Le'Veon Bell wishes he had a time machine to change 2018

Le'Veon Bell's career did not pan out in the way he envisioned. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Former Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell wishes he had time machine to change 2018

By Adam Stites | Last updated 7/14/22

Le'Veon Bell made the Pro Bowl three times in his first five NFL seasons, racking up 5,336 rushing yards and 2,660 receiving yards to begin his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But then he tried to leverage that production into a massive extension and sat out the entire 2018 season due to his contract dispute with the Steelers.

Four years later, Bell wishes that year was handled a different way.

Former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, in a kinda-sorta retirement from football post, writes on Instagram that he wishes he had a time machine to go back to the 2018 season. That’s the year he sat out instead of playing on the franchise tag in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/WX0CisG9KB
— Brian Batko (@BrianBatko) July 14, 2022

"Obviously, I (we, whoever) wish thing would've played out differently in 2018, like if I legit had a time machine to go back to 2018, that would be soo litttt (sic)," Bell wrote on Instagram in a post seemingly signaling his retirement from football.

Bell played the 2017 season with the Steelers under the franchise tag, but refused to do so again in 2018 when it was due to pay him $14.5 million. After sitting out the entire year, Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million with the New York Jets in free agency in 2019. Bell recorded 789 rushing yards, 461 receiving yards and four touchdowns in his first season with the team and was released during his second.

The running back rounded out his NFL career with brief stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's now set to pursue professional boxing, beginning with a bout against Adrian Peterson later this month.

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