Steelers RBs Angry At Licht, NFL.com
March 26th, 2016
Le’Veon Bell not happy with Bucs GM Jason Licht.
Last week at the owners meetings in pedestrian Boca Raton, NFL.com’s Marc Sessler spoke with Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht, who believes Tampa Bay has the best one-two punch of running backs in the NFL, Doug Martin and Charles Sims.
And as Sessler pointed out, stats don’t lie. The Martin/Sims duo combined for a league-best 2,763 yards last year.
Well, Licht’s words and Sessler’s facts didn’t go over so well in the Steel City. Steelers running backs Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams took to Twitter to mock Licht and smack down Sessler for having the nerve to speak truth.
Well, Joe understands the angst from Bell and Williams. The fact is Bell was hurt last year. On paper, those two could be dominant but weren’t because Bell couldn’t answer the bell due to a knee injury.
Yeah, that stinks for Bell. But you can’t boast you and your teammate are the best when you can’t get on the field. That’s not a knock on Bell from Joe, just the cold hard truth.
March 26th, 2016 at 8:20 am
This year will prove Licht right. We all know its the best combo, now we just need to win a few games and everyone else will know too.
March 26th, 2016 at 8:20 am
I like Bell but can he can eat a fat d@$!. These super sensitive new era athletes all bent out of shape when someone else get some notoriety.
March 26th, 2016 at 8:21 am
Best ability is AVAILability.
March 26th, 2016 at 8:22 am
The Bell/Williams combo is better than our combo just ask yourself who would you rather have. Licht needs to worry about this combo scoring rushing TD’s instead of who has the best combo. If it had not been for our QB the rushing TD’s would be terrible. That’s like saying I rather have the GM from Pittsburg because they won more games. Stick to building this roster and getting us to the playoffs.
March 26th, 2016 at 8:37 am
Are u a bucs fan or a steelers fan crusty crab? I’ll take the second leading rusher and Sims with the deepest O-line in the league over old ass Williams and injury prone Bell any day.
Cant lead the league in rushing from the tub.
Check the stats. Most yards I’m the league by any combo and we will do it again with a even better run blocking line this year. Wait and see.
March 26th, 2016 at 8:38 am
Is Bell/williams really a 1-2 punch? If bell didn’t get hurt would the really bring williams in for a change of pace or on 3rd downs? I don’t think so. Martin ans Simms are better!
March 26th, 2016 at 8:44 am
Licht was asked about his RB combo and how he feels about the two And he gave them a simple awnser. What was he suppose to say when u have the most yards by a RB duo? He stated what was obvious. Nothing wrong with that. That’s what GMS are suppose to say about their players. There not gonna degrade them. Cmon now crusty.
March 26th, 2016 at 8:50 am
So sick of Williams…you’re way past your prime pal, almost irrelevant in the football world…attention whores look for attention when nobody is talking about him…he one of those guys. Just trying to stay in the news.
March 26th, 2016 at 9:11 am
What did they expect Licht to say…Our running backs are the best for the exception of the Steelers backs?
March 26th, 2016 at 9:18 am
The Truth will set you free! Cry baby cry!
March 26th, 2016 at 9:20 am
@bucs4life86
I’m a Bucs fan all day everyday but I also keep sh! 100. Our 2 running backs had a combined total of 6 rushing TD’s so don’t give me this crap. I wont settle for that if DOUG would have scored on some of his TD runs and not have to settle for a field goal I might go with our 2 but points on the board is what matters.
March 26th, 2016 at 9:22 am
Neither of the Steeler backs has the hands of Simms, and are not really a 1 – 2 combination. They are both basically downhill power runners, easy enough to game plan for. Licht was right, we do have the best running back combo in the entire NFL.
March 26th, 2016 at 9:42 am
crab you sound salty fella.
March 26th, 2016 at 9:54 am
So we can say that Martin/Sims were the best duo in the league the year before when we had injuries.
March 26th, 2016 at 9:57 am
Man crab, you make it sound like they are terrible because the y didn’t score 10+ each. Are they the problem with the team? If the answer is no (which it is) then why complain about it? Maybe instead of bashing 2 solid backs, talk about the d line who got little pressure or the secondary who allowed 70% of the passes to be completed? Your sh can be at 100, just point it in the right direction.
March 26th, 2016 at 10:08 am
I’m not sold on Sims. An okay compliment back but can’t be a full time starter which is why we re-signed Martin. Seems to be effective only after Martin has softened up the defense for three quarters. Bell/Williams combo is nasty. I would love to see us compliment Martin with a grimy tough back like Williams.
March 26th, 2016 at 10:14 am
Sims led the league in yards per touch. Martin came in second in total yards. That qualifies in my book. Along with Jameis we should see a new franchise record for offense this year. I don’t see that happening for the Steelers.
March 26th, 2016 at 10:23 am
I’m gonna step over all this manure on the ground, what he should have said was ” I think we have one of the better running back tandems in the league!” And I would approve that statement, the very best I don’t think so!
March 26th, 2016 at 10:25 am
I tell you…it is starting to get a Patriot-feeling to this stuff. Fans and players hate on the Pats all the time because they are the best.
We’re not there yet, but I believe people are seeing it on our horizon. Bucs will be a dominant team for a decade once things are in place.
March 26th, 2016 at 10:28 am
@CrustyCrab
The touchdowns will come…assuming Martin doesn’t get lazy now that he got his money.
March 26th, 2016 at 10:44 am
Exactly what Bonzai just said. Ang Bighog I love how he said it,with conviction. Way too much PC these days. All this express what you really feel then have to come back and make another statement apologizing for merely speaking your mind is sickening to me. Licht saying these my guys and I’m ridin wit’em,to hell wit anyone else. I love that chit.Bonzai they see us coming,someone stated the other day in ATL they calling JW black Brady. We are about to be Patriots south. “Just Wait On It”.
March 26th, 2016 at 10:59 am
I see crustycrab is on his fantasy football soapbox again. Just ignore him. He does not understand the difference between real football and fantacy football.
March 26th, 2016 at 11:06 am
That’s great and all they think they’re the best. I’ve got no problem with that. However, saying it’s “comedy” is a bit disrespectful in my opinion, as if saying Martin and Sims have no argument. They absolutely have an argument – not only were they healthy, they have better stats, plus they aren’t on a team with the offensive firepower that Pittsburgh has. I’ve got no problem with them disagreeing, but this is a bit over the top in my opinion.
March 26th, 2016 at 11:26 am
What a bunch of sensitive babies!
Aren’t these grown men? Aren’t they making millions of dollars a year? The fact is you were hurt bro, therefore you were NOT the best. I sweat these grown ‘men’ are more petulant than children.
And btw, Bell / Williams isn’t really a 1-2 punch since Williams only played cuz Bell was hurt. Maybe they need to do some reading comprehension.
March 26th, 2016 at 11:27 am
*I swear
March 26th, 2016 at 12:19 pm
What gets me is head to head, Bell is 0-1 against the Bucs, yet he is going to talk spit on twitter? Its a b!tch move on his part.
March 26th, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Steelers have had really good offensive lines, too. Even their third (Toussant) and fourth string running backs stepped in and did yeomen’s work.
March 26th, 2016 at 2:05 pm
Whatever… blah blah blah. Irrelevant. Offseason social media nonsense.
March 26th, 2016 at 2:44 pm
@TinyTim
I don’t play fantasy just because I speak what I believe we had a player who was a few yards away from being the #1 rusher in the league and his rookie QB who people say was suppose be non athletic had the same amount of TD’s and the Bucs fan should be okay.
March 26th, 2016 at 3:07 pm
Crusty same QB who alot of folks were down on because of his 40x. Me personally I’m unconcerned with who scores and how many they score as long as we do score and win games.
March 26th, 2016 at 3:43 pm
Reminds me of “paper champions” and we all remember how that turned out.
March 26th, 2016 at 3:44 pm
Enjoyed the ‘On Paper’ comment in the article, all 2002 Flowers comment.
March 26th, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Yeahhhjjj baby bucs are back!!!!!
March 26th, 2016 at 4:59 pm
They arent even a duo. Lol. If bell is healthy, then Williams NEVER sees the field. Bell is awesome and Williams is a good back up. But if bell doeant get hurt, then williams never gets on the field.
March 26th, 2016 at 9:39 pm
Screw them. If take Martin over either all day.
The Bucs duo had almost 1000 more yards from scrimmage.
Let them try to prove it this year.
End of discussion.
March 27th, 2016 at 5:26 am
Its about time we pissed another team off who are actually upset because they know our RB combination was better than theirs last year. Our best weapons this year are going to be Martin/Sims. Wait until our OL starts to gel and the latest road grater, yes, we already have four graters, starts a graten. I can’t wait to see JR Sweezy in action. Now we even have some competition with the folk over in the steel city. Watch your back Big Ben, it won’t be long before Mr Licht proclaims we have the best QB in the NFL. Think Bens shakin?
March 27th, 2016 at 10:52 am
Ok lets talk stats than! in his 3 years Bell has only had 1 season where he played in all 16 games, Doug Martin in 4 years has completed 2! We’ll use these to see just how they compare.
Season 2014 (Bell completes an entire season)
290 attempts, 1361 Yards, 4.7 avg, with 8 TD’s (this was his BEST year)
Season 2012 (1st completed season by Martin)
319 attempts, 1456 yards, 4.6 avg, 11 TD’s
Season 2015 (2nd full season)
288 attempts, 1402 yards, 4.9 avg, 6 TD’s
Now both men have had trouble staying on the field respectively, but when they have had a chance to play an entire season it’s clear to see that Bell is actually second best to Doug Martin in almost every important category and this is NOT including the respective supporting casts/offenses.
Bottom Line just because he is on a losing team Martin doesn’t get the respect he deserves! When he has a chance to play he is one of the very best in the league doing it. Licht has EVERY RIGHT to make the claim we may have one of the best RB tandems in the league.
March 27th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
Leave One Bell is an idiot. Get your panties in a bunch because someone is proven to be better. Martin and Sims will be better this year. Bell and Williams? Meh…
March 27th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
Lets keep it real here guys. You can speculate combo’s and scenario’s all you like. The only thingmatters is the final score. Winning..by any means necessary. I don’t care if we have to bring in Elsie the milk cow with horns. Just Win. Lombardi said it best, Winning is all that matters.