Le’Veon Bell says he smoked marijuana before games, and would still put large numbers on the field

Photo of author

By Webdesk



Le’Veon Bell was once the most dynamic running back in the NFL. Prior to his highly publicized sortie with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bell was an outstanding all-purpose defenseman who racked up yards each week. Bell also admitted to smoking marijuana before games.

The former NFL running back opened up on the topic during the “Steel Here” podcast, saying he still gave numbers no matter how much marijuana he took.

“Looking back, that’s what I did,” Bell said. “When I was playing football I smoked. Even before the games I smoked and went out and ran for 150, two (touchdowns).”

Bell had a dominant run with the Steelers from 2013 to 2017, amassing 5,336 rushing yards, 2,660 receiving yards, and averaging 5.2 yards per touch. He earned two All-Pro selections and had three 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Bell sat out the 2018 season due to a contract dispute and signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the New York Jets in 2019.

Bell’s time in New York was a disaster. In his season and a half with the Jets, he recorded just 863 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns while averaging 3.27 yards per carry—all last in the league of 16 running backs to record more than 240 carries since Bell started with the Jets in 2019 until his release from the team in October 2020.

Bell has since had brief stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has not played professional football since the 2021 season, but says he has not retired from the league. Bell has not had a run of more than 20 yards since Christmas Day in 2017.

Although Bell had a major falling out with the Steelers, he wishes he had handled the situation differently.

“It was literally the guarantee. They didn’t flinch at it and I didn’t flinch at it. I didn’t want to leave Pittsburgh,” said Bell. “At the end of the day, that’s where I was. That’s where I got called up. Especially after going to different teams and seeing what it’s like, if a team has their man, you’re their man. I was the man of Pittsburgh.”

When Bell retires, he wants to be with Pittsburgh. He hopes the Steelers give him another chance to prove he can still play first.

“I’m trying to retire at Pittsburgh,” said Bell. “But before I do, I could say, ‘Hey, let me get some pre-season tote bags so I can show you all something.’

“I wouldn’t do that anywhere else. Because I don’t even think about playing, it would literally only be in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is where I retire.”





Source link

Share via
Copy link