UPDATED, 12/10 at 5:20 p.m.: Le'Veon Bell saw nothing wrong with his late-night bowling session, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. In fact, he was excited to share that he bowled a 251 during the outing.
Bell did take objection to the lack of touches he's received this season. According to Cimini, Bell said he needs the ball in his hands so that he can show why he's an elite running back.
See original story below.
Jets coach Adam Gase reportedly wasn't pleased to learn that his star running back went late-night bowling the day before a game.
On Saturday afternoon, the Jets announced that Le'Veon Bell would not play in Sunday's game against the Dolphins because he had the flu. After being ruled out for the game, the New York Post reports that Bell was spotted having a late-night bowling session at New Jersey’s Boonton Lanes. The running back reportedly bowled from 10:30 p.m. on Saturday night until the facility closed at 1 a.m. When asked about this, Gase told the media that Bell didn't violate any rules but it's not something he would have wanted the running back to do.
"I’d rather him not be (bowling)," Gase said. "I’d rather him be at home just getting better. That will be a conversation we’ll have."
Gase disclosed that stopping Bell from playing in Sunday's game was a decision swayed by team doctors. He says that Bell felt healthy enough to take the field but the medical staff didn't want to take the risk of getting other players sick. Also, Gase and the Jets will not discipline Bell for bowling because the team can't force the 27-year-old to stay in his house.
"That's not his fault that we said he was still contagious," Gase said. "That's what the doctors told him... He wanted to play, but they said he was still contagious. They didn’t want around all the other guys. They thought it would spread through the team. We didn’t want to have a situation like some of these other teams are having where they’ve got 20 guys out during the week."
On Monday, Bell was deemed no longer contagious. He lifted with the team that night and Gase is optimistic he will suit up for Thursday's game against the Ravens.
"The fact that they’re letting him back in the building is a positive," Gase told ESPN's Rich Cimini. "So, hopefully, everything should be lined up to where he can play Thursday."
