Former Saints RB Bell joined Eagles on a one-year contract

Now running back Mike Bell officially has taken off his New Orleans Saints jersey and said goodbye to free agency. In the 2010 season, he will play for the Philadelphia Eagles, who offered the veteran running back a one-year deal worth $1.7 million with $500,000 guaranteed on March 16, and Bell has already signed the offer.

As a restricted free agent, Bell signing with another team allows the Saints to have seven days to match the offer, however, the Saints finally decided not to match it as the cost was too high to the team that has to pay one of their remaining running backs, Reggie Bush, $8 million for playing in the 2010 season. The other running back is Pierre Thomas.

With addition of Bell, the Eagles will get much help in the backfield. Bell’s role in the new team will be the similar to what he played in the Saints, a backup role to the starter, which is to be LeSean McCoy in the Eagles.

Saints RB Bell to miss Sunday game against Bills

The New Orleans Saints was to rotate with running backs after leading rusher Mike Bell missed practice all week with a sprained MCL in his right knee. They will not only do so in practice, but also probably in this Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.

Since it has been confirmed that Bell will not play in the game against the Bells, Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Lynell Hamliton will be the trio of running back to rotate in the game, as they had done in practice since Bell was out with injury. Not any single of the three has been considered to be able to play the same role of Bell, who was the Saints’ most productive runner through the first two games, rushing for 229 yards and a touchdown.

Along with Bell, wide receiver Lance Moore and defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy have also been ruled out for Sunday’s game as they are still staying on Saints’ injury report, with Moore injured on right hamstring and Clancy hurting right knee.