Bell decides to stay with Lions, signs one-year deal

Tatum Bell agrees to 1 year deal with Lions

TATUM BELL STAYS WITH LIONS by Michael David Smith

Tatum Bell was unhappy in Detroit last year, but he's returning for another season.

Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press reports that Bell, a free agent running back, has agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million contract to stay with the Lions for the 2008 season.

Bell spent the final 11 games of the 2007 season watching the Lions from the sidelines, and he said publicly during the season that he was hoping to get traded. But when Jim Colletto replaced Mike Martz as the Lions' offensive coordinator, and when free agent running back T.J. Duckett left to sign with the Seahawks, coach Rod Marinelli said Bell's chances of returning had improved.

"Our offensive staff sat down and said, 'He fits what we're trying to do,'" Marinelli said. "It's not as much coming out of the backfield for him and maybe as many different runs, just a few basic runs. I think he's got a chance to fit some of that."

Bell ran 44 times for 182 yards in 2007. In his best NFL season, 206, he carried 233 times for 1,025 yards for the Denver Broncos.
--per PFT