Report: The Bell Has Tolled
September 2nd, 2016
Bell has clanged.
It seems the final Bell has rung.
Bucs receiver Kenny Bell, who may have been the most heralded invisible Bucs receiver in recent memory, is no longer, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
Bell, played his college ball at Nebraska, where Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht played offensive line for legendary Tom Osborne. Licht’s father is a decades-long Cornhuskers season ticket holder, who famously lobbied his son to draft Bell.
An underwear football warrior, Bell vanished when the pads came on. Through five preseason games, Bell had caught two passes. But he ran routes.
Bell, a super nice guy and an intelligent guy, just never showed he was an NFL player with pads on. His lone kick return was a debacle, a fumble to open this summer’s first preseason game at Philadelphia.
Bell, like Tiquan Underwood, will forever be remembered for his stylish hair more than anything he did on the field for the Bucs.
At least Underwood made contributed in the regular season.
Bell is the latest example of why you should be very wary of underwear football stars. Previous underwear football MVPs for the Bucs in recent years have been Solomon Patton and Tommy Streeter. Patton, a kick returner, couldn’t hold his job on the worst team in the NFL. Streeter, like Bell, never made it to the regular season.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:11 pm
This team needs another wide receiver, ASAP.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:15 pm
still wouldn’t be surprised to see him and vitale on the practice squad
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:16 pm
we have seen enough of bell no need to waste a practice squad spot on him. he will never be anything special.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Bell got dinged the last preseason game. I’d imagine he lands on our practice squad.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:24 pm
I like how you got a different bell related pun in the title, picture caption and the first line of the article.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:25 pm
That what you get for spending your offseason on Xbox and in Nebraska when you should have be knee deep in the playbook and buried up JWs butt.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:29 pm
@tmax- I agree. What’s the point?! It’s time to move on.
Good luck Kenny!
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:33 pm
DB55 Says:
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:25 pm
That what you get for spending your offseason on Xbox and in Nebraska when you should have be knee deep in the playbook and buried up JWs butt.
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*drops mic*
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:37 pm
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:38 pm
I don’t think you stash him on the practice squad. They do need to bolster WR depth but I think it’s going to come from signing players that get cut from other teams. Hope the get a WR who can contribute on special teams too.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:39 pm
Bucsfanman
it’s nothing personal. wish nothing but the best for mr bell but he can’t play… NEXT… I’ll gladly buy insurance from bell or muprhy when they get up and running.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:43 pm
Didn’t think of that. You are right. Evans worked out with Jameis this offseason. Bell couldn’t afford an apartment in Tampa? Very good point!
(To be fair, believe Bell lives in Colorado.)
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:46 pm
WR corp looks good to me. And for those of you that can’t understand why many of us hang from Famous’s jock strap take a look at Jarrod Goff’s stat line from last night. Should give some what of better idea.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:47 pm
Bell’s college highlight reel does look good…he looks like “junior vasity” on the field with NFL types, however. He can now peddle Colin The Clown wigs for Kap Inc. as a spokesmodel…
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:48 pm
(To be fair, believe Bell lives in Colorado.)
so let’s adjust this a bit…
That what you get for spending your off season doing bong hits and eating brownies while on Xbox and in Nebraska when you should have be knee deep in the playbook and buried up JWs butt.
too bad Mike Williams was not still with the club he would have been more than generous with a deluxe mattress in the front yard for kenny bell to crash in Tampa on.
Hope you don’t mind the edit DB
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:49 pm
Now if y’all wanna hear me be critical of the Great Jason Licht just one time I’ll say this. For all you we are in desperate need of another WR freaks. Mr. Licht start looking in the state of Florida if and when you decide to take WR in any draft.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Tmax
LMAO. YEEEESSSSS
POLL:
James Wilder Jr or Peyton Barber? I say Wilder, bring the kid home Jlicht
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:57 pm
So what’s he gonna’ be Joe?……a Hooters Cook, Insurance Claims Adjuster, Mattress Mover, UPS Driver….or, since he said he was smart, perhaps he will become a Sports Blog Writer……
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:59 pm
I was hoping Bell would earn a spot on the team. I never felt he would do very well as a WR, but I was certain he would as a kick returner. I don’t like the fact that he was never given a chance to make up for the fumble on a kick return.
That said, what’s done is done. Michael Spurlock was cut multiple times, and he’s the best we’ve had as a returner. The first time he was cut, no one felt he would be any good at returns.
So maybe later we’ll see him again. Especially if he manages to land a gig on another team.
So time to move on…
If I had to choose between Bell and Vitale on the Practice Squad, I would take Vitale.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:59 pm
Something successful. He’s a very smart dude. Sounds like he may work in politics. Just a wild guess.
September 2nd, 2016 at 12:59 pm
No surprise on this one.
September 2nd, 2016 at 1:04 pm
Arena football or CFL
September 2nd, 2016 at 1:17 pm
Jameis liking you only goes so far……if you can’t catch, he will still like you as a friend……not teammate.
September 2nd, 2016 at 1:20 pm
I actually love this final roster, props out to Dirk Koetter and his staff. The BEST players made the cut, regardless. I really love the fact that Adarius Glanton beat out these CLUELESS fans favorites ( Luke Rhodes, Jeremiah George and Josh Keyes). Thank God that this staff judged the players on their “on field” performance instead of ( who they like). Shots out to Mike James and Adarius Glanton for repping Polk County and for their hard work and determination to make this roster. The odds were against them, the fans were against them, but in the end their effort prevail, earning them a roster spot.
September 2nd, 2016 at 1:22 pm
the hate is real
September 2nd, 2016 at 1:26 pm
Joe,
Did you happen to see Tavaris King (former Buc WR) take a quick slant almost 50 yards last night for the Giants vs the Pats???
He would look very nice in pewter right now but…..
September 2nd, 2016 at 1:31 pm
And BTW Adairus Glanton is the Backup Long Snapper and he can play all 3 LB positions. And Kwon is the only LB that has more speed than him.
September 2nd, 2016 at 1:41 pm
Justin Hunter released by Tennessee… Love to see bucs claim him.
he has better career numbers than Murphy in his last three years. he has way more upside than a career journeymen who is often injured like Murphy…
68 1116 avg 16.4 TD’s 8
Luvmybucs what’s your thoughts on Justin Hunter.
September 2nd, 2016 at 1:52 pm
I’m ok with that. I just wanted him to get a shot while healthy. He did, and it didn’t work.
September 2nd, 2016 at 1:56 pm
Please give Justin Hunter a call!
September 2nd, 2016 at 2:14 pm
Wasn’t Bell like 175 pounds soaking wet? One good hit from a 230lb linebacker and he would have been on injured reserve the rest of the year. We need V-jax – Evans sized receivers.
September 2nd, 2016 at 2:21 pm
There are a lot of good guys that don’t make it. If you watched him in college, he was always wide open. That does not happen in the NFL. Kenny Bell is not a good receiver in this league. Simple as that.
September 2nd, 2016 at 2:28 pm
Jon Robinson will give Licht the scoop on whether Hunter is worth a sniff.
September 2nd, 2016 at 2:30 pm
BKNYFOOTBALLHEAD
exactly… hunter has more potential than anyone after evans on the bucs wr corp but I know there are concerns.
September 2nd, 2016 at 2:47 pm
Justin Hunter released by Tennessee… Love to see bucs claim him.
he has better career numbers than Murphy in his last three years. he has way more upside than a career journeymen who is often injured like Murphy…
68 1116 avg 16.4 TD’s 8
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Justin Hunter has the skillset (speed), just hasn’t translated it to the field. See Jeff Janis, Dorial Green Beckham, Sammie Coates….he hasn’t earned the trust of his qb/coaches…Doesn’t mean he couldn’t down here….but he’d be like Kenny Bell (upside) but a project.
September 2nd, 2016 at 2:50 pm
Licht can always pick-up the phone and ask Robinson why he was available as well….
September 2nd, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Hunter would also have to clear no other waiver claims…Buccs don’t get first dibs.
September 2nd, 2016 at 3:00 pm
feelthepewterpower
hunter is hardly a project compared to bell. look at his numbers he did that in 3 years and murphy does not have 8 td’s in 7 or 8 years… how is that not an immediate update. he has good size and would most likely be the second best receiver on the bucs from day one and could challenge evans if the clayton hands continue. no comparison what so ever compared to bell nor is this guy a project when he has proven regular season numbers better than any alternative not named jackson or evans. i am confused how you can come to that rational. he’s coming from the titans not the vols…
September 2nd, 2016 at 3:01 pm
Titans released RB/KR Dexter McCluster… Bring him home to take em to the house??
September 2nd, 2016 at 3:09 pm
he’s coming from the titans not the vols…
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There’s a difference? Who knew…
September 2nd, 2016 at 3:16 pm
Bring in McCluster
September 2nd, 2016 at 3:22 pm
Lookahere guys, Bell tried but he is not NFl caliber talent. Some players are great at the college level. NFl is all together different. The hittin is harder, the defensive backs are more quicker and talented and you, gotta be fearless in traffic, determined and have great body movement/control. He flashed here and there. Just could not maintain when it counted. Nope..don’t think he makes the practice squad guys. There are many professional job which require and the use of a clipboard and a great smile. Good luck Kenny..You done as good..as you could! Bucs need ballers IF..we are to get to the promise land…with that trophy.
September 2nd, 2016 at 3:26 pm
tmaxcon Says:
September 2nd, 2016 at 3:00 pm
feelthepewterpower
hunter is hardly a project compared to bell. look at his numbers he did that in 3 years and murphy does not have 8 td’s in 7 or 8 years…
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How wouldn’t he be a project? He doesn’t know our play book, and didn’t play much last season from what I recall. Bell at least knows the play book, just doesn’t have the regular season reps Hunter has. Both are essentially projects.
If Hunter is better than Bell why was he released?
September 2nd, 2016 at 3:30 pm
Justin Hunter available
September 2nd, 2016 at 3:31 pm
feelthepewterpower
come on dude… look at hunters numbers compared to bell’s stat line of 0000000000000000 in regular season. come on… what makes him better… 8 regular season td’s makes him better. hell size makes him better.
i am not totally sure why he was released. he was drafted much higher than bell has actually produced. there are concerns and i admit that but i’d rater take a chance with him than a guy like bell or a has been that never was like murphy. maybe koetter get’s through to hunter. i doubt he will make it to bucs on the waiver but i’d jump all over him.
Ok by project learning the playbook I misunderstood. I thought you were using the term project in the same vein as Bell is a project which is hardly the case. bell has done nothing this dude has more receiving td’s than everyone not named evans or vjax in the current receivers room combined.
September 2nd, 2016 at 3:40 pm
hunter is a second rounder….he only avg. 22 catches per season in his three years at Tennesee. That’s not that good, no?
He couldn’t beat our Tajae Sharp, Harry Douglas, Rishard Matthews, Wright, etc. even after Dorial Green was traded.
I am not adverse to bringing Hunter in, we just have to temper our expectations a bit. Like Bell, he hasn’t shown consistency or earned the trust of his prior coaches. If we sign him and he works out, great, I am all for it. We are going to need our depth at some point along the way.
September 2nd, 2016 at 6:15 pm
Bell signs with the Pats and win the SB
September 2nd, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Did Larry Brackins make the cut?
September 2nd, 2016 at 9:46 pm
I can see Kenny Bell pushing Drugs…………legally for a pharmaceutical company..holding a clipboard in some doctors office saying with that big wide grin, how many vials of valium this month..sir. Don’t laugh my nephew works as a sales rep for a..legal drug company. When he told ne he made 210 grand last yr, I almost..popped!
September 2nd, 2016 at 10:17 pm
one more season 4 Jw and Benjiman reunite
September 2nd, 2016 at 10:28 pm
nole on sat.-bucc on s day . litch wants a true TE he may not have all the speed in the world but he has hands and duraible. where is O-leary’
September 3rd, 2016 at 12:03 am
OH Good,,,,
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:13 am
@Architek
I watched part of that game and seen that play. I was smh. Another hidden talent we let walk. I liked him coming out of GA. Should of kept him around. 3 TD in the last 2 preseason games. Didn’t know he had burners like that tho. Dam.
September 3rd, 2016 at 4:18 pm
Nebraska has a really great punt and kick return specialist in junior De’Mornay Pierson-El. The Bucs would be wise to keep an eye on him as a draft pick in the future. He is well above Kenny Bell as WR talent.