In 2006, Mike Bell went from undrafted free agent to starting tailback for his hometown Denver Broncos in the first week of training camp. Despite eventually losing the starting role to Tatum Bell, he still put up a respectable 677 yards and scored 8 TDs in his rookie season.
Prospects looked decent for the Broncos, with a backfield of Bell and Bell splitting the load. But Mike Shanahan wasn’t satisfied–acting on his apparently insatiable desire to add players of questionable work effort, talent and intelligence into the fold, he acquired Travis Henry and drafted Selvin Young, which upset one Bell (Tatum) to the point of demanding a trade, and forced the other (Mike) to fullback.
Mike Bell played sparinly in 2007, including one chance in Chicago to play tailback–until a fumble on his first carry logically put an end to that. The Broncos jettisoned Henry after one season, but added another veteran (Michael Pittman) and three more rookies to the backfield.
And then waited. And had some mini-camps. And on Monday, just days before reporting for training camp, Shanahan cut him.
Not a terribly surprising move, given Shanahan’s apparent belief that his offense can turn any running back into a star, making even stars like Clinton Portis expendable. But why wait until after all the OTAs are done, and just days before camp? Why not give a young guy like Bell a chance to latch on somewhere else, and learn enough of the new teams offense to actually stick? Or hell, if no one in the NFL wants him, even a chance to make a name for himself north of the border?
In my opinion, just another example of the kind of guy Mike Shanahan really is.
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Tatum Bell was traded for Dre Bly before the Broncos signed Travis Henry. Selvin Young was not drafted, he was a UDFA, as was Mike Bell. Neither posed a threat to Tatum Bell, T. Bell was given every opportunity to be a star in Denver, running tandem with Mike Anderson and they both nearly did 1,000 yards. Then the following year allowed to be the feature back after Denver had opted not to resign Anderson.
Bell was the leading candidate to be the starter in Denver going into training camp in 2007. Yet he consistently ***t the bed, leading to him eventually end up as a fullback. As you stated, he was given an opportunity to play and he fumbled on his first carry.
Yes, he should have been released sooner, but that would have left the Broncos with one fullback. That’s bad business, they had just signed Peyton Hillis one day prior, then Bell was released. They probably should have traded him last season when there was interest or would that have been too much of a Shanahan move as well?
All right, you got me on the timing of the trade, and Selvin Young being an UDFA. Guess I should do a little research before I go spouting off.
Still, with Henry on board, I can’t believe that M. Bell was truly the leading candidate to start, even if that’s what Shanahan was saying publicly. Maybe the move to FB was due to crappy play, but to bench a guy who the year before was extremely productive after one carry? And then cut him just days before camp? Seems shortsighted on both counts. Cut him early and find an unproven UDFA you want to try at FB if you’re concerned about only having one, or keep him for camp and give him a chance to show some improvement.
Or, like you said–trade him when he was generating interest last year, if he isn’t in your long term plans.