Pierre Thomas vs Mike Bell : Tide About To Turn.

[Coachnorm]

Thomas (knee) participated fully in Wednesday's practice, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. Mike Bell missed Wednesday practice. Pierrre Thomas rushed back into practice last week no doubt watching Mike Bell's success with a bit of alarm. He wasn't full strength yet but serious competition has been know to make injuries heal much quicker. :grin:

Mike Bell is a bit banged up now, missing Wednesdays practice which is no big deal. But while Pierre rushed back a bit early he may actually be back to full strength this week. Mike Bell might find himself healing a bit faster this week himself.

So the battle for playing time will really be on this week!! Pierre Thomas owners will be hopeful and Mike Bell owners a little more nervous. The only real loser here are Saints opponents. Then there is that Reggie guy.

 

[German CTL]

Its being reported that Lynell Hamilton saw a majority of the reps with the Saints 1st teamers on Wed. although Thomas got fair share too. http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&hl=152310&id=5098

Sounds to me like they think Bell is gonna be out for a week or two and they're trying to get Hamilton up to speed with the offense in case Thomas' knee doesn't hold up.

 

[mudloggerone]

I absolutely hate that the Bell gawt rung a bit. If you're a Saints fan you have to love underdogs and this year Bell was the underdog. Now the gig is Thomas' to keep or not. I figure he'll be good enough to make Bell a non-play in fantasy action. Barring additional injury of course.

 

[cctekguy]

You're such a homer..

Fact: Pierre Thomas is the RB1 in New Orleans.

Fact: Thomas got injured

Fact: Bell, the RB2, came in and did a nice job.

Fact: Thomas is healed and will resume his duties as RB1.

Fact: Bell, at best, is a handcuff in case Thomas goes down again.

Just because Bell is on your roster and Thomas is NOT does not change the facts.

 

[Phicinfan]

You're such a homer..

Fact: Pierre Thomas is the RB1 in New Orleans.

Fact: Thomas got injured

Fact: Bell, the RB2, came in and did a nice job.

Fact: Thomas is healed and will resume his duties as RB1.

Fact: Bell, at best, is a handcuff in case Thomas goes down again.

Just because Bell is on your roster and Thomas is NOT does not change the facts.

Check you facts.

Management is all over Bell, and love his straight ahead no fumble no non-sense style. Just because YOU have thomas...doesn't make him the starter either.

I believe before this season is over...if he can stay healthy, Bell will be the leading ball carrier for New Orleans.

 

[Miller]

Check you facts.

Management is all over Bell, and love his straight ahead no fumble no non-sense style. Just because YOU have thomas...doesn't make him the starter either.

I believe before this season is over...if he can stay healthy, Bell will be the leading ball carrier for New Orleans.

This from a Bell owner :biglaugh:

I do find it very amusing when situation like this arise how slanted opinions are based on who owns who

Well I do not own either in any league so I can remain unbiased here.

In looking at the numbers of Bell this year, and Thomas from wks 11-16 when he was a significant part of the offense they are pretty similar overall. Bell is averaging 119 total yds a game over 2 games, over 6 games Thomas averaged 113. Bell is averaging 5.1ypc, over those 6 games Thomas averaged 5.1 ypc. Bell has scored once in the two games, Bell scored 6 times in 6 games.

Thomas is a more complete back and can do more things overall, Bell is the better inside runner IMO. Both should see carries and both will find themselves involved as long as they are productive. What this means for the fantasy owners who are holding them......NIGHTMARE! Mix in Bush for receptions and outside carries and you have a 3-headed monster that may keep any of them from being dependable from a fantasy standpoint going forward...."if" all are healthy. If one goes down ,the other 2 will see their value increase and they will become very valuable. Good thing for these owners is that all 3 have had their issues in the dependable department so you may see games where two of them are available more often than all 3.

 

[Remote Controller]

I am a multiple league Thomas owner. Basically what this comes down to is the injury to Thomas opened a door for bell to step thru. Had Thomas not injured his knee, then complicated that injury with the still mysterious incident that required stiches to the same knee, this situation would be crystal clear, and bell not even in the picture. This is the NFL though, and it is definitly a what have you done for me lately league.

I have confidence as a Thomas owner, that he is the superior back, and given his oppurtunity to get involved again, thanks partially to the new knee injury to Bell, that in an offense like this, he will shine, and recapture the position as undisputed #1. That is my hope as an owner, but i also feel he has already proven it over the long haul last season. He was one of the top backs in the NFL the last half of 2008. With an offense anchored by Brees, he can easily be one of the top backs again this year.

 

[Phicinfan]

This from a Bell owner :biglaugh:

only in one league...and only as a flyer.....

I do find it very amusing when situation like this arise how slanted opinions are based on who owns who

Well I do not own either in any league so I can remain unbiased here.

In looking at the numbers of Bell this year, and Thomas from wks 11-16 when he was a significant part of the offense they are pretty similar overall. Bell is averaging 119 total yds a game over 2 games, over 6 games Thomas averaged 113. Bell is averaging 5.1ypc, over those 6 games Thomas averaged 5.1 ypc. Bell has scored once in the two games, Bell scored 6 times in 6 games.

Thomas is a more complete back and can do more things overall, Bell is the better inside runner IMO. Both should see carries and both will find themselves involved as long as they are productive. What this means for the fantasy owners who are holding them......NIGHTMARE! Mix in Bush for receptions and outside carries and you have a 3-headed monster that may keep any of them from being dependable from a fantasy standpoint going forward...."if" all are healthy. If one goes down ,the other 2 will see their value increase and they will become very valuable. Good thing for these owners is that all 3 have had their issues in the dependable department so you may see games where two of them are available more often than all 3.

You make great points.

The kicker to me is this, they don't want a back to be receiving...that is Bush's roll. What they want is a Deuce clone...a guy who will bang it up the middle and get the tough yards and allow Brees to play action pass. Yes, PT has shown he can do that. But to me Bell is the much better down hill runner...I felt the same way when he was in Denver...thanks to Mike's bringing him to my attention. Only time will tell, but it could be split between both as both has shown tendancies to get knicked up and not stay healthy. Not a bad situation for NO though.

 

[Remote Controller]

only in one league...and only as a flyer.....


You make great points.

The kicker to me is this, they don't want a back to be receiving...that is Bush's roll. What they want is a Deuce clone...a guy who will bang it up the middle and get the tough yards and allow Brees to play action pass. Yes, PT has shown he can do that. But to me Bell is the much better down hill runner...I felt the same way when he was in Denver...thanks to Mike's bringing him to my attention. Only time will tell, but it could be split between both as both has shown tendancies to get knicked up and not stay healthy. Not a bad situation for NO though.

.....and the other kicker to this story is they now have a great receiving FB in Evans who steals from both Bush, and Thomas/Bell!!! brees can legitmately go one of about 6 to 8 ways every play and succeed.