Jets’ Bell: ‘Want’ teammates to hit me in follow

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Earlier than follow every day, New York Jets working again Le’Veon Bell tells his defensive teammates, “Give me a bit of one thing.”

Bell, who’s being held out of the preseason video games as a precaution, desires to get his physique acclimated to contact earlier than making his Jets debut in Week 1 towards the Buffalo Payments. So, in a really un-running-back-like transfer, he is asking to be tackled.

“Go for the ball, issues like that, simply so I can get ready,” Bell mentioned Wednesday.

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The Jets’ prized free-agent addition will sit out Saturday evening towards the New Orleans Saints, simply as he did the primary two preseason video games. The starters aren’t anticipated to play the preseason finale. Bell, 27, mentioned he is on board with coach Adam Gase’s choice to maintain him out of dwell motion, assured he can get his regular-season prep on the follow subject.

Due to his contract dispute final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bell hasn’t performed a recreation in 19 months.

“I do know as soon as I get to the sport it may be a bit of totally different, however that is one thing I am going to alter to,” he mentioned. “I have been enjoying soccer my entire life.”

Bell would not need his teammates to ship punishing hits, however he mentioned he believes some upper-body contact will do him some good. In the event that they shrink back, he mentioned he’ll attempt to get below their pores and skin by initiating contact.

“I strive to try this deliberately, simply so I can really feel it,” he mentioned. “A number of occasions you may begin seeing guys get a bit of annoyed they usually’ll attempt to hit me again — and that is what I want. They will not take me to the bottom they usually will not go for my legs. Hitting me up prime, issues like that, I want all that.”

Gase has elevated Bell’s follow reps, giving him roughly 15 “touches” per day — so much for a working again. Gase mentioned he felt it wasn’t well worth the danger to reveal Bell within the preseason, so he opted to maintain his No. 1 offensive weapon on the sideline.

“I do not assume getting me 4 performs within the preseason goes to assist me in Week 1,” Bell mentioned.

To remain concerned, Bell dressed for the primary two video games and took part within the pregame warm-ups. Quarterback Sam Darnold could not resist the chance to razz his new teammate.

“He is on the market within the pregame with the pads on, dancing round,” Darnold mentioned. “He is like, ‘Let’s go, guys, get fired up.’ I am like, ‘Bro, you are not even enjoying. When you begin enjoying, you can begin doing that stuff.'”

Gase, who reportedly wasn’t thrilled with the choice to offer a $27 million assure to a working again, mentioned he is desirous to see Bell in a recreation setting.

“I am unable to wait to see what he does on a Sunday,” he mentioned. “With him working towards, that is enjoyable sufficient. You possibly can inform the man is a particular, particular participant.”