Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores offered high praise to veteran running back Le’Veon Bell, who will become a free agent on Wednesday afternoon after being waived by the New York Jets.
Flores was asked on Wednesday about the team’s running game, which has only managed to pick up 521 yards in the Dolphins’ first five games while averaging just 3.7 yards per carry.
“Like every other area, it could improve,” Flores said.
Though Flores avoided any talk of the Dolphins’ potential interest, since Bell was technically still a member of the Jets, he made no effort to offer a strong endorsement of Bell’s talents.
“Bell is a great player,” Flores said. “We all know that. Has had a lot of production, dynamic player.”
Since the Jets are releasing Bell after attempts to trade him failed, he can be signed as a free agent by any team once he’s passed through waivers unclaimed.
The problem for the Dolphins is that they already are paying six running backs, with the team looking to better integrate Matt Breida and Myles Gaskin into the offensive lineup.
The 28-year-old Bell has been named to the Pro Bowl three times and has rushed for 6,199 yards in his seven seasons in the NFL.
The first five of those campaigns came with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but after sitting out the 2018 season in a contract dispute, Bell signed with the Jets last year.
Bell’s brief tenure with the Jets concluded with limited production this season, with the veteran gaining just 74 yards on 19 carries.
The winless Jets are scheduled to be the Dolphins’ opponent on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium, with former Dolphins head coach Adam Gase likely on the hot seat with Jets management due to the team’s slow start.
