Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

Pierre Thomas is the starting running back for the New Orleans Saints of course, but like most teams in the NFL, he's not alone in the backfield.

Numerous teams have developed a two-back machine behind the quarterback, but some have even gone as far as three. The Saints are one of those teams as they have combined Thomas with Reggie Bush and Mike Bell.

Bell came to New Orleans two years ago after fizzling in Denver after a promising rookie season. His talent on the field was evident, but he just seemed to get lost in the shuffle with the Broncos as they gained more and more running backs.

Another undrafted running back like Thomas; Bell actually spent a little of 2008 with the practice squad of the Houston Texans before heading to the Saints. He was used very sparingly during that season and didn't bring about many stats, but the staff did not give up on him.

Coach Sean payton and other members of the coaching staff knew the ability that Bell had in him and that he was far too valuable a commodity to just let go. So with that in mind and a new season coming around, should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?

Bell's first season with the Saints wasn't very successful and it got people wondering if he was merely a flash in the pan after his great rookie season.

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Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

I don't think we would have been 13-0 without him. We need him for depth but I'd say I'm not sure we need him. Other are more important than a 3rd RB.

More important question... what happened to all the forums?

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

i think it may be a little too early to tell, heres why i think this. Week 1 vs detroit 150 yards, week 2 vs eagles, 120 sumthing yards and a td. I felt real good at this point, pierre comes back and bell seems to lose that production, maybe due to loss of carries? all in all pierre is the better back, but bell can be effective at different times

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

This is a tough one for me. He started off the season like gangbusters, but I have yet to hear any valid explanations for his drop-off in performance late in the season. There has to be a reason why he slipped so much....

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

He lacks discipline.Which was evident in the superbowl when he had on the wrong shoes.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

Unlike you I was never clear on the reasons we appeared to not utilize him as much or for the drop-off in performance

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

I don't think coach Payton was to happy with him not wearing the right cleats during the Super Bowl.

I hope the SAINTS can keep the core guys together.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

Bell was very good earlier in the season, but his production dropped off rapidly. I don't know why he couldn't get going later in the season after such a good start. I just hope he gets back to his form next year. Although, if it comes down to it we should be able to find a 3rd back fairly easily. We've done fairly well with late round and undrafted players, maybe there's another gem out there waiting for the Saints to bring him in.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

I honestly believe that Bell is going to be a guy that has to fight for a roster spot every training camp.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

I'm not sure what happened to Mike Bell during the latter part of the season, but if anyone can get him back on his feet, it is SP. Resign him.

ALSO THANK YOU MODS !!! The board was downright weird this morning; I thought I had contracted a virus spyware or whatever, but couldn't imagine where from. Even tried to restore back to yesterday. THANKS FOR THE REPAIR.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

Injuries played a big part in the drop in production.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

I say too early to tell. Bell was huge at the beginning of the season, but tailed off dramatically toward the end. I like Bell a lot because of his toughness and his ability to make defenders pay by lowering a shoulder into them. However, there are a couple of guys that I would like to see get more playing time (Hamilton and Hill). Also, if Toby Gerhart is available in the 3rd round, I say snatch this guy up. If that happens, then it is a possibility that Bell won't be back next year.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

ALSO THANK YOU MODS !!! The board was downright weird this morning; I thought I had contracted a virus spyware or whatever, but couldn't imagine where from. Even tried to restore back to yesterday. THANKS FOR THE REPAIR.[/QUOTE]

I was wondering about that, all morning I had spyware pop-up messages from my anti-virus software. Glad to know what that was now.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

Bell was good at the start of the season. It was partially because of him, that I was kicking ass in fantasy every week, then he just kind of fell off the radar. If he can get his act together and stay consistant, I say keep him.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

Too early to tell .. he sure got chewed out by SP during the SB for not wearing the right cleats on that play where he slipped. Did you see him come back in the game? errrrr, NO!

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

Let's see who we draft. Maybe we could sign him to a one-year deal nonetheless with the likely uncapped year.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

I have a gut feeling we have seen the last of Mike Bell in a Saints uniform. He did get off to a great start and then really fell off the radar. My gut instinct tells me Hamilton is the guy for that 3rd spot. A lot however may depend on what the Saints do with Bush. I don't think the Saints want to use their draft to rebuild half the backfield. We will see...

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

I saw that! Payton was pissed! After that, no more MB.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

mike bell twisted his knee at one point this season where he sat for a couple of weeks,then returned with less carries while rebuilding his confidence in cutting. then i think in the tampa bay earlier game he tweaked the knee after the game was really a blow out.he missed more time. this is just what i thinked happened no research.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

Im up in the air about Bell now.. i mean not to be ungrateful or anything because he was a TRUE BEAST for us throughout the season but imo it'll have to come down to how much money he want and who we're willing to dump to keep him, after we get rid of grant, and a few other scrubs i'll have a better thought process on it, but for now, my thought on him being resigned is up in the air..
I didn't buy his Jersey because i felt he'd be one and done with us, and now that we have the Rings i don't see us making any strong efforts to keep stragglers.... He's been injury prone all season, he's getting old and his production started to lag toward the grind of the end of the season..
Perhaps if the coaches use him less throughout the regular season and get more out of him toward the end i might feel less reluctant to see him back in the black and gold.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

What happened was he was on Boubon St. wearing the other shoes and someone bet him his shoes that they could tell him where he got 'em...

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

He's actually only 26 years old.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

I'm almost 26. If he's old, I'm f*cked! :(

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

I don't know. He was not performing at the end. Why? Injury? Something else? So I say wait on and see where we are headed.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

Old for a TE...maybe not for a WR

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

If he's willing to take the veterans minimum, then re-sign him. If not, then thanks for teaching helping us during ther regular season and thanks for showing Reggie how to be physical. Hamilton is ready to take over Bell's role on this team... which was already diminishing towards the end of the year.

Re: Free Agency: Free Agent Series: Should the Saints re-sign Mike Bell?
 

Like others have said, I thought Bell was the best thing since sliced bread in the beginning of the season. I wonder if he his decline in performance wasn't linked to his knee injury. If he could play at early season form he would definitely be a keeper.