Greg Bell Is Sent to Raiders : Football: Rams get draft choice when they refuse to renegotiate running back’s contract.
The Greg Bell mystery tour took another turn Tuesday when the talented but loose-lipped tailback, who gained 2,349 yards but few friends in two seasons with the Rams, was shipped to the Raiders for an undisclosed draft choice, believed to be no higher than a fourth-round selection.
This, for a runner who is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and doesn’t turn 28 until August. This, for a runner who scored 33 touchdowns in two seasons as a toss-in from the Buffalo Bills to the three-cornered Eric Dickerson trade to Indianapolis in 1987. Bell made Ram management look like geniuses in the deal, but it wasn’t enough to keep the former Notre Dame runner around for another season.
There was a personality problem. A money problem, too.
Bell was seeking to renegotiate his 1990 salary of $475,000, which sent the Rams to Trade Hotline. The deal with the Raiders was contingent on working out a renegotiation of Bell’s Ram contract.
That happened Tuesday. Bell’s one-year deal with the Raiders is reportedly worth $850,000. His agent, Steve Feldman, wouldn’t confirm the figure but did say the new deal is substantially more than what Bell would have made with the Rams.
“It’s right where he should be,” Feldman said. “He’s thrilled. He just wants an opportunity to go to the Raiders and contribute. He feels he’s with an organization that recognizes his ability.”
Bell did not return calls, but Feldman said Bell is not concerned with a crowded Raider backfield that includes Marcus Allen and, come October, Bo Jackson.
“(Raider owner) Al Davis stressed to him that he wanted him to come in to contribute to winning,” said Feldman. “If all three are there, that’s great. Greg Bell, when given the opportunity, will bust his butt to win.”
Bell never related well with Ram players, management or coaching staff, which makes a tour of duty with the Raiders--famous collectors of wayward football souls--rather appropriate. Bell’s attitude rap was similar to the one that followed him to Anaheim from Buffalo, where the Bills gave up on him despite some impressive games and numbers.
Ram Coach John Robinson never cared much for Bell’s sidewinding running style, but he didn’t say much publicly because Bell was producing.
He became expendable shortly after the 1989 season when he informed the Rams through Feldman that if they didn’t renegotiate his 1990 contract, Bell would hold out again next summer. Bell held out for 36 days last summer before signing a two-year deal that didn’t please him much.
The Rams, who weren’t about to renegotiate for Bell, countered by signing Seattle free agent Curt Warner in March, setting the stage for Bell’s trade.
Robinson issued a short statement on the deal: “We want to wish Greg good luck. He did a solid job for us and will do the same for the Raiders.”
Bell was never considered a bad guy by his Ram teammates, but he was different.
“He wasn’t a guy you’d want to have a beer with,” one Ram said.
Bell’s long-term Ram career probably ended the week before the team’s Oct. 16 game against Buffalo last season. Bell used his homecoming as a platform to rip former teammates and management, which served only to incite the Bills, who held Bell to 44 yards in 21 carries during Buffalo’s 23-20 victory.
Bell was held to 73 or fewer yards rushing in his next nine games.
GREG BELL’S NFL STATISTICS
RUSHING
Year Team Att Yds Avg TD 1984 Buffalo 262 1,100 4.2 7 1985 Buffalo 223 883 4.0 8 1986 Buffalo 90 377 4.2 4 1987 Buffalo/Rams 22 86 3.9 0 1988 Rams 288 1,212 4.2 16 1989 Rams 272 1,137 4.2 15 Total 6 Years 1,157 4,795 4.1 50
RECEIVING
Year Team Rec Yds Avg TD 1984 Buffalo 34 277 8.2 1 1985 Buffalo 58 576 9.9 1 1986 Buffalo 12 142 11.8 2 1987 Buffalo/Rams 5 59 11.8 1 1988 Rams 24 124 5.2 2 1989 Rams 19 85 4.5 2 Total 6 Years 152 1,263 8.3 9
