Well, it’s finally happened.
More than 10 days into the free agency period, one of the 200-plus players who would have been unrestricted free agents in a capped year has signed an offer sheet as a restricted free agent.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Eagles have agreed to terms with running back Mike Bell on a one-year deal worth $1.7 million. The offer includes $500,000 in guaranteed money.
The deal also includes incentives that could push the total value to over $2 million.
Because the Saints tendered Bell at the lowest level, they have only a right to match the offer — and they’ll get no compensation if they don’t.
Either way, Bell will be under contract for one year. The question is whether it will be the Eagles or the Saints.
Now they just need to use him if he stays. It’s doubtful the Saints invest 2 million on a 2nd/3rd string running back.
Philly smells
This will be matched.
poison pill poison pill!
If the Saints were interested in bringing him back, they would have tendered him at a compensation level. I’d bet my life that the Saints don’t match.
Lynell Hamilton will take his place nicely, I bet.
is the Eagles FO getting a soft spot for ex-criminals?
bell? really? didn’t he steal someone’s gym bag a few yrs ago?
maybe i’f confused..
sweet i guess i thought we shoulda got t.j. but i guess mike bell is kinda good….or something
Hope it is enough to keep the Saints at bay.
A big guy that sniffs goal line, fourth and short…….. good move
based on the minimum tender and Sean Payton’s shoe rant, i think he’ll be on the Eagles
Good news: Eagles fans get the big back they’ve been whining about for years.
Bad news: Eagles fans are chronic malcontents and rather than be happy about it, they’ll just complain that we should’ve kept Brian Westbrook.
Sweetness! It’s a one year deal so if it doesnt work out oh well.
A big guy that sniffs goal line, fourth and short…….. good move
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You did watch the Super Bowl, right? You know, where he fell on his a** on 3rd and goal on the 1 because he had the wrong shoes on?
@Mark F
I think that was Tatum Bell, stealing Rudy Johnson’s bags? Mike and Tatum were both in Denver at one point, but I think it was Tatum who stole the bags.
That was Tatum Bell you knucklehead
that was Tatum Bell not Mike Bell that stole Rudi johnson’s gym bag…so yes you are confused
Marc F says:
March 16, 2010 6:01 PM
is the Eagles FO getting a soft spot for ex-criminals?
bell? really? didn’t he steal someone’s gym bag a few yrs ago?
maybe i’f confused..
=================================
You’re confused.
That was Tatum Bell that stole Rudi Johnson’s bags.
@Marc F
That was the douche Tatum Bell, not Mike. The Saints don’t need Mike Bell not one bit. Now that he’s gone, maybe Pierre Thomas & Reggie Bush can both have a 1000 yards rushing a piece because Bell took a chunk of carries away from PT and didn’t do much with ‘em. Mike Bell isn’t effective in the passing game so basically Philly is wasting money.
Can’t tell if thats sarcasm or not Marc F, but I think that was Tatum Bell that stole Rudi Johnsons bag?
@Marc F
That was Tatum Bell I believe.
@mustbechris
Who’s an Eagles fan who was glad to see Westbrook leave with his injury history/enormous 2010 salary AND happy about the potential of Mike Bell?? THIS GUY! Good news.
1 year? Why do we do this to ourselves? Sign him to a front loaded or back loaded 3 -5 year deal…he’s a big back that we desperately need for the short yardage and Vick wont be running the wildcat to pick up 3rd & 1 after this year since no way we resign him. We need a guy like this so weaver can stay healthy…Eagles did the 1 year signings with Jones and Weaver last year and where did that get us? with a hole in safety again and having to sign the now highest paid fullback in the league to a long deal when it should of been done last year for less…Bell is a bruiser…I hope the Saints don’t match, and we’ll end up signing him to a 3 year deal at the end of the year
Marc F, you’re thinking about Tatum Bell of the Broncos and Lions.
# Marc F says: March 16, 2010 6:01 PM
bell? really? didn’t he steal someone’s gym bag a few yrs ago?
maybe i’f confused..
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Don’t think so, wasn’t that Travis Henry?
Someone on here should know the answer. Let’s hear it.
Marc F…you are a total douche!! That was Tatum Bell, get your shit together before you speak and quit bashing Philly just because you feel like you have to!!
eagles also traded for Daryl Tapp from the hawks for clemons and a late rd draft. according to jay glazer.
# Marc F says: March 16, 2010 6:01 PM
is the Eagles FO getting a soft spot for ex-criminals?
bell? really? didn’t he steal someone’s gym bag a few yrs ago?
maybe i’f confused..
__________________________
It wasn’t Mike Bell.
It was Tatum Bell who took Rudi Johnson’s bag when Bell was cut from the Lions.
Tatum Bell stole the gym bag……..not Mike Bell!
@Marc F
Get your facts straight before ripping the Eagles, moron. That was Tatum Bell
Marc F says: March 16, 2010 6:01 PM
is the Eagles FO getting a soft spot for ex-criminals?
bell? really? didn’t he steal someone’s gym bag a few yrs ago?
maybe i’f confused.
_____________________________
TATUM Bell was the one accused of doing it while on (or on the way out, however you see it) of the Lions.
“Hope it is enough to keep the Saints at bay.
A big guy that sniffs goal line, fourth and short…….. good move”
Biggest game of his life and he slips at the goal line because he chose style over substance when it came to something as simple as shoes.
He was pretty ineffective the second half of the season. Good luck with the Eagles.
what the hell Brewster
I was all over answering that question
I hope the Eagles get him. Its a good fit.
I laugh at all of the critics that probably never played a day of football in their life. I went to school with Mike at Arizona and he’s a quality character guy (unlike Tatum Bell). If he’s an average running back at best he’s still better than the bottom 50% of running backs in the league. They got him for cheap only $500k is guaranteed.
Can someone tell me whether it was Tatum Bell or Mike Bell that stole the bags please. Because only 200 douche bags have responded Marc F it was Tatum Bell. Really there are some serious idiots on this site!!!
Way to go on comments guys… lmao Story was about Mike Bell and that turd that stole Johnsons bag gets mentioned more than Mike or the Eagles…. Doh!!!
Hey, I don’t think anyone said it yet. That was Tatum Bell, dufus!
“A big guy that sniffs goal line, fourth and short”
That’s a passing down for Andy Reid.
Philly’s getting desperate
what is the point of signing RBs if your idiothead coach refuses to RUN THE BALL? the eagles need to sign a player who will make a difference in the scheme, like Brandon Marshall. I kno the eagles got 3 WR locked up but u need more proven pass catchers if you’re throwing 50times/game
The interesting thing is that the Saints sort of treated Thomas, Bush, and Bell as if they were more or less on the same level.
Thomas was responsible for about 1100 yards of total offense while both Bush and Bell were responsible for about 700 yards of total offense each. Losing Bell would be more significant for the Saints than people realize. As a Saints fan, I will be very sad to see him go.
markusj You are a winner!!!! In the 2011 season we will be paying this guy big bucks cause he was effective as a short yardage back!!! Just like Weaver if we would have given him a multi year deal we’d be saving money!!!
“.VoxVeritas says: March 16, 2010 7:46 PM
“A big guy that sniffs goal line, fourth and short”
That’s a passing down for Andy Reid.”
I actually laughed…that was legit funny. Never thought I’d say that to you.
haha Philly needing Marshall
tard
sdffa11 says “what is the point of signing RBs if your idiothead coach refuses to RUN THE BALL? the eagles need to sign a player who will make a difference in the scheme, like Brandon Marshall. I kno the eagles got 3 WR locked up but u need more proven pass catchers if you’re throwing 50times/game”
Please don’t rant w/o facts. they only averaged 34 passes a game, and ran 24 times a game. With a busted up Westbrook, a rookie, and a new full back, I expect much greater balance next year. McCoy won’t hit the wall, Weaver will get more carries and Bell will as well.
Marshall would be expensive, cost a first rounder and is not needed on this team, especially when there are defensive needs.
markusj and Big Smitty
What you guys are failing to see is that these players only want to sign one-year deals, as they are only a year away from UNRESTRICTED free agency. They understand that the contract they are signing isn’t as large as the one they will sign next year . . . they are gambling a little on getting through the next year healthy . . . but if they do and they perform well in a situation that fits them well (e.g. Weaver) then they will be in line for a much bigger UFA contract next season. Look at the situation Mike Bell is going into, the only really RB the Eagles have is LeSean McCoy . . . and the Eagle have a history of leaning a little on one RB but using two to prevent wearing down a single RB . . . so Bell will get 8-12 carries a game + perform as the short yardage/TD specialist (and of course will be an injury away from being the starter) = that should set him up nicely for UFA (just like Weaver).
I think this is a quality low risk/high reward signing . . . I would bet the Saints won’t match the offer . . . and Bell is a nice player who will complement McCoy really well.
I like this move. We don’t need a pass catching back (McCoy and Weaver can already do that), we need a bruiser. I saw him play a few times last year, and this guy runs with a purpose, and that purpose is to run people over. Good move Birds.
Now we just have to run the ball a bit more. I’m not stupid, I realize Andy will never have a balanced offense, but we have to make a conscious effort to run or McNabb will continue to be on his back.
Let’s go Birds! We got this next year.