CINCINNATI – Vonn Bell made his return to the Cincinnati Bengals official today, and he said at his re-introductory news conference that he was keeping tabs on his former team, and Bengals teammates, throughout his time in his one-season tenure in Carolina.
“My eyes were still on it,” Bell said. “I was watching every game. Watching every game, for sure. That’s what I was telling them — ‘That’s my people right there.’ Always kept locked in, kept tabs, and saw how guys were doing. Checking in on them, for sure.”
Bell also texted his former teammates and kept apprised of other aspects of the team, including its 2024 opponents, one of which is the Panthers, the team that cut Bell earlier this week to set the stage for his return.
Vonn Bell Has Bengals vs. Panthers Game Circled
Asked if he was aware Carolina was on the Bengals’ schedule, Bell smiled and said “Oh, yeah. Bulletin-board material.”
Cincinnati was intent on keeping Bell after the 2022 season, but the Panthers came after him hard with a three-year, $22.5 million contract with $13 million guaranteed.
That’s why, even after cutting Bell earlier this week, the Panthers will be paying him $6 million to play for Cincinnati this season.
And for as happy and “at peace” as Bell is about his reunion with the Bengals, he said finding out he was being let go in Carolina stung.
It was the first time he’d been cut from anything at any level, he said.
“It was stressful at first, but I let God handle that,” Bell said. “And he made a way. He opened up doors for me. I’m glad to be back and ready to get to work.
“I feel warm,” he added. “Glad to see a lot of familiar faces with the coaches. A lot of guys hit me up, and it’s just great to be back for sure.”
He's sooooo back. pic.twitter.com/Lfd7AoTf1U
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) March 15, 2024
The first person to reach out was Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
Bell was asked what he said.
“He said, ‘What are we doing?'” Bell said with a laugh. “Thay’s my guy, man. We have a connection and a bond that will last forever. Just hearing his voice made me calm down. It was a lot of anxiety for sure. First time going through that. It’s over now. It’s in the past. I’m in the now.”
Anarumo famously said at the 2023 NFL Combine that it would “be a dark day” if the team lost both safeties, Jessie Bates III and Bell, in free agency, which is what ended up happening.
The dark day continued for 17 weeks as the defense never overcame the production, experience, and communication that Bates and Bell brought to the position, with numerous people throughout the organization specifically lamenting the loss of Bell as the explosive plays mounted and playoff chances dwindled.
So how soon can Bell get up to speed with new teammates such as Geno Stone and Jordan Battle and re-connect with Dax Hill? He didn’t want to put a timeline on it, but he knew the importance.
“It’s vital. Guys gotta be on the same page. One accord and we gotta see things the same,” Bell said. “That’s huge. If it gets past us, strike up the band. You never want those because explosives can lose a game, and you never wanna do that when you got a great offense and they’re making plays.
“That locker room is very special,” Bell added. “You don’t feel by yourself, and that’s the No. 1 thing. I’m glad to be back. It feels like home and ready to get to it.”
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