Bell tolls early for Chiefs in off-field win over Bills
Four days before their big AFC battle in Buffalo, the Kansas City Chiefs have already beaten the Bills.
They've beaten them to Le'Veon Bell.
Released by the New York Jets on Tuesday night, it didn't take long for one of the most dangerous dual threats (rushing-receiving) in the NFL to find a nice new home. In fact, you could say that in going from one of only two 0-5 teams to the defending Super Bowl champions, Bell is moving from the outhouse to the penthouse.
Naturally, he was elated. “Kansas City, Chiefs Kingdom, thank you for the opportunity,” Bell tweeted. “Let's go!”
While numerous teams inquired, multiple reports suggested the decision for the 28-year-old former Pittsburgh Steelers star came down to the Chiefs, Bills and Miami Dolphins.
The deal with K.C. is reportedly one year and heavy on incentives.
The Chiefs, who explored trading for Bell last season, are averaging 119.4 rushing yards per game, 13th in the NFL. Rookie first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire has done a fine job and is the 10th-leading rusher in the league with 344 yards on 81 carries, but the Chiefs did lack depth at the position. They lost and never replaced Damien Williams, who starred for them in last year's Super Bowl win. According to ProFootball.com, the Chiefs tried to sign Adrian Peterson, but waited too long and lost him to the Detroit Lions.
Bell, who has missed three games with a hamstring injury, has just 19 carries for 74 yards over two outings this season. He wasn't a very good fit in New York from the start.
Last year, his first with the team after sitting out 2018 in search of a lucrative contact, he rushed for 789 yards on 245 tries and added 461 yards on 66 catches. His best season was 2014, when he had 2,215 scrimmage yards, with 1,391 along the ground and 854 through the air.
Bell's addition reaffirms K.C.'s status as a favourite to repeat as champions. However, he won't be able to join the team for at least six days, because of COVID-19 protocols. That means he'll miss Monday's game against the Bills, small consolation for Buffalo.
SHOWDOWN
Quarterback matchups don't get much better than Patrick Mahomes versus Josh Allen. Back in August, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said on TV's Undisputed that in a “throw-off” against Bills QB Josh Allen he would heave the ball at least 80 yards.
“I know I'm going to put that up there,” said Mahomes. “I know he can chuck it out there as well. If he can beat 80-83 yards, then he can beat me, but I'm going to put it out there, I promise you that.” On Thursday, Mahomes said the pandemic made it difficult for them to get together during the off-season, but he's still open to that kind of competition. “I'm usually in Texas and he's usually in, I think, California, so we'll see what happens,” said Mahomes. “But I'm always up to any challenge.”
COVID- 19 ALERT
The Atlanta Falcons shut down their facility Thursday after another member of the organization — reports say it was an assistant coach — tested positive for COVID-19. At present, their game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings is going ahead as scheduled ... In a conference call Thursday, the NFL's chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, said that to date, the league's contact-tracing data reveals that no player has yet contracted COVID-19 via player-to-player, in-game transmission. Sills, who visited the Falcons' facility, said shutting down the building was akin to “keeping them at the level of having a camp fire, and prevent it from turning into a forest fire.”
GOING DEEP
Expanding into Canada is the NFL and American Cancer Society initiative Crucial Catch: Intercept Cancer that runs through Week 6 and addresses early detection, getting screened and risk reduction efforts for multiple types of cancer. Autographed merchandise by NFL players and legends is available at nfl.com/auction with 100 per cent of proceeds benefiting the Canadian Cancer Society.
EXTRA POINTS
Four-time Pro Bowler Fred Dean died at the age of 68 on Wednesday night.
Dean, who split his 11-year career between the Chargers and 49ers, won Super Bowls with the 49ers in 1981 and 1984.