Tatum Bell

Infobox NFLactive


name=Tatum Bell
|width=
caption=
currentteam=Free Agent
currentnumber=--
currentposition=Running back
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|3|2
birthplace=Dallas, Texas
heightft=5
heightin=11
weight=213
debutyear=2004
debutteam=Denver Broncos
college=Oklahoma State
draftyear=2004
draftround=2
draftpick=41
pastteams=
* Denver Broncos (2004-2006)
* Detroit Lions (2007)
status=
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Rushing yards
statvalue1=2,524
statlabel2=Rushing average
statvalue2=4.8
statlabel3=Rushing TDs
statvalue3=14
nfl=BEL598152

Tatum Antoine Bell (born March 2, 1981 in city-state|Dallas|Texas) is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oklahoma State.

Bell has also played for the Detroit Lions.

Bell has a reputation for costly fumbles, including 5 fumbles in the 2006 season, all ending in turnovers. These fumbles led to the Oakland Raiders naming their fumble recovery drill "The Tatum Bell Drill". [http://www.fanhouse.com/2007/09/08/raiders-defense-hurts-tatum-bells-feelings/]

Early years

Tatum Bell grew up in DeSoto, a suburb of Dallas, and attended DeSoto High School.

Professional career

Denver Broncos

Bell was drafted 41st overall in the 2004 NFL Draft, after attending Oklahoma State University for four years and finishing sixth on the school's all-time career rushing yards list. He debuted with the Denver Broncos in 2004, and led all AFC rookie running backs in rushing yards. In 2005 he was the second part of a dual running back system with Mike Anderson and rushed for 920 yards.

Detroit Lions

On March 1, 2007, Tatum was traded along with George Foster and a draft pick to the Detroit Lions for Dré Bly.

On October 12, 2007 it was revealed that Tatum Bell had asked the Lions to trade him earlier in the week, due to the re-emergence of Kevin Jones and his diminished role at tailback. Bell has since told the media that he didn't demand a trade, but that he simply was disappointed in his diminishing role on the team. [ [http://blog.mlive.com/highlightreel/2007/10/tatum_bell_dismisses_reports_t.html Bell: I wasn't really demanding trade - Detroit Lions Highlight Reel - MLive.com ] ]

On March 10, 2008, Bell re-signed with the Lions on a one-year contract. He stated that his goal for the 2008 NFL season was to rush for 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns. However, he was released by the Lions on September 1 after the team signed running back Rudi Johnson. Tatum Bell took Rudi Johnson's bags after he was released, allegedly on purpose. [ [http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/BLOG21/80903043/1048/sports] ] Bell responded by saying, “I ain’t no thief.” Rudi Johnson then referred to Bell's actions as,"All of this happened after he got released and came in and got some stuff out of his locker,that's when he scooped the bags up,some real shyster,conniving stuff."Johnson alleges that Bell stole his underwear. [ [http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2008/09/rudi_on_bell_shyster_conniving.html] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.detroitlions.com/bio.cfm?bio_id=430&season=9 Detroit Lions bio]