Le’Veon Bell says he’s still playing best football, ‘over it and past’ Steelers tenure

Chris Adamski
Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 3:47 p.m. | Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 3:47 p.m.

New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell speaks to reporters at the team’s training facility in June. Bell spoke to reporters Thursday in advance of his first meeting against his former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On a day when the message out of the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room for Le’Veon Bell was one of love, the Jets running back likewise had nothing bad to say about his former teammates. He did respond to critics of his production this season.

Bell’s weekly availability with the New York media was Thursday afternoon According to Steelers.com, the former All-Pro running back said he has no regrets and is “over it and past it” in terms of how things went down in Pittsburgh.

Le'Veon Bell spoke to the NY media today. He said he has no regrets and is "over it and past it" in terms of how things went down in Pittsburgh.

— Missi Matthews (@missi_matthews) December 19, 2019

Bell became a free agent in the spring and signed with the Jets, who are 5-9.

As for what sort of reception Bell expects from his former teammates, according to the Associated Press, he said, “I don’t know, honestly. I think it’ll probably be 50-50. I think it’ll be half that are happy to see me and still love me, and half that hate me, despise me. It is what it is. I’m going to show love, regardless.”

If MetLife Stadium is filled with Steeler fans on Sunday, as everybody expects, how does Le’Veon Bell expect to be received?by his former fans? “Fifty-fifty,” he said. “Half will be happy to see me and still love me, and half will hate me, despise me.” #Jets #Steelers pic.twitter.com/nYfYTtAdER

— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) December 19, 2019

Bell said he’s the same player he was in 2016, when he had 1,886 yards from scrimmage in only 12 games or in 2014 when he had 2,215 yards from scrimmage in 16 games.

“People look at stats and go off the stats, which is OK. It’s not their fault,” Bell said, according to video posted by Elite Sports New York.

“I think people who understand football and break down the film and watch it know what exactly what’s going on … and how I have been performing. Stats don’t really show how well I have been playing. Regardless of the stats, I don’t really care what people think. I know I’ve been playing very good football. I am continuing to get better, getting smarter, learning a lot more as I continue to play. And I’m still healthy. I feel good (for) Week 16.”

Kevin Gorman: Steelers should show love for Le'Veon Bell with group hug https://t.co/KWDoCkmy24

— Kevin Gorman (@KGorman_Trib) December 19, 2019

Also according to Matthews, Bell also told reporters in New York that “he knows the stadium will be packed with Steelers fans on Sunday.”

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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.