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In his own words: A trip down memory lane with Le’Veon Bell on social media

Le’Veon Bell might be all about the money now, but there was once a time when the running back was all about football, integrity and the sanctity of the game. Hard to believe right?

By Simon Chester
Pittsburgh Steelers v Kansas City Chiefs Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images

If the latest rumors surrounding Le’Veon Bell are to be believed, he will not be returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers this season and will be playing elsewhere in 2019. While little has been heard from Bell since he told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN that “sitting out the entire season was never an option” back in October, he has continued to use social media to tell his side of the story.

With his upside tweets and cryptic posts, Bell’s message has not always been clear as of late, but that was not always the case. Before he joined the professional ranks, and even for some years after that, Bell had a rather different attitude about life in the NFL. There was a time when No.26 was all about football and had no interest in money and fame. A purist who cared about nothing but his legacy and the sanctity of the game. Someone who valued integrity and honesty above all else. These are not hyperboles on my part, rather words from Bell’s own mouth.

When Bell was still in college, he had a completely different opinion about money and hated dishonesty in all of its forms.

That attitude didn't change right away either, even when Bell started to gain some early success in the league.

Staying in Pittsburgh was always his priority.

The fans were his friends.

And he loved his coach.

But ultimately that all changed

And Bell’s most notable highlights from 2018 were not on the football field.

While the Steelers have stated their desire to have him rejoin them before the deadline, it appears that is not going to happen. Bell purged his social media profile of references to Pittsburgh over the weekend and he has made no contact with the team. A change of heart is always possible, but it is more likely we will see an official “fairwell” tweet come Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

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