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Apparently, Selling Phones Didn't Keep Tatum Bell in 'Football Shape'
Ryan WilsonPosted Nov 12th 2008 5:30PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Broncos, AFC West
Tatum Bell looked to be out of football for good after he was accused of common thievery earlier this year. Cut by the Lions just prior to the season, Bell wound up selling phones at the Aurora Mall while he contemplated his future.
And then luck intervened. And by "luck," I mean a "string of injuries the likes of which we've never seen." The Broncos, who originally drafted Bell in 2004, are down to rookie undrafted free agent Peyton Hillis and recently promoted practice-squadder P.J. Pope.
Not even Mike Shanahan's zone-blocking wizardry can do much with seventh- and eighth-teamers (though, to be fair, Hillis looked solid in part-time duty against the Browns). Hence the return of Bell. Unlike Daunte Culpepper, and possibly Ty Law, Bell's not likely to see the field against the Falcons on Sunday.
"He was the only one left," joked Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. "Tatum has played well when he's played here. I think he's averaged around five yards . . . obviously we needed someone who is familiar with our system and terminology. I don't think he's in great football shape yet, but hopefully in a short time he will be."
Imagine that. Peddling phones is a tad more sedentary than running for your life as fat people chase you. Weird. Bell did have success in Denver -- he went for 921 yards in '05 and 1,025 more in '06 -- but he didn't do much in Detroit before they eventually released him. And let's be honest: getting dumped by the Lions can't do a lot for your confidence.
Tags: Daunte+Culpepper, DaunteCulpepper, Mike+Shanahan, MikeShanahan, P.J.+Pope, P.j.Pope, Peyton+Hillis, PeytonHillis, Tatum+Bell, TatumBell, Ty+Law, TyLaw
Ryan WilsonPosted Nov 12th 2008 5:30PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Broncos, AFC West
Tatum Bell looked to be out of football for good after he was accused of common thievery earlier this year. Cut by the Lions just prior to the season, Bell wound up selling phones at the Aurora Mall while he contemplated his future.
And then luck intervened. And by "luck," I mean a "string of injuries the likes of which we've never seen." The Broncos, who originally drafted Bell in 2004, are down to rookie undrafted free agent Peyton Hillis and recently promoted practice-squadder P.J. Pope.
Not even Mike Shanahan's zone-blocking wizardry can do much with seventh- and eighth-teamers (though, to be fair, Hillis looked solid in part-time duty against the Browns). Hence the return of Bell. Unlike Daunte Culpepper, and possibly Ty Law, Bell's not likely to see the field against the Falcons on Sunday.
"He was the only one left," joked Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. "Tatum has played well when he's played here. I think he's averaged around five yards . . . obviously we needed someone who is familiar with our system and terminology. I don't think he's in great football shape yet, but hopefully in a short time he will be."
Imagine that. Peddling phones is a tad more sedentary than running for your life as fat people chase you. Weird. Bell did have success in Denver -- he went for 921 yards in '05 and 1,025 more in '06 -- but he didn't do much in Detroit before they eventually released him. And let's be honest: getting dumped by the Lions can't do a lot for your confidence.
Tags: Daunte+Culpepper, DaunteCulpepper, Mike+Shanahan, MikeShanahan, P.J.+Pope, P.j.Pope, Peyton+Hillis, PeytonHillis, Tatum+Bell, TatumBell, Ty+Law, TyLaw