PLAYER UNSURE WHY PACKERS NOT GIVING HIM A RING

[Joemailman]

It's doubtful that was a season-ending injury. He could have accepted the injury settlement and been playing for somebody by November. Instead he decided to take the year off, and now wants a ring. I'm okay with what the Packers did.

[Patler]

It's doubtful that was a season-ending injury. He could have accepted the injury settlement and been playing for somebody by November. Instead he decided to take the year off, and now wants a ring. I'm okay with what the Packers did.

If it was a season-ending injury, the Packers could not offer an injury settlement unless it was for a full years pay. The "settlement" is a negotiation over the number of weeks for which he is paid. It often involves competing medical opinions and the settlement is based on them. Theoretically, it covers the time period during which he would not pass a physical.

[mission]

It's doubtful that was a season-ending injury. He could have accepted the injury settlement and been playing for somebody by November. Instead he decided to take the year off, and now wants a ring. I'm okay with what the Packers did.

Yeah, he took advantage of a loophole and it cost the Packers over 200k. Offering the settlement is basically an attempt to waive a player so it's not like they wanted him around. There's another forum where this discussion went over 13 pages with some people just completely unable to grasp the concept.

[Patler]

If the scenario is as it seems, Bell may have done himself a great disservice. He seems to be a fringe talent at this point, perhaps good enough to hang around on NFL rosters for a while and make some money as a reserve, and have a chance to develop. At times in 2009 he look like he had some ability. But, if he did play an injury situation to get a full season salary out of the Packers when he would have been healed long before the season ended, he may have effectively blackballed himself from the league. Like it or not, you have to "play ball" with the team in those situations. Will other GMs take a chance on him now, or simply go with another fringe talent?

Maybe he, his agent and his own doctor truly believed it was a season ending injury, in which case a full season's salary would be justified. Maybe he has no intention of trying to continue an NFL career, in which case it doesn't matter. But, if he hoped to catch on with another team for 2011, he may have a difficult time, especially after bringing notoriety to his situation by going public with his desire for a ring.

[KYPack]

If the scenario is as it seems, Bell may have done himself a great disservice. He seems to be a fringe talent at this point, perhaps good enough to hang around on NFL rosters for a while and make some money as a reserve, and have a chance to develop. At times in 2009 he look like he had some ability. But, if he did play an injury situation to get a full season salary out of the Packers when he would have been healed long before the season ended, he may have effectively blackballed himself from the league. Like it or not, you have to "play ball" with the team in those situations. Will other GMs take a chance on him now, or simply go with another fringe talent?

Maybe he, his agent and his own doctor truly believed it was a season ending injury, in which case a full season's salary would be justified. Maybe he has no intention of trying to continue an NFL career, in which case it doesn't matter. But, if he hoped to catch on with another team for 2011, he may have a difficult time, especially after bringing notoriety to his situation by going public with his desire for a ring.

100% Patler.

Bell has officially peed in the soup.