Mike Bell

Mike Bell leaves New Orleans Saints for Philadelphia Eagles

Running Back Mike Bell signs 1-year, $1.7 million Philadelphia Eagles deal

March 23, 2010 - New Orleans, Louisiana - Running back Mike Bell will play for the Philadelphia Eagles. The New Orleans Saints didn't match the one-year, $1.7 million offer sheet that the Philadelphia Eagles put on the table last week. Mike Bell's deal includes $500,000 guaranteed and could be worth over $2 million if he hits his incentives with the Philadelphia Eagles. The New Orleans had Mike Bell tendered at the lowest restricted free agent level, ROFR (right of first refusal) meaning that the Philadelphia Eagles do not have to provide any compensation for signing the running back Mike Bell.

Mike Bell, a restricted free agent last season, opened last year with a lot of promise for the New Orleans Saints. Mike Bell rushed for over 100 yards in the New Orleans Saints season opener against the Detroit Lions. Last year, Mike Bell was in the rotation with Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas in the Saints backfield. Mike Bell played in 13 games with the New Orleans Saints this past season, with 654 yards rushing, averaging 3.8 yards per carry with 5 touchdowns.

However, there are questions surrounding his relationship with Coach Sean Payton, as late in the 3rd quarter of Superbowl XLIV, New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton was visibly upset with Mike Bell when the running back slipped, fell, and didn't get into the end zone on a 3rd & 1 play from the Indianapolis one-yard line. On the sideline after the play, a pissed-off looking Coach Sean Payton said to Mike Bell, "Let me see your cleats" followed by, "Thats what I thought." In other words, "Why aren't you wearing the size cleats we told you to wear?" Mike Bell didn't get the ball for the rest of the game. Mike Bell only had one previous run in Superbowl XLIV, a 4 yard gain. So Mike Bell finished Superbowl XLIV with 2 rushes for 4 yards.

The next running back on the New Orleans Saints depth chart is Lynell Hamilton, who played well in limited use last season. Bobby Hebert said, "Mike Bell is attractive to other teams because of his overall power as a running back. I think what Saints fans embraced about Mike Bell is how hard he ran north and south. Mike Bell and Lynell Hamilton are very similar. They're big powerful guys."

We wish Mike Bell well in Philadelphia. The New Orleans Saints will be fine without Mike Bell, as Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Lynell Hamilton will carry the ball next year for the New Orleans Saints.