Tatum Bell
Encyclopedia
Tatum Antoine Bell 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
and Florida Tuskers
, a suburb of Dallas, and attended DeSoto High School
. In high school, Tatum Bell was clocked running 4.34 in the 40-yard dash. Tatum Bell was rated a Top-100 high school player in Texas by the Dallas Morning News.
, 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 921 yards (gaining 5.3 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns. In 2006 Bell rushed for 1025 yards and two touchdowns.
, 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 did not demand a trade, but that he simply was disappointed in his diminishing role on the team.
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
. The following day Johnson accused Bell of stealing his luggage. Bell insisted, "it was just an honest mistake."
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".
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys football
The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as...
.
Bell has also played for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and Florida Tuskers
Early years
Tatum Bell grew up in DeSotoDeSoto, Texas
DeSoto is a city in Dallas County, Texas . Over the past eleven years since the 2000 U.S. Census Report, the City of DeSoto has grown in population from 37,646 to 49,047....
, a suburb of Dallas, and attended DeSoto High School
DeSoto High School (DeSoto, Texas)
DeSoto High School is a public school in DeSoto, Texas, United States. It is part of the DeSoto Independent School District. It is located at 600 Eagle Drive - History :...
. In high school, Tatum Bell was clocked running 4.34 in the 40-yard dash. Tatum Bell was rated a Top-100 high school player in Texas by the Dallas Morning News.
College career
Tatum Bell played for Oklahoma State University from 2000 to 2003. Tatum Bell was a starter for three years, rushing for a total of 3,409 yards. 2002 was his best college year, rushing for over 100 yards for 6 out the final 7 games. He had 36 receptions for an additional 258 yards.First stint with Broncos
Bell was drafted 41st overall in the 2004 NFL Draft2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
, 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
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2004
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
, and led all AFC
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
running backs in rushing yards. In 2005
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
he was the second part of a dual running back system with Mike Anderson and rushed for 921 yards (gaining 5.3 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns. In 2006 Bell rushed for 1025 yards and two touchdowns.
Detroit Lions
On March 1, 20072007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
, Tatum was traded along with George Foster
George Foster (American football)
George Foster was an American football offensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos 20th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft...
and a draft pick to the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
for Dré Bly
Dré Bly
Donald André "Dré" Bly is a former American football cornerback who played for eleven seasons in the National Football League. After playing college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Bly was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
.
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
Kevin Jones (American football)
Kevin S. Jones is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions 30th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
and his diminished role at tailback. Bell has since told the media that he did not demand a trade, but that he simply was disappointed in his diminishing role on the team.
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
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Rudi Johnson
Rudi Johnson
Burudi Ali "Rudi" Johnson is a former American football running back who played professionally from 2001 - 2008. Rudi was born in Petersburg, Virginia approximately 30 miles south of Richmond. His first name "Burudi" is Swahili and means "cool'" and his middle name "Ali" represented his family's...
. The following day Johnson accused Bell of stealing his luggage. Bell insisted, "it was just an honest mistake."
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".