The Bucs have a new running back in town after signing former All-Pro Le’Veon Bell on Tuesday. Strapped with injuries to Leonard Fournette and Giovani Bernard, signing Bell came more as a necessity than anything else.

It turns out that Tampa Bay called Bell just at the right time. He was very close to calling it a career in football to focus on another sport.

“I’m not even going to lie,” Bell said. “I got to the point where I had thought about kind of calling it quits. Just because of the fact that it kind of wasn’t working out for me the last couple spots I had been at. This was literally the only spot that I felt could have made me want to play football and go out there and be excited to play. This was literally the only place that could have called me and got me to really go play. I was going to go start focusing on boxing. But I think this was a great opportunity.”

Bucs RB Le’Veon Bell and RBs coach Todd McNair – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Bell is the next high-profile name to join the Bucs over the last two seasons. It’s a long, ever-growing list of superstars to form the greatest All-Madden team from five years ago. This includes players such as Fournette, Richard Sherman, Rob Gronkowski and his former teammate with the Steelers, Antonio Brown. The common denominator is that Tom Brady got them all there.

“It’s something you can’t really turn down,” Bell said.  “Playing with Coach [Bruce] Arians, Tom Brady and obviously A.B.  They’ve got a good thing going over here. To come over here and try to help – I’m going to try to do my thing. To come here and play with a seven-time Super Bowl champ [and] play with my other former teammate (Antonio Brown). I looked at it as a great opportunity and I was just excited when I got the call. It was hard to turn it down.”

With a glaring need for a receiving running back, Bell could have an instant impact when in the lineup. You’re not getting the player who was once an All-Pro with Pittsburgh in his heyday, but that doesn’t mean he can’t help the team.

“I could play as many plays as they need me to,” Bell said. “I think I am in great shape. And I haven’t been playing football games, but just with my workout regimen, my diet and the things I have been doing over the course of this whole year. This is literally the best physical form I’ve ever been in. I’m excited. Whatever the coach asks me to do, I’m going to go out there and do it. I’m excited and I’m ready. I feel good and I’m just ready to go play football.”

New Bucs RB Le’Veon Bell – Photo by: USA Today

Bell is an eight-year veteran who most recently played with the Ravens earlier this year. The former All-Pro has recorded 395 career catches for 3,258 yards (8.2 avg.) and eight touchdowns. Ronald Jones will be the main ball carrier on early downs, and then presumably it’s Bell’s time to shine on third down and in the passing game.

It’s a balancing act to join a new team this late in the season. But Bell is ready to jump in right away once he gets the offense down.

“Just making sure,” Bell said.  “One for protections, making sure Tom [Brady] is protected and he’s comfortable with that and confident that I can protect him. Then obviously confident in [me] catching the ball and making sure I’m in the right spots for my checkdowns. I think the more I learn and [by] making sure I’m always in the right spots – the more confident he is going to be in giving me the rock.”