Le'Veon Bell's response to personal milestone in crushing Jets loss shows impressive leadership
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell absolutely took pride in the incredible milestone but the only number that mattered to him on Sunday was the disheartening final score.
It was the first game back in 603 days for the three-time Pro Bowl running back but the Jets' troubling 17-16 loss to the visiting AFC East rival Buffalo Bills in the regular season opener marred any personal joy from his accomplishment.
On his first carry with Gang Green, which came on the team's first offensive play, Bell picked up five yards. This secured history for Bell, as he broke Eric Dickerson's record as the fastest player to ever accumulate 8,000 career yards from scrimmage, doing so in 63 games.
Pretty surreal landmark.
However, to do so in a disheartening defeat made the accomplishment difficult to embrace. The Jets (0-1) somehow managed to squander a 16-0 third quarter lead to the Bills (1-0), which was a more pressing matter for Bell afterwards.
"It's definitely overshadowed by losing. Obviously, it's a nice accolade I guess but right now it don't really matter. I'm just trying to get the W at the end of the day," Bell said. "...I'm sure people are happy for me right now but I'm not happy for myself because we didn't get a win."
This is exactly what you want to hear if you're a reeling Jets fan right now. It doesn't soften the blow of a horrific loss but it certainly signals your franchise running back has his priorities in order. The individual record paled in comparison for Bell juxtaposed to the collective frustration of the Jets not being able to close out the victory.
Bell flashed glimpses of his greatness in his Jets debut, amassing 92 yards from scrimmage. Bell finished with 60 yards on 17 carries and six receptions for 32 yards.
Bell provided the only eight offensive points of the game for the Jets. On back-to-back plays with 7:01 remaining in the third quarter, Sam Darnold found Bell for a nine-yard touchdown reception and ensuing two-point conversion catch to put the Jets ahead 16-0.
Yet the Jets wouldn't score the rest of the way, as the Bills engineered their comeback with 17 unanswered points. Bell means no disrespect to his opponent but he believes the Jets badly did themselves in during the final quarter and a half.
“It’s very frustrating,” Bell said. “… I felt it even on the field that we’re just leaving points out there … It was minor details. It was nothing the Bills were doing. Those guys played great. They have good players. You’ve got to give those guys their respect. But it wasn’t nothing that we didn’t prepare for … It was just guys, including myself, weren’t making the right, proper reads, and we weren’t making enough plays.”
Bell said he didn't feel any lingering rust after sitting out the entire 2018 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I felt like normal," Bell said. "I went out there to play football and I felt good being out there and having fun.”
Darnold came away extremely impressed by Bell in their first game together. That's key because passing game chemistry between the duo will be paramount to the Jets' fate this season.
“Le’Veon looked great,” Darnold said. “The way he was running out there and the way he was catching the ball, too, running routes, it looked like he really hadn’t missed any time.”
Bell's take on his newest accolade demonstrates exactly the kind of leadership the Jets need from the star whenever times get tough in the grind of a 16-game season. Bell refused to make excuses and took accountability. The true character of an athlete is on display when adversity hits and Bell passed his initial Jets test with flying colors.
