With Brian Westbrook gone and a lingering need at the position, the Philadelphia Eagles plan to take a good look at restricted free agent running back Mike Bell.
Adam Caplan of Scout.com reports that Bell will be visiting the Eagles on Tuesday.
Bell has been tendered at the lowest level, which gives the Saints only a right to match any offer Bell accepts elsewhere, with no compensation if they choose not to do so.
The Eagles brought in Justin Fargas last week, but reportedly won’t be signing him.
Toby Gerhart.
This can’t hurt in any way. As far as Westbrook goes he should have been given a chance to restructure his final year in Philly. I’ve heard people say he’d lost a step, but how could anyone say that when he played on a bum ankle all year.
A perfect fit. Can catch passes, runs hard between the tackles…..perfect for our offense. Just don’t overpay for the man and hope the Saints don’t match the offer.
Bell was solid early in the season, but wore down the stretch and was basically a non factor in the playoffs. Id like to see the champs bring back their offense intact, but if we can afford to lose anybody on that side of the ball, it’s bell. Lynell is waiting in the wings.
As an eagles fan that lives in New Orleans I would be very happy with the addition of Mike Bell to our offense. He’ll be a nice addition to the backfield and can definitely help in the short yardage situations… that is if he puts his cleats on.
Make it happen Eagles and we’ll have as many solid RB’s as we do QB’s… now only if we could work on the O-line and D-line.
Perhaps that ravens tackle could be had…
Can anyone tell me why nobody wants Fargas?
The guy is 29-30, but only has 2 seasons with more than 200 carries, and looked decent behind one of the worst Olines (and offenses as a whole) the past few years.
I’m suprised nobody has taken him even in the backup roll.
Mike Bell would be absolutely perfect right now. The Eagles get a solid young backup RB and can worry about more important things in the draft. Make this happen!
Mike Bell is a one-dimensional back. He isn’t a factor in the passing game whatsoever, I just wished the Saints would’ve tendered him at draft pick compensation because we won’t get nothing in return if Philly signs him.
Bell would be a solid addition in that, the Eagles get a bigger complement to Lesean. As for the Saints, Lynell’s probably more physically gifted while capable of filling a similar role.
What? No Vikings fans in here crying that Mike Bell is a dirty player and that their team should have been in the Super Bowl?
Mike Bell was at the top of my wishlist for running backs in FA….I wanted Larry Johnson but Bell is a little more of a guarenteed thing and Larry has a higher ceiling
Perfect fit for what the Eagles need, not what the Eagles did with Westbrook because he is not a complete back like that, but he gives us the in between the tackle running that has been lacking from our repitoire.
Dallas showed us in the playoffs what a physical style of play on offense and defense can do to a team, now its time to replicate it in Philly. We have the O-line already in place for such a style despite what people say, especially if Stacy Andrews comes back to form.
@Eagles4life
We don’t need tackles, we need a RG and a C unless Shawn/Stacy andrews has some major turnaround and Jamaal Jackson can recover quickly.
I just hope they sign a solid backup RB so the front office can address the major holes on defense in the draft. I like Fargas, don’t see why the Eagles don’t want him. I mean they went as far as to bring him for a visit, and I doubt he asked for an unreasonable salary. Plus his age really isn’t a big factor because he never was a feature back and barely ever got carries earlier in his career.
The Eagles are going to be loaded at tailback. And with McTart throwing grounders they should really make a playoff run.
Mike Bell is an above-average back when focused. That’s why he did so well at the beginning of the year in New Orleans. He wanted to prove he belonged. After that though, he got lazy. It culminated in a decision not to wear cleats in the Super Bowl, which resulted in a play where he fell down at the goal line.
My guess is that Bell won’t be a Saint next year regardless of whether the Eagles sign him. If you lose Payton’s trust, you’re gone.
Hey Eagles4Life, I live in NOLA too. We need to get a fan group going down here.
We need a real RB…not a Westbrook/Mc Coy/Weaver that can carry 15-20 times a game to balance the offense.
I like this. Get a deal done Eagles!
Mike Bell can play. I think he’d be a nice pick up for the Birds, at least it wouldn’t hurt.
Bell is a hard runner who is gifted at plowing over people AND making people miss. He isn’t a factor in the passing game. The Saints would love to have him back but they already have a crowded backfield with Hamilton, Bush, and Thomas.
@ cizzie4shizzie: I lol’d at McTart!
WOW, I can’t believe howmany so called Eagles fans are so down on the greatest QB in Eagles history. GREATEST QB IN EAGLES HISTORY.
How many teams can say that right now? Only 2 others and one of those is suspect. Not the Vikings, their greatest QB played in the 70′s you know who. Not the Cowboys that distinction belongs to either Aikman or Rodger (depending on who you talk to). What about the Saints? Let NFL history tell it Archie is still the man in N.O. Besides Peyton and Brady only the Eagles have the teams greatest QB ever currently playing for that team. Hell The Eagles even have the Falcons greatest QB ever.
The Eagles let Thomas Jones pass by. They let Justin Fargas pass by. This guy’s just not good enough to be the second guy in a tandem with an unproven commodity like McCoy.
Eagleslover1:
Dude, Brees just won the SB!! Not only is he the greatest quarterback in Saints history, he’s arguably the franchise’s greatest player. No Saint has ever had the impact he’s had. Archie was many games under .500 and never had a winning season. As for the Colts, I have all the respect in the world for Peyton (N.O native), but a case can be made for Johnny U. And the eagles? Norm Van Brocklin is a HOFer (though spent the majority of his career in LA) and the last qb to lead philly to a title. But that’s up for you guys to debate.
NE and NO are enjoying the golden era of their franchise QB’s
Kudos to Mike, I’m glad to see him get another shot. Coach Payton is a prick!!!!