Le’Veon Bell Vows to be Less “Ignorant” in 2016

Steelers all-purpose running back Le’Veon Bell has a lot that he needs to whip back into shape before the 2016 season. His elusiveness, vision and understanding of the offense could all use a tune-up after missing the second half of last season. But Bell says he also needs to smarten up about how opposing teams will treat him and his injured body as he tries to regain his All-Pro form.

After Tuesday’s first OTA with the Steelers, Bell spoke about his recovery and how he plans to protect himself. “I feel there are a lot of teams that try to…take me out of the game,” he said, referencing an awkward takedown he succumbed to against Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict last year.

“I don’t think it was just [Burfict]. It felt like the whole team was out there trying to twist my ankles and do little dirty stuff in between piles…I was ignorant to that fact at first.”

In fairness to Burfict – who has certainly been involved in his fair share of dirty plays in the last couple of seasons – his tackle on Bell looked less intentional and more unfortunate, as his body collapsed on the back of Bell’s leg as his momentum continued to carry him forward.

In referring to the whole Bengals team, Bell may have greater beef with Reggie Nelson (now a Raider) who appeared to go deliberately low on Bell in the final week of the 2014 regular season. The hit bent Bell’s knee backwards and forced him to miss Pittsburgh’s wild card loss to Baltimore the following week.

Bell’s comments should add fuel to an already explosive fire as the Steelers and Bengals get set to continue the NFL’s biggest rivalry. The teams will first meet at Heinz Field in week 2, where public enemy #1, Burfict, will be naught but an observer as he serves a three-game suspension for concussing Antonio Brown in the 2015 wild card.

Burfict’s recklessness caused a scuffle at midfield in which Adam Jones made contact with an official. The hotheaded pair gifted the Steelers a free 30 yards in penalties, making the game-winning field goal a gimme and extending Cincinnati’s embarrassing playoff win drought.