Bengals free agent Vonn Bell explains what matters to him
Bell is entering the open market for a second time, and one thing sticks out in his mind.
Before Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins get their extensions, the Cincinnati Bengals will be focused on re-signing safety Vonn Bell this free agency.
No impending free agent on the roster is more important to retain in the eyes of the club.
Not only has Bell proven to be a well-rounded safety and a tremendous locker room leader, the front office expects his running mate, Jessie Bates III, to jettison for a market-resetting contract.
Losing both Bates and Bell isn't an option for the Bengals. Just last week, defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo described the scenario as a "dark day."
That's how the Bengals feel, so how does Bell feel himself? The 28-year old appeared on Hear That Podcast Growlin' this week to discuss what matters to him now that he's entering free agency for the second time in his career.
"This time around, you always want to win, especially getting older," Bell said on the show. "You want to stay in a winning environment. It's huge, because you worked your way up to that, to get to that point. You always want to stay because you don't want to go to work stressful. And that's what's big."
Very few teams have done as much winning in the last two years as the Bengals. Only the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers have just as many or more victories in the regular season and playoffs combined.
Bell's obviously been instrumental in that. The former Ohio State Buckeye had a career-year in 2022, reeling in four interceptions, forcing two fumbles, and netting two tackles for loss while grading out at 69.3 for Pro Football Focus. There aren't many players on the roster who are as versatile as him.
Anarumo knows better than most how to deploy players like No. 24.
"That's my guy for sure," Bell said of his DC. "He's probably one of the smartest coaches I have been a part of. Always putting us in the best position, and he always cooking up something. It can be almost to the kickoff we're gonna have an adjustment. … He's probably one of the best coaches I've ever had, putting guys in situations to win."
It's definitely a cliché; players always say they want to win, because which player doesn't? What ends up altering plans are the financials. Bell shouldn't be accepting a hometown discount just to stick around on a winning team, and the Bengals shouldn’t expect that in the first place.
The Bengals have put Bell in a position to win on the field. Now they need to reflect that with a new contract.
