. However, as an often frustrated owner, I think that the Saints will just turn his role over to someone else. (Hamilton or a new back). The success that the team had last year will be hard to turn away from It was evident to me that the Saints liked keeping Pierre fresh and healthy, and you could see the strategy paying off in the playoffs. Thomas is a very talented back, but, I think being in this prolific offense actually hurts his production a bit. He will have some solid days, but, those will be mixed in with days of 13 carries for 58 yards and 2 catches for 5 yards. He is a frustrating fantasy player to own.

[rajncajn]

I agree that this is a good move for the Eagles. As a Pierre Thomas owner for much of the year, I was annoyed with Bell's vulturing, but, I was also impressed with they way he ran. The Eagles definitely needed a guy who could run with a physical style between the tackles, and I think he fills that void. He also came at a relatively cheap price.

 

As for how this effects Pierre Thomas...... I think Pierre owners will see this as something to be excited by. However, as an often frustrated owner, I think that the Saints will just turn his role over to someone else. (Hamilton or a new back). The success that the team had last year will be hard to turn away from It was evident to me that the Saints liked keeping Pierre fresh and healthy, and you could see the strategy paying off in the playoffs. Thomas is a very talented back, but, I think being in this prolific offense actually hurts his production a bit. He will have some solid days, but, those will be mixed in with days of 13 carries for 58 yards and 2 catches for 5 yards. He is a frustrating fantasy player to own.

Spot on... Toward the end of the season it seemed more & more like Bell was losing the confidence he had at the beginning of the season & Hamilton was the beneficiary. I'm almost certain Hamilton will take on his role next year & we will see a similar rotation.

[tbimm]

Spot on... Toward the end of the season it seemed more & more like Bell was losing the confidence he had at the beginning of the season & Hamilton was the beneficiary. I'm almost certain Hamilton will take on his role next year & we will see a similar rotation.

I will take it a step further and say that Hamilton owners will be pleased with him as a bye week RB2 and a fairly reliable RB3 in larger formats.

[rajncajn]

I will take it a step further and say that Hamilton owners will be pleased with him as a bye week RB2 and a fairly reliable RB3 in larger formats.

Agreed, I think he'll end up a more consistent option than Bell was.