Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell has had a fantastic 2016 season and on Wednesday he was voted this year’s team MVP by his teammates. Bell also won the award in 2014.
Bell, who missed the first three games of the regular season due to a suspension, enters the final week of the regular season with 1,268 yards rushing and 616 yards receiving. The former second round draft puck has also scored 9 touchdowns this season.
Bell’s 1,884 combined yards from scrimmage currently have him ranked third-overall in the league behind fellow NFL running backs David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott.
Bell’s great 2016 season comes on the heels of him recovering from a serious knee injury that he suffered midway through the 2015 regular season and he’s now poised to finally play in a playoff game in a few weeks. Last week, Bell was voted his second Pro Bowl.
“We always knew he had an awesome talent for running the ball, but I think what is most impressive is his blocking and catching the ball out of the backfield,” said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Wednesday. “He is an every down back and we can use him for every situation. I think that is what is most impressive.”
Bell is scheduled to sit out the Steelers regular season finale against the Cleveland Browns so that he’s fresh for the playoffs. The Michigan State product is expected to receive the franchise tag from the Steelers during the offseason as he’s currently scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March.
