The thing about Gurley too is that the RAMs did not really give him the giant contract that Bell and fans think.
He only got something like $21.95 million guaranteed at signing, although many claim it is double that. But the RAMs had qualifiers and stipulations in it where Gurley would get money to him after the league year starts in March for each year. If he blows out a knee in the Super Bowl, tears all three ligaments and the team doctors think he won't be the same, the RAMs can cut him before March and don't owe him anymore money.
The thing with Bell is that he was slowing down, he was being caught from behind, he was having more trouble being elusive, his runs and catches over 20+ yards were declining. And where were the touchdowns???
DeAngelo Williams in just 10 starts had 11 TDs, if he had started all 16 games what might he have had??
James Conner had 13 TDs in 13 games. A RB in this offense should easily average 1 TD per game. Conner did it, Williams did it, and yet Bell, given so many touches, so many carries, catches could only ever score 11 TDs in a season??
All of these generational complements, once-in-a-lifetime complements, comparing him to LT, to Faulk, please, that was always bullshit. Those guys scored touchdowns!!! 22, 24, 26, 31 touchdowns in a season. Bell was never in their category.
And as I like to point out, he was becoming a fumbler. Fumbled 7 times in his last 24 regular season games. Conner fumbled some this year and there were some people throwing out that told trope of Bell being so secure with the football.
I don't see how Bell is going to recoup the $14.544 million that he lost this season. He has the look of a RB who may sign a great contract but then be hard pressed to see the end of that contract. He may get that initial big signing bonus but then be cut in year 3 when he is 30 years old and even slower.