Le'Veon Bell tries to get ahead of criticism for skipping voluntary workouts
In a story quite familiar to Pittsburgh Steelers fans, Le’Veon Bell took to social media Monday to address critics of his practice habits.
In this case — as it often was in Pittsburgh — his habit involves not attending practice. Bell didn’t attend April’s three-day veteran minicamp to join work with his new New York Jets teammates.
Fan questions Bell’s practice habits
It prompted a social media critic to call him out, an opportunity Bell took to make sure Jets fans know how he operates.
Public Service Announcement 🚨 pic.twitter.com/pX7jB1w8Ft
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) May 7, 2019
It was voluntary
The thing about his absence in April is that the minicamp was voluntary. Bell, along with the rest of the NFL, is not obligated to show up. As a professional, he’s obligated to keep in shape.
But that’s something he can do on his own. And as long as he’s not falling short there, he’s absolutely within his right to take his own approach.
Bell under microscope
The thing here is that Bell is under an extra level of scrutiny after skipping the entirety of last season’s practices and games while he was under contract with the Steelers.
His not taking the opportunity to get in some early workouts with his new team reasonably raised some eyebrows.
But he doesn’t care, and he’s going to continue to do things his own way.
Gase fine with Bell’s decision
And that’s fine with Jets head coach Adam Gase, who addressed the issue during New York’s voluntary minicamp.
“It’s voluntary,” Gase said. “[Bell] was here that first week [of offseason workouts], and we got a lot of good information that week to him. He has a pretty good training regimen that he goes through. He knows how to get his body ready for training camp and the regular season.”
With more voluntary group workouts scheduled for the summer, this is probably not the last we’ll hear of fans griping over Bell’s absence.
He’s not likely to change the way he operates, and Monday’s Twitter post was an attempt to set the record straight.
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