By Jeff McLane
Yeremiah Bell made his choice and it was not the Eagles.
The free agent safety signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets, an NFL confirmed, after he narrowed his choices down to two teams.
The Eagles and Jets made the same offer at one point Friday morning, a source close to the situation said. It was unclear after the deal was announced whether the Jets had upped their ante. Bell's deal was for $1.4 million overall with $200,000 guaranteed, according to various reports.
Bell would have been brought in to push the Eagles' collection of young safeties and possibly be a safety net (pardon the pun) should Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman or Jaiquawn Jarrett struggle. Safety was seen as a position of need this offseason and yet the Eagles have done very little to improve the spot.
Bell reached the Pro Bowl in 2009 for the Dolphins, and played under new Eagles defensive backs coach Todd Bowles in Miami, although he is seen as a player in decline.
The Eagles have had a strong offseason, according to most analysts. They've extended several of their own players, including running back LeSean McCoy, who agreed to a five-year, $45 million extension on Thursday. The Eagles also retained free agents DeSean Jackson and Evan Mathis. They added a key piece in middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and replaced injured left tackle Jason Peters with Demetress Bell.
And they had what many have deemed to be a strong draft.
Bell is respented by agent Drew Rosenhaus, who negotiated the McCoy, Jackson and Mathis deals with the Eagles this offseason.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/152017205.html#ixzz1vFAVeWQc
Watch sports videos you won't find anywhere else
Yeremiah Bell made his choice and it was not the Eagles.
The free agent safety signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets, an NFL confirmed, after he narrowed his choices down to two teams.
The Eagles and Jets made the same offer at one point Friday morning, a source close to the situation said. It was unclear after the deal was announced whether the Jets had upped their ante. Bell's deal was for $1.4 million overall with $200,000 guaranteed, according to various reports.
Bell would have been brought in to push the Eagles' collection of young safeties and possibly be a safety net (pardon the pun) should Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman or Jaiquawn Jarrett struggle. Safety was seen as a position of need this offseason and yet the Eagles have done very little to improve the spot.
Bell reached the Pro Bowl in 2009 for the Dolphins, and played under new Eagles defensive backs coach Todd Bowles in Miami, although he is seen as a player in decline.
The Eagles have had a strong offseason, according to most analysts. They've extended several of their own players, including running back LeSean McCoy, who agreed to a five-year, $45 million extension on Thursday. The Eagles also retained free agents DeSean Jackson and Evan Mathis. They added a key piece in middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and replaced injured left tackle Jason Peters with Demetress Bell.
And they had what many have deemed to be a strong draft.
Bell is respented by agent Drew Rosenhaus, who negotiated the McCoy, Jackson and Mathis deals with the Eagles this offseason.
Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/152017205.html#ixzz1vFAVeWQc
Watch sports videos you won't find anywhere else
