‘Pretty easy decision’ to sign with Redblacks, running back Bell says
Soon after running back Shakir Bell signed with the Ottawa Redblacks, he heard from quarterback Trevor Harris.
“Trevor hit me up and was like, ‘I’m going to get your number. Let’s talk, let’s smooth everything out because we’re pretty excited to have you,’ ” said the 25-year-old Bell, who at 5-foot-8 brings a shake-and-bake dynamic to a Redblacks backfield that already includes talented William Powell and Mossis Madu Jr. The battle for a starting spot could carry right into the Canadian Football League regular season.
There’s no question of Bell’s talent. Following a workout with the National Football League’s New England Patriots in December, he tested CFL free agency and chose Ottawa.
“It wasn’t really about the money,” he said. “It was a pretty easy decision to make. They went to two Grey Cups back to back, so they have to be doing something right.”
As an Edmonton Eskimo, Bell had 113 carries for 633 yards in 2015, but he was limited to four games in 2016, finishing with 68 carries for 425 yards. Coincidentally, his first and last games as an Eskimo were in Ottawa. In pouring rain in 2015, Bell had 18 carries for 144 yards in a 23-12 Edmonton win. In a snowy East Division final last November, Bell handled kickoff returns in a 3523 Ottawa win.
Said Bell: “I thought about going back to Edmonton. It was a difficult decision because of the guys in that locker-room … I know them, I battled with them, I bled with them. But I’m glad to be here.”
He’s hoping for big things as a Redblack.
“I haven’t shown everything I can show to put myself at the top level of running backs,” he said. “I’m an electric runner. I don’t want to get tackled. I led the league in broken tackles last year. However Ottawa can use me, it’s OK.”