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Kovacevic: Remarkably, Samuels might be the new LeĀ’Veon
By Dejan Kovacevic
Posted on June 4, 2019
One snap, Jaylen Samuels was at wideout.
Another, he was in the backfield.
Another, he was aligned to Ben Roethlisberger's left as de facto bodyguard.
"Everywhere, right?" the kid would tell me in confirming all of the above following the Steelers' OTA session Tuesday morning at the Rooney Complex. "But that's OK. I like it like that. Get me on the field. Challenge me to do something. I'll get the job done."
Everyone remembers Samuels, right?
If not, then maybe a reminder is merited of his 172 total yards against the Patriots this past season:
Catch the pattern in play?
Yep. Wideout. Backfield. Bodyguard. Did it all. Just like the New England victory. Just like his time at N.C. State, where he played just about every position except running back.
James Conner's fresh off a bone-crushing breakout. Benny Snell's the fresh-faced rookie in the fold. But Samuels might be in the best position -- literally -- to fill Le'Veon Bell's void. And if you ask me, that has him poised to make as much of a positive difference as anyone on the offense.
Never mind that he reported for OTAs 15 pounds lighter than last season -- pushed hard by Randy Fichtner to do precisely that -- with an primary aim of finding sharper acceleration on passing routes and hitting holes faster out of the backfield to better capitalize on his DeAngelo Williams slashing style.
On top of that, if Conner can carry the load again, and if Snell winds up even half as dynamic as most everyone here seems to be expecting, Samuels can pretty much entrench himself as the third down back ... if not more.
I asked Samuels if he felt a little forgotten amid all the fuss over Snell.
"I mean, it's always been like that all my life, throughout college, I've always been forgotten," Samuels told me through a slight smile. "I'm just waiting for the season to start. We'll see."
Good for him. Here's our whole talk:
Ideally, it plays out this way: Conner stays healthy. Snell shows the combined physicality/flair that both spells Conner and provides a different dimension. And Samuels cements himself into the portions of the playbook that once only Bell could fill. That can be split among drives, with Conner taking a couple and Snell the next, or it can be split among downs and situations, with Samuels available for a wild-card element.
Regardless, what's paramount over this summer is that all three, who've openly been speaking about being amenable to a multiple-back system, really mean it.
"I'm all for it," Conner was saying a few days ago. "Those guys are talented. I mean, obviously, who doesn't want the ball? But they can make some plays that I can't make. You look around the league, you see a lot of teams using multiple backs. I'm all for it."
Could be fun, huh?
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LeVeon Bell Sees Opportunities I Never Had Before With Jets After First Practice In Which He Was Looking A Bit Lost
By Matthew Marczi
Posted on June 5, 2019
Mandatory minicamp began for several teams yesterday, among them the New York Jets, which just so happens to be the new team of former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro running back LeVeon Bell. It is the first real meaningful appearance that he has made with the team after skipping all of their OTA sessions. And if you can believe it, he had plenty to say after showing up.
In spite of the fact that he didnt do a whole lot. According to reports, Bell only took all of 11 reps in his first practice with his new team, even though he said that he wanted to take more. For what its worth, Rich Cimini Tweeted that he was looking a bit lost standing on the sidelines holding a football during the middle of practice.
That didnt stop him from speaking with a great deal of confidence about his future after practice. It feels so good not doing it for a year, he told reporters. It was amazing just running around. Trash talk. Catching some balls. Sweat in your helmet. Things we kind of take for granted when you are playing. But the fact I had the whole year off and came out here and played, it felt so good.
Of course, he didnt have a year off. He elected not to play under a one-year minimally-negotiable contract after he and the Steelers failed to agree to terms on a long-term agreement by the July deadline last summer.
They reportedly offered him a five-year contract averaging up to $15 million per season, with a $10 million signing bonus and a $10 million roster bonus due days later for effectively $20 million fully guaranteed. Instead, he signed a four-year contract with the Jets in March worth $52 million.
In terms of the backlash he has gotten and peoples expectations for him to struggle, Bell said, maybe a lot of people forgot [what I can do] because they havent seen it in a while. Its normal. Thats what humans do. Once I go out and play the first game, people will be reminded.
During his final season for the Steelers, he rushed for 1291 yards on 321 carries, averaging slightly under four yards per carry. He scored nine touchdowns on the ground and two in the air, catching 85 passes for 655 yards, averaging 7.7 yards per catch, which was the lowest averaging for a season in which he played more than six games.
Nevertheless, he has high expectations for himself and for the Jets this year, and what his impact is going to be on his new team. I picture this scheme being amazing for me. Its a lot of opportunities I never had before, he said, noting the offensive weapons around him.
Of course, that statement is complete nonsense, given that the led the league in touchesalso known as opportunitieswith the Steelers while playing with an All-Pro wide receiver, another who would become a Pro Bowler, and a future Hall of Fame quarterback. While he complained about his workload.
Bell went on to praise second-year quarterback Sam Darnold, saying that hes going to make me a better player because hes so mobile and creates opportunities that I never had. He called themselves a special duo in the backfield, even though he was literally part of a special trio known as the Killer Bs.
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"opportunities he's never had before?" another side ways shot at us. Okay.Comment
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Its called blowing that good smoke... lol
Bell is saying all the things his teammates want to hear.Comment
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you just can't make this stuff up:
Cops: Bell's girlfriends, $520K of jewelry vanish
Associated Press
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Authorities said two female acquaintances vanished with more than half a million dollars in jewelry from star NFL running back Le'Veon Bell's Florida home.
Hollywood police said Bell returned from the gym May 25 and found the women gone and his jewelry missing. The police report obtained by The Associated Press refers to the two women as Bell's girlfriends.
Bell said items in his closet were in disarray and all his jewelry was missing, including two gold chains with diamonds, a black panther pendant with black and white diamonds and a Rolex watch. The combined value of the items totals $520,000.
Police said they are investigating.
Bell practiced with the New York Jets on Tuesday for the first time since signing with them in March. He inked a four-year, $52.5 million deal -- including $35 million guaranteed -- after sitting out last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in a contract dispute.
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2 GF’s huh?
Welcome to NYC.Comment
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