Rosenhaus: Eagles have shown interest in Bell
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Rosenhaus: Eagles have shown interest in Bell
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Drew Rosenhaus says the Eagles are one of three teams that have shown interest in his client, veteran safety Yeremiah Bell.
According to Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald, Rosenhaus appeared on a weekly TV segment on WSVN Ch. 7 and said the Eagles, Jets and Patriots have expressed some level of interest in Bell.
Bell, 34, started 63 of 64 games for the Dolphins from 2008-2011. A sixth-round pick out of Eastern Kentucky in 2003, he went from the practice squad to the starting lineup (75 games in eight seasons) to the Pro Bowl in 2009.
Considered more of an in-the-box safety, Bell led the Dolphins in tackles in each of the past four seasons. He was third among all NFL safeties last year with 107 tackles.
According to Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post, Bell, a team captain, was a trusted veteran in the locker room.
So why did the Dolphins let him go?
The primary reason appears to be for cap space. But Salguero writes that Miami wants its safeties to be interchangeable, and Bell has limitations in coverage. The Eagles, of course, should be familiar with Bell's strengths and weaknesses. New secondary coach Todd Bowles directed the Dolphins' defensive backs from 2008-2011 before becoming Miami's interim head coach.
As for the safeties currently on the roster, Nate Allen finished strong in 2011 and will likely be penciled in at one safety spot. If the price is right, Bell could be brought in to compete with Jaiquawn Jarrett and Kurt Coleman at the other spot. After seeing limited action as a rookie, Jarrett faces an important offseason, but has to be considered a question mark at this point.
The Eagles have not made any moves at safety so far in free agency. Some mock drafts have them taking Alabama's Mark Barron in the first round, although I consider that unlikely. A better option, from my perspective, would be to add a veteran (like Bell) as insurance for Jarrett.
As always, take Rosenhaus' comments with a grain of salt. It's his job to stir up interest for his client. But in this case, it makes sense for the Eagles to at least look into Bell.
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I'd like to see if Todd Bowles can get Nate Allen on track before I give up on him. The same goes for Jarrett. It doesn't hurt bringing in Bell on a 1 year contract to compete for a job.— ej610
Eagles ought to check out ND safety Harrison Smith,He was highly rated by Mayock,Sanders et al— bennybots- God Darn Rosenhaus!— Ace-Philadelphia
- I agree with everybody on Allen, big let down. Bell seems allot like Quinten Mikell. The reason nobody gets over not drafting Earl Thomas is because we still not found anything close to what he would have brung to the table. This Is further exacerbated by the fact we still haven't found a replacement for Dawkins!— yourdaddy!
- I think Allen is best up, and doesn't have much more time left in the league. Need someone who is bigger, stays on the field, and is a hitter. Jarrett was supposed to be that guy. Hopefully a year into the league has made him better.— watsonmr
- Signing Bell doesn't look smart enough for Andy unless he's coming off of some sort of knee surgery and nobody else is interested.— younged
- Philadelphia Eagles: All Free-Agent Team. This is what happens when you draft poorly and/or have coaches who are totally incompetent and incapable of TEACHING. They have (FINALLY) gotten some coaches on board whom seem to be able to get their messages across in Washburn, Mudd, and Bowles but it remains to be seen whether it is too little too late as has been the culture of the Eagles.— essell
Todd Bowles will prove to be one of the most, if not THE MOST, critical additions to the Eagles for 2012.
Bet on it.- I agree with that,good addition — clemenza
- Eagles haven't recovered from not taking the best player on the board in the 2010 draft... Earl Thomas was the best on the board and filled a clear need... Mark Barron is not close to Earl Thomas and Eric Berry type talent. He's good but not at that level. Take the best player Michael Floyd or Fletcher Cox... The alternative is to trade back and maybe pick up an additional second round pick. I would take the best DL (DE or DT) with a lower 1st round pick, Alfonso Denard CB with a 2nd, Lavonte David OLB with a 2nd (i think he is a better option that Barron at SS), and an OLB like Wagner with the other 2nd round pick, Demario Davis 3rd Round pick, then you draft for depth.— soldierboy
- Eagles haven't recovered from not taking the best player on the board in the 2010 draft... Earl Thomas was the best on the board and filled a clear need... Mark Barron is not close to Earl Thomas and Eric Berry type talent. He's good but not at that level. Take the best player Michael Floyd or Fletcher Cox... The alternative is to trade back and maybe pick up an additional second round pick. I would take the best DL (DE or DT) with a lower 1st round pick, Alfonso Denard CB with a 2nd, Lavonte David OLB with a 2nd (i think he is a better option that Barron at SS), and an OLB like Wagner with the other 2nd round pick, Demario Davis 3rd Round pick, then you draft for depth.— soldierboy
- regardless none of these teams will sign him until after the draft at this point— clemenza
- Bring in Bell! Allen is another failed draft pick.— dcheil
- If everyone has a problem with Nate Allen ( I don't agree) but Barron is a strong safety not a free safety. The Eagles might be able to get Harrison Smith the free safety out of Notre Dame in the 2nd round. I'm not feeling all your angst about the safeties. Fully healthy, I think Allen will be fine. And Coleman was 2nd or 3rd on the team in tackles. Not bad, but you want to get that number down by drafting a run stuffing D tackle who can stop RBs at the line so Coleman won't have to make as many tackles.— cletisvandam
- I believe that Bell would be an improvement yes, but that does not mean that the Eagles should not look at a young talented kid like a Mark Barron from Alabama. Bell is 34yrs old and he probably would bring leadership to a defense that has none at all right in the secondary he would also probably have a impact right away also but like some have written before me the Eagles did pass up on s talented safety Earl Thomas. I would also like to see them look at a outside linebacker also, and if they decide to go further with Bell not a bad choice but still be smart in the draft and get a impact safety named Barron from Alabama.— bernie27
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