Age: 26
5th
season in pro football, 1st complete with Rams
College: Notre
Dame
Height: 5’10” Weight: 210
Prelude:
Bell had an
injury-riddled college career but still was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the
first round (26th overall) of the 1984 NFL draft. He made an impact
as a rookie, rushing for 1100 yards, including 206 in an upset of the Cowboys,
and catching 34 passes, and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Bell followed up with
another productive season in 1985, gaining 883 yards on the ground and catching
58 passes for another 576 yards and a total of 1459 yards from scrimmage.
However, injuries limited him to six games and 377 rushing yards in ’86 and
Bell was dealt to the Rams as part of the three-team trade that sent RB Eric
Dickerson to the Colts during the strike-interrupted 1987 season. He saw little
action while RB Charles White had a big year in Dickerson’s place, but with
White missing time in 1988, Bell moved to the forefront.
1988 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Rushing
Attempts – 288
[6]
Most
attempts, game – 31 (for 112 yds.) at NY Giants 9/25
Yards – 1212
[4]
Most yards,
game – 155 yards (on 21 carries) at Atlanta 10/9
Average gain
– 4.2
TDs – 16 [1]
100-yard
rushing games – 5
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 24
Most
receptions, game – 4 (for 24 yds.) vs. Phoenix 10/2
Yards – 124
Most yards,
game – 24 (on 4 catches) vs. Phoenix 10/2
Average gain
– 5.2
TDs – 2
Scoring
TDs – 18 [1]
Points – 108 [9,
tied with Chuck Nelson]
Postseason: 1
G (NFC Wild Card playoff at Minnesota)
Rushing
attempts – 17
Rushing yards
– 91
Average gain
rushing – 5.4
Rushing TDs –
0
Awards & Honors:
NFL Comeback
Player of the Year: AP
Rams went 10-6
to finish second in the NFC West and qualified for a Wild Card playoff slot
while leading the conference in scoring (407 points). Lost NFC Wild Card
playoff to Minnesota Vikings (28-17).
Aftermath:
Bell followed
up by rushing for 1137 yards in 1989 and again leading the league in rushing
touchdowns with 15. But he did not get along well with teammates or the front
office and, when he threatened to hold out in ’90, he was traded to the
Raiders. Bell appeared in just six games due to an ankle injury and rushed for
164 yards in what ended up being his last active season. He was released the
following preseason and retired after being let go by Green Bay prior to the
1992 season. Overall, Bell rushed for 4959 yards on 1204 carries (4.1 avg.) and
caught 157 passes for 1307 yards (8.3 avg.), scoring a total of 58 touchdowns.
Of those totals, 2375 rushing yards and 31 TDs, came with the Rams. He was
chosen to one Pro Bowl.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
