Could Bell’s future be at wide receiver?
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Steeler Rod Woodson transitioned from cornerback to safety and extended his career. Plenty of other corners have done the same over the years.
But could a running back do the same by transitioning to receiver?
Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell didn’t discount the possibility for him later in his career.
“Maybe when I’m old and not wanting to play running back and get the ball 20 times a game, maybe I could convert, but not right now,” said Bell, who remains in his prime as a running back in his fourth season.
Bell certainly has the skills to pull it off. He is second on the team in receptions with 57. He has 209 career receptions, which are 102 more than Markus Wheaton, a receiver who was selected by the Steelers in the same 2013 draft class. Wheaton was the Steelers’ third-round pick and Bell the second-round pick.
The Steelers don’t just throw to Bell out of the backfield. They often split him out as a receiver and have him run receiver routes. He shattered the franchise record for most receptions in a season by a running back in 2014 with 83. The previous record was 51.
Why would a back want to switch to receiver?
For the same reasons corners move to safety: to extend their careers.
Running backs have the shortest shelf lives of any position in the NFL. The average NFL career for a running back is 2.57 years. They’re also among the lowest-paid in the league because coaches and general managers believe most are easily replaced.
Bell’s skills as a runner are not diminishing, but, when they do, he could be a trailblazer. None other than All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown said Bell could make the transition.
“I think so,” Brown said. “He has great routes, great fundamentals, great patience. I don’t know how he’ll be with 70 plays, but I think he has what it takes to be a great receiver. He has great hands. He has the Tony toe-tap. I think he’ll be just fine.”
Two ruled out
Receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (foot) and running back DeAngelo Williams (knee) have been ruled out for the Giants game. It will be the fourth consecutive game both have missed.
Offensive lineman David DeCastro, tight end Xavier Grimble and safety Shamarko Thomas, all of whom missed practice or were limited at some point this week, are not on the status report and are expected to be available Sunday.
Rookie cornerback Artie Burns left practice early Friday, but he said afterward that he is fine and will play Sunday. He’s not on the status report, either.
“I got my foot stuck in the ground,” he said. “I’m OK.”
Costly celebration
Brown was fined $24,000 and Bell $12,000 for their celebration following a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colt son Thanksgiving. Brown’s fine was double Bell’s because he is a repeat offender and had been fined twice previously for celebration penalties.