After missing some practice time last week with a bum hamstring, Mike Bell was a full participant to start Sunday morning’s workout. That didn’t last long though, as he soon left with a calf strain.
“I’ll be fine, man I’m one of those people that’s going to come back stronger,” Bell said, per Philly.com‘s “Eagletarian” blog. “It could have been an Achilles’, it could have been an ACL, but it’s just a calf. That’s always a blessing.”
Good to see he puts it in proper perspective, but I do worry about him getting dinged up. He was dealing with a knee issue last year, and now he’s had the hamstring and the calf tweaks with the Eagles. Could be no big deal, maybe he’s healthy all season, but it’s something to keep an eye on.
But, in the “Eagletarian” post, I saw this little paragraph that caught my eye:
If he has to miss more time that will do little to stem Bell’s worries about where he stands among the Eagles’ running backs. Bell and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg had an animated conversation last week after a practice session, with Bell reportedly expressing his concern about his spot, given the injuries. The Eagles also have had positive practice sessions from Eldra Buckley.
The part about the animated conversation with Marty Mornhinweg is the part I’m talking about. Not sure how much you’ve followed Mike Bell’s career, but he has had issues with copping an attitude if he’s not getting what he wants. He admits that he made problems in Denver when Mike Shanahan asked him to play fullback.
“I had an attitude where I didn’t care,” Bell said in a 2009 interview. “If the meeting was at 8 o’clock, I would show up at the facility at 7:55, rushing to get in there. I would be the last person to get on the bus. My non-verbals were like, ‘He doesn’t care.'”
After Denver cut him, he went to the Houston Texans in 2008.
“I was so angry,” Bell said. “After I got cut by Denver, I was angry. Then I got to the Texans, and I was still angry. I could not get over the fact that I got cut in Denver. It didn’t make any sense to me. So part of me couldn’t even focus.”
The Texans cut him after a week.
Bell said in that interview that he got that all out of his system and he refocused himself and decided that he’d change when/if he ever got another shot in the NFL (which he did, obviously with the New Orleans Saints). So, this all might not be a big deal (and I admit I didn’t see the “animated conversation”), but maybe since his success with the Saints, that sense of entitlement has returned.
The way the younger backs are perfoming in camp and 1st Preseason so far, he better come in be ready to participate and have the right attitude, if not he will be a goner… back-up RB’s are a dime a dozen. He needs to show a sense of urgency or he won’t make it…
if we want a banged up back maybe we re-sign westbrook to be the #2 guy
How about signing Westbrook to be the number 1 guy?
He knows the offense better than anyone on the team and can be a leader for the young guns.
Bring in Westbrook Now…..These guys couldn’t run on the garbage Jags…..Imagine when Dallas or a stout Redskins front come to town…Westbrook Now!
Can’t make the club if you’re in the tub.
Do you honestly hate Brian Westbrook so much that you want to see him lying flat out of the grass of Lincoln Financial Field? The man has had repeated concussions, they are cumulative, every one you get brings the next one on with a lesser and lesser hit. I cannot imagine why anybody who admires a man/player would want to see his brain damaged any further than it already has been hurt. I do not know why you want to see him suffer so badly, but I would not wish incurable brain damage on anybody.
I would ask this question. How much value does bell offer over some of the younger guys? I would honestly rather keep younger less expensive guys with a hunger to play. I think McCoy proved last year that he can get it done. As long as he stays healthy a backup will offer more value in special teams production.
This is a big week for the following players if they want to make the Roster in 2010
RB M Bell, CB M Harris, WR H Baskett, CB G Pope, DE/OLB M Fokou, OT K Dunlap & OG F Tupou
Injuries aside, it’s time for these players who have been around for a year or longer to step it up and
make plays for there are other players at their positions making more plays more often…
For Rookies, RB C Scott, DE R Sapp, MLB J Cheney need to shine this week in practice and hopefully will get more opportunities to get more playing time in the week’s game
no oNe is suggesting they want Bwest flat on the field with brain damage. The doctors have cleared him to play and there’s 2 standing offers from teams who would love to have his services…. the Rams, and the Skins. If he have some left in the tank would you rather it be with them? Don’t buy the company line like you did with the BDawk spin to get him out of here with litTle fanfare. We were told the best thing for him with that neck injury was to retire and the simple eagles fans lapped it up. Ellis Hobbs gets the same injury and they tell us he’ll be fine. The difference is Hobbs do not command top corner money, but Dawk did for his position, and they were not willing to pay him that at his age and that’s what’s happened with Bwest. We talk about his injuries yet replace him with a cheaper version and have Bell who has yet to prove he’ll make it to the field…why? INJURIES…That’s the hypocrisy of this organization. If Bwest is cleared by doctors he should get a contract to help this team..PERIOD.
Complete bunk as usual from Songs,
B-west had a very good contract in his last couple of years and was overpaid for what he contributed on the field, In fact, I didn’t see him offering to give any of it back when he missed 1/2 the games last season and hasn’t been able to practice full time for the last 3 seasons due to ankle injuries, knees swelling and this is before the concussions, Westbrook is done and has been for about 2 seasons due to injuries, let it rest and let him enjoy his retirement, he does not belong on the football field for health reasons and has nothing to prove…
M Bell or any other RB having hamstring/calf muscle’s pulled is not the same as Westbrook’s chronic knee,ankle and no ehead injuries…. C’Mon Man…
BWest Is over with, He has hit the RB wall and its done. The guy will play 2 years or maybe 3 if lucky as a shadow of the guy who played his ass off for us. Some people need to realize when a player’s time is up, its up. You can’t be keepin old/injured players around all the time because thats how you end up like the rams. Dawk was the only one to gripe about and the reason you can gripe is cuz they didn’t replace him with anything.
In the case of mike bell, He should realize he had to fight to stay in the league up until now, suck it up and be a man. For the eagles, If this guy can’t get on the field then cross him off. I thought Buckley and Mallett looked good in the first preseason game.