Running back Le'Veon Bell gives Steelers throwback style
PITTSBURGH -- Jerome Bettis gave Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell a pep talk that created a guide for what it takes to join the Steel City's fraternity of great rushers.
"I just told Le'Veon that if you run with physicality, this city will love you because of the Steelers' history, they love big running backs in Pittsburgh," Bettis, a retired Steelers great and current ESPN analyst, told USA TODAY Sports.
"If you run big, play big, you'll own the town. Le'Veon is starting to take a run at it."
Bell is 6-1 and 224 pounds and after an injury-slowed rookie season is proving to be more multi-dimensional than ex-Steelers power backs Bettis, Franco Harris and Barry Foster.
"It means everything in the world to have Jerome in my corner," Bell told USA TODAY Sports Wednesday. "He's a great guy who has taken me aside after games to tell me what I can do better on certain runs and catches. I want to be known as a complete back."
Bell is quickly becoming a passing league's three-down poster back with 2,043 all-purpose yards that rank second to Dallas Cowboys tailback DeMarco Murray's 2,082 yards.
Bell is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. And his 76 receptions for 765 yards stand second to Chicago's Matt Forte among backs.
"Growing up, I wanted to be Randy Moss," Bell said. "I grew up in an Ohio family of Steelers fans. They'd watch the Steelers. I'd watch the Vikings and Randy. He was so explosive. I always wanted to be that game changer."
Bell might not have become a dynamic receiver like Moss, but he is making his impact as a running back.
With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suggesting Bell belongs in the MVP conversation, Bell has emerged as a difference-maker for the Steelers.
"It's humbling, a great compliment to have Ben mention me for MVP," Bell said.
The Steelers can clinch a playoff spot Sunday with a win against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bell's versatility will be critical to keeping a Chiefs defense headlined by linebacker Justin Houston's 17 sacks off balance.
"We have to keep Ben upright in this football game if we are going to have the chance to have the type of day that we need to have," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said.
A win Sunday would allow the Steelers (9-5) to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2011. The Steelers figure to be a tough out boasting arguably the AFC's best trio of playmakers. Roethlisberger is second in the league in passing yards (4,415), Antonio Brown leads in receptions (115) and receiving yards (1,498) and Bell has a league-best 105 first downs.
Bettis views Bell as a hybrid crossover between Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Walter Payton and former San Francisco 49ers tailback Roger Craig. Beginning with his 204 yards rushing in a 27-24 win at Tennessee on Nov. 17, Bell joined Payton as the only players to total 200 yards from scrimmage over three straight games.
"I compare Le'Veon to Walter Payton for his ability to pound, pound and pound on you and then break one and go to the house the way Walter would when he carried 30, 35 times," Bettis said. "And Roger Craig was the standard for a receiving back because he had such great hands. I watched Le'Veon at Michigan State, where he was more of a bruiser.
"It's impressive to see him evolve into the league's best multi-dimensional back."
Do members of the offensive line expect expensive Christmas gifts from Bell?
"I think we need to get him something," center Maurkice Pouncey said. "It's a blessing to have him here."
