Tatum....still whining!

[DenverBrit]

Tatum Bell struggling to move on

August 20, 2008 10:23 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images
Tatum Bell was unhappy with his role in the Lions' offense in 2007.

It was no secret last season that veteran running back Tatum Bell chafed in the pass-happy offense Mike Martz ran with the Detroit Lions. Here's another revelation: Bell hasn't let it go.

In a story published Wednesday in the Detroit News, Bell reiterated his distaste for Martz and his offense. And although he appears to have fallen behind rookie Kevin Smith -- and possibly veteran Artose Pinner -- on the Lions' depth chart, Bell said his underwhelming preseason performance is not all his fault.

According to Bell, the Lions -- and Martz in particular -- never gave an explanation for why he received 15 carries in the season opener against Oakland (he rushed for 87 yards) and only 29 carries thereafter before he was essentially benched for the season.

Here's what Bell said in Wednesday's News:

"I am glad Martz is gone and you can tell him I said it, too. I think he played me. He was not honest with me as a man or as a coach and my position coach [Wilbert Montgomery] didn't have anything to say either. Nobody was telling me stuff."

Later, Bell added:

"I was so happy to get out of here after the last game. Playing for Martz last year, I hated it. You don't understand how hurt I was sitting on the sidelines and not getting that many carries. I mean, I started the season with like 15 carries and then I got like five carries [actually nine] against Minnesota. I know they are a good run-stop team, but that shows you we're scared of them. That ticked me off. How many starting running backs do you know get five carries in a game?"

Bell planned to leave the Lions during the offseason but returned only after Martz's departure. Coach Rod Marinelli promoted offensive line coach Jim Colletto to offensive coordinator and committed to a more balanced offense. But after opening training camp as the No. 1 running back, Bell hasn't impressed many observers; He has 17 yards on 12 carries in two preseason games.

Of his performance, he told the News:

"I had a bad game against the Giants but it just wasn't me. It was the line, too. The past game I ran a little better but there were no holes, so it looks like there's no running game. But if we keep pushing the issue as a group, we are going to get it going. I have had a solid camp and hopefully it translates into a good season."

That evaluation might well be accurate from a technical standpoint, but it probably won't win Bell many friends on the team. Even if it's true, no one appreciates a tailback speaking publicly about having no running room.

Bell's roster spot appears safe at this point, but there's reason to wonder if he -- and the Lions -- wouldn't be better off making a clean break at the end of the summer.

[2KBack]

wow, calling out the o-line, after calling out the last coach. Is anything your own fault Tatum?

[Man-Goblin]

I don't seem to remember Tatum whining all that much when he was with the Broncos...

[Kaylore]

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6867/favre2speaks30608308tj3.jpg

[Gcver2ver3]

guy doesn't get it does he?...

Ladanian Tomlinson couldn't even get away with publicly blaming his offensive line for a poor performance....so where does he think that'll leave him?...no way they're blocking for him now...

i'm certainly gonna have kevin smith on my fantasy draft board now...

[DomCasual]

All class.

What fans really want to hear - Tatum knows this - is the reasons you suck. As long as there are good reasons, they will embrace you. Blaming teammates and coaches works especially well.

Tatum is a PR machine.

I think you hear me knocking.

[SoonerBronco]

Typical Whining Aggot...

[Irish Stout]

I don't seem to remember Tatum whining all that much when he was with the Broncos...

He didn't seem to be too whiny. He had more of the Javon "just give it to me" attitude... that eventually got annoying from someone who clearly wasn't able to get it done.

Isn't the number one rule for an offensive player to NEVER, EVER, EVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, INSULT YOUR O-LINE? Mr. Elway never did this, in fact he'd compliment em, even when they sucked.

[DenverBrit]

I don't seem to remember Tatum whining all that much when he was with the Broncos...

He was never really happy in Detroit and in Denver he felt he should have carried the ball much more. Not a big whiner, but seemed to complain about his number of touches, despite his lack of production.


Bell, unhappy with diminished role, asks for trade


By John Clayton
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: October 12, 2007, 3:32 PM ET

Upon learning that he will used be as a backup following his team's bye week, halfback Tatum Bell has informed the Detroit Lions through his agent that he wants to be traded.

Bell, acquired in a trade from the Broncos during the offseason, entered the regular season as the starter. But last year's starter Kevin Jones has gradually been getting more playing time in recent weeks, and Bell's carries diminished in the second half of last Sunday's loss at Washington.

Bell's agent, Jeffrey Griffin, talked to the Lions late this week and expressed his concerns about his client's future in Detroit. With the trading deadline set for next Tuesday and teams in need of running backs, Griffin suggested a trade, although the team informed him he was a valuable part of the offense.

After the season, Bell is a free agent and wants to use this year to enhance his value. He has 44 carries for 182 yards this season in five games.

[Dagmar]

Tatum...still crap

[bronco militia]

Tatum Tinker Bell: providing more proof for the theory that it's the system and not the RB.

[SouthStndJunkie]

Tatum Tinker Bell: providing more proof for the theory that it's the system and not the RB.

Don't talk bad about your boy Tatum.

I got tired of you talking him up all those years.

[bronco militia]

Don't talk bad about your boy Tatum.

I got tired of you talking him up all those years.


I told ya, didn't I?!?! ;D

I got my finger on da pulse of donk nation .....

out

[DomCasual]

Tatum Tinker Bell: providing more proof for the theory that it's the system and not the RB.

Other than the fact that we invested a 2nd round pick on him, I would agree.

What a waste of a pick.

[SouthStndJunkie]

I told ya, didn't I?!?! ;D

I got my finger on da pulse of donk nation .....

out

Is the South Stands down for you today?

[telluride]

He was never the same after he broke that finger in training camp.

[bronco militia]

Is the South Stands down for you today?

yeah...found this in the support forum. I think it's the only server working

Sysop Judy - Aug 19, 2008 11:51 pm (#96 of 96)
Sorry for the recent site outages. We're experiencing a problem with one of our boxes. The engineers are aware of the problem and working on a solution.

[bronco militia]

He was never the same after he broke that finger in training camp.

Ha!

[DomCasual]

He was never the same after he broke that finger in training camp.

:D

That's actually REP-worthy, if you're joking.

If you're not - then, um, good point, and stuff.

So, you're joking, right?

[wolf754life]

who drafted this guy with the seventh pick in the 2nd round?

[Beantown Bronco]

who drafted this guy with the seventh pick in the 2nd round?

The Redskins.

[Irish Stout]

who drafted this guy with the seventh pick in the 2nd round?

Seriously? You want to start talking about draft picks? LOL

[Kaylore]

The Redskins.

What's more amazing is we traded both Tatum and Foster for Dre Bly. Since the trade the Lions have used first day picks to replace both.:D

[bronco militia]

What's more amazing is we traded both Tatum and Foster for Dre Bly. Since the trade the Lions have used first day picks to replace both.:D

no doubt....

[Irish Stout]

who drafted this guy with the seventh pick in the 2nd round?

Ok seriously... The kid was the RB Rookie of the year and had to pretty stellar seasons here. Drafted in 04, played great pretty much right off the bat. When he realized he wasn't going to be the break out starting Bell here, he started bitching. So we traded him and George Foster for Dre Bly.

Two good seasons of production, and we got the AFC Championship game one of those years... then we end up unloading some baggage and getting Bly. Overall, he's been worth whatever he was drafted at for helping to improve our team in the long run and helping in the short term after his draft.

Quit being an idiot. Why is it that any time we start ragging on ex players here a Cheir fan has to pop up and remind us what we gave up for that player? Don't they ever look at their own organization first and think about throwing stones at their own glass house?

[Irish Stout]

When did using the female term for a dog as a synonym for complaining become a cuss word that gets starred out?

[DomCasual]

When did using the female term for a dog as a synonym for complaining become a cuss word that gets starred out?

It's been that way as long as I can remember, you little bitch.

:)

[Paladin]

Well, at least Bly is still on the roster....


That's all I can say about that.........

[Paladin]

Quit b****ing and just play, er.... carry on....

[bpc]

Tatum bell sucks.

[montrose]

As much as people like to clown on Tatum, the 2005 tandem of Anderson/Bell was the best rushing attack we've had in years. Why, after it had such success, the Broncos have not tried to duplicate it baffles me. I like Selvin Young and Andre Hall, and hopefully Ryan Torain turns out to be that pounder for us, but following the success we had running the football in 2005 with Anderson/Bell - I don't know why we went away from Power/Speed.

[bronco militia]

Mike Martz: “I am glad I am gone. Now I can coach Frank Gore, a real running back.”

[chickennob2]

Well, if you follow, we traded Clinton Portis and George Foster for Champ Bailey and Dre Bly. You know what? I'll take that. 8 days a week, I'll take that. Turn a running back, a position where we can continually plug guys in, and an underacheiving right tackle into two elite startinc corners, one of them the best in the game. in this day of pass happy offenses, I'll take that.

[BlaK-Argentina]

He was one of the best change of pace backs I've seen. He was terrific in 05. Too bad he wanted a starting job, it's pretty obvious he doesn't have what it takes, but as a 10-12 carries a game back he was awesome. Every time he touched the ball he was a threat to go all the way.

[kappys]

"Leon can't do everything"

[oubronco]

He was a Whiny Fumbling BEEEOTCH at Oklahoma State as well

[Beantown Bronco]

"Leon can't do everything"

Man, I REALLY miss those commercials. Every one was an instant classic.

[Orange_Beard]

**** You Tater!

[Atlas]

I like Tatum and he is right. Martz is a horrible O-coordinator, and that will be proven true again in SF this year.

Anyone that has doubts on Tatum just watch any Bronco game from 2005. He ran for over 900 yards and averaged 5 YPC. He could be very dangerous on the artificial turf in Detroit.

He isn't an every down back but I mean let's face it. In Detroit he should be getting 10-15 carries a game.

[Atlas]

He was one of the best change of pace backs I've seen. He was terrific in 05. Too bad he wanted a starting job, it's pretty obvious he doesn't have what it takes, but as a 10-12 carries a game back he was awesome. Every time he touched the ball he was a threat to go all the way.

You are so correct. Everyone is quick to bash around here. But Tatum is correct. Detroit is really hurting at RB and need to give Bell every opportunity to get some carries. Maybe not as a starter but they need to get him involved.

[Bob]

Other than the fact that we invested a 2nd round pick on him, I would agree.

What a waste of a pick.

At least we got something in trade for him and Foster.

[BroncoMan4ever]

I don't seem to remember Tatum whining all that much when he was with the Broncos...

well with Denver there wasn't much to bitch about. He played behind a good line and for a great coach. in Detroit he is playing for the........LIONS

In Denver his lack of skill was not shown off as much because the line made him look better than he actually was. In Detroit his lack of talent is obvious because Detroit sucks