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Football Footnotes: Le'Veon Bell looks familiar; Browns popularity; Larry Fitzgerald's highlight | TribLIVE.com
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Football Footnotes: Le'Veon Bell looks familiar; Browns popularity; Larry Fitzgerald's highlight

Tim Benz
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AP
New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell participates during practice at the team’s training camp in Florham Park, N.J., Thursday, July 25, 2019.
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AP
Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald runs drills during the teams’ training camp, Thursday, July 25, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz.

In this edition of Friday Football Footnotes, a first look at Le’Veon Bell in Jets green. Larry Fitzgerald keeps drinking from the fountain of youth. And the Browns keep making you take notice.


Browns business is boomin’

Not that Brown.

The Cleveland Browns.

It sure seems like NFL fans are buying into the Browns. Not just in terms of their potential on-field results. But also their merchandise.

Two of the top five jersey sales in the NFL between March 1 and May 31 belonged to Cleveland Browns Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr.

Those numbers raise another question. Who doesn’t have a Tom Brady jersey by now?

I mean, of those inclined to buy a Tom Brady jersey, that is. Who doesn’t own it already?

And they are still flying off the shelves? When does the reign of terror end?

Oh, by the way, Antonio Brown’s Silver-and-Black No. 84 was only eighth. Which, I’m sure, on some level makes him insanely mad.

And, for that, I’m happy.


And this is why

Want a reason for the optimism about Mayfield and Beckham?

Here you go.

Not sure that’s going to result in a Super Bowl or anything.

But talent like that makes me think there’s more to the Browns hype than, well … hype.


Learning ‘bout Larry

It looks like Kyler Murray is learning an important lesson early in his first training camp.

Throw the ball to Larry Fitzgerald as often as possible.

The No. 1 overall pick in Arizona got a charge into the fans by hooking up with the former Pitt star on this pass Thursday.

That’s why Fitzgerald is en route to the Hall of Fame. And that’s why he might help Murray get there someday.

By the way, did you see Tramaine Brock trying to get the incomplete call there? Yeah, I don’t think he’s getting benefit-of-the-doubt points on that one.


For whom the Bell tolls

Were you wondering what Le’Veon Bell was going to look like in a Jets uniform?

The answer is: familiar.

Yup. Steelers fans have seen those moves before. The double-hop step through the hole. The spin. The hesitation stutter in the open field.

Sure. It’ll be different when people are actually trying to tackle him. But for as much shade as I have thrown at Bell for his off-field behavior, I never said he slipped as a player.

He’ll be good for the Jets. Whether any of us like it or not.


Baltimore’s Boykin

When the Steelers took wide receiver Diontae Johnson in the third round of the 2019 draft, Notre Dame’s Miles Boykin was the pass-catcher I was hoping they’d select.

He went 28 picks later to the Ravens. So now the Steelers will have to see his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame twice a year. And it appears his first camp is off to a good start in Maryland.

At least that’s the spin from Ravens.com.

“Boykin finished a strong day with two outstanding catches near the end of practice. Moving well and running routes decisively, the third-round pick looks fully recovered from a hamstring issue that restricted him during mandatory minicamp.”

The website is also touting the receiver’s blocking ability in the run game.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.

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