Jets' Le'Veon Bell Won't Be Disciplined by Team for Bowling Despite Illness

New York Jets head coach Adam Gase told reporters Tuesday that Le'Veon Bell didn't violate any team rules and wouldn't be disciplined after the running back was seen bowling on Saturday night, hours after he had been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins. 

Bell had been battling the flu throughout the week and missed two practices and the team's walk-through earlier on Saturday, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.

"That wasn't his fault that we said he's still contagious," Gase said. "I mean, that's what the doctors told him. I'd rather him not be [bowling]. I'd rather him be at home, getting better. But that will be a conversation we have."

Gase also told reporters that Bell had hoped to play but was held out by team doctors:

"Oh, he wanted to play, but they said he was still contagious. They didn't want him around all the other guys because they thought it would spread through the team. We didn't want to have a situation like some of these other teams are having, with 20 guys out during the week. ... I know he didn't feel great, but he was probably thinking he could still go."

Brian Costello and Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post first reported that Bell was spotted bowling with friends at the Boonton Lanes in New Jersey from 10 p.m. on Saturday night until 1 a.m. Sunday morning. 

Gase said Bell is expected to play in the team's Thursday night matchup against the 11-2 Baltimore Ravens. 

Bell, 27, has had a disappointing year in New York, rushing for just 589 yards and three touchdowns while adding 55 receptions for 403 yards and a score. Part of that has been conservative usage from the coaching staff—Bell has logged 20 or more carries in a game just once this season and has 25 or more total touches just twice. 

But he also hasn't exceeded 70 rushing yards in any contests and is averaging a paltry 3.2 yards per carry, a while yard below his career average. 

His time in New York may be numbered, however, with SNY's Ralph Vacchiano reporting on Tuesday that both Bell and safety Jamal Adams could be traded in the offseason. A 5-8 team trading away two of their best players would be regarded as a curious decision, though both players were rumored to be on the trade block before the trade deadline this season, so any potential deals wouldn't be a major surprise. 

But it would represent a short, not to mention disappointing, tenure with the Jets for Bell.