Skip to main content

Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell: Bengals, other teams try to injure me

Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell said the Bengals and other teams tried to injure him on purpose. 
  • Author:
  • Publish date:

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell said the Bengals are among NFL teams that tried to injure him on purpose last season.

Bell missed much of 2015 after tearing his MCL during a Week 8 game against the Bengals. Bell was injured on a tackle by Vontaze Burfict, who has run into numerous issues with the league for on-field conduct. Bell said the entire Bengals team was happy when he left the Week 8 game on a cart.

“I feel there are a lot of teams that try to do that, try to take me out of the game,” Bell said after practice Tuesday. “I don't think it was just [Burfict]. It felt like the whole team was out there trying to twist my ankles and do little dirty stuff in between piles ... I was ignorant to the fact at first.”

In January, Burfict was suspended for the first three games of 2016 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Steelers receiver Antonio Brown during a playoff game, with the league saying Burfict’s history of offenses factoring into the decision.

FARRAR: Roger Goodell exposed as NFL scandals converge

Bell said he expects to be ready to play by Week 1.