The Joique Bell era with the Detroit Lions is over.
Tuesday the team announced that they had cut the five-year veteran and Detroit native, a move that really should have surprised no one, including Bell himself.
With Bell no longer on the books, Bob Quinn and the Lions saved themselves $2.5 million in cap space heading into next season. You combine that with Rashean Mathis announcing his retirement and the Lions all of a sudden have an additional $4 million in cap space at their disposal.
It's been a pleasure Detroit. Home is where the heart is and my heart will always be here. #DVE4Ever #WSU #B.H. pic.twitter.com/56xME7C7nN
— Joique Bell (@JoiqueBell) February 16, 2016
But it wasn’t just the money that led to Bell’s release. His lack of production became a real issue for the team.
Last season, Bell rushed for just 311 yards on 90 attempts with four touchdowns. Sure Bell was hurt for a portion of 2015 however with him turning 30 in August you can probably assume injuries would only become more of a problem. You add to the fact that the Lions took Ameer Abdullah in the second round of last year’s draft and the emergence of Theo Riddick and all of a sudden it becomes even clearer that Joique Bell was just simply not needed any longer. This may have been a far stretch from his 2014 year when Bell was the Lions’ leading rusher with 860 yards and seven touchdowns on 223 attempts.
In the NFL though, two seasons ago may as well be a lifetime.
Joique Bell however will remain one of the best feel-good stories in Lions history. A Benton Harbor native and Wayne State alum, Bell first made a name for himself his first season with the Lions compiling 414 yards on 82 attempts with three touchdowns. This eventually helped lead Bell to form quite the formidable tandem with Reggie Bush in 2013 as the two became the first NFL running back duo to both top 500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a season.
The prospectus for Bell’s future in the NFL too unfortunately doesn’t look good. With no breakaway speed coming out of the backfield, power that really doesn’t separate himself from anyone else and the fact that he’ll be on the wrong side of 30 when the 2016 season starts, Bell may be just a camp body at this point and nothing more.