#‘Want to follow him’: Jets’ Le’Veon Bell raves about Sam Darnold

“#‘Want to follow him’: Jets’ Le’Veon Bell raves about Sam Darnold”

August 25, 2020 | 1:31am

Le’Veon Bell had just finished a two-minute answer to reporters praising quarterback Sam Darnold.

The Jets running back then got a gleam in his eye and said Darnold and the Jets have just one challenge when it comes to the QB.

“We just have to make sure he stays healthy, man,” Bell said, smiling. “I told him, ‘No bars.’ ”

Bell could have been referencing COVID-19 concerns or, more likely, having some fun with Darnold, who contracted mononucleosis last year and missed three games.

When not poking fun at Darnold, Bell was raving about him.

“Sam’s not really a rah-rah guy,” Bell said. “He’s not really loud. He’s not a yeller. He’s real monotone. He’s kind of calm. Everybody goes about their way differently. But the way he does it, you want to follow him. You want to listen to him and work hard for him. That’s the kind of player you want. Sam looks amazing this year. It’s going to be fun.”

Bell says he sees a different Darnold in their second year together and Darnold’s third year in the NFL.

“He’s taken great command of the huddle,” he said. “I think that’s the biggest difference from Year 2 to 3. Not just for him, a lot of players, taking that step where you’re in the huddle and taking command of the huddle. If guys are talking, it’s, ‘Hey, hey, hey,’ and guys are listening.”

Tight end Chris Herndon was a little in awe when he found out he would be playing with Frank Gore. Herndon went to Miami, where Gore is a Hurricanes legend.

“It’s definitely a fanboy moment,” Herndon said. “Once we picked him up, I was kind of star struck.”

Herndon, 24, said he is watching how the 37-year-old takes care of himself.

“Just watching how he works, watching how he takes care of his body, goes about each day on the field and in the weight room, it definitely helps a lot,” he said.

Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer gave his evaluation of the kicking competition between Brett Maher and Sam Ficken so far through training camp.

“Sam and Brett are doing a very nice job. I see this coming down to the end here,” Boyer said. “I think they both have been very productive, both have pretty solid percentages going into the season thus far. They both have more than adequate legs. I think that Sam did a solid job last year. Brett definitely has experience. I see these guys neck and neck. They’ve both had good camps. We’ll see who shakes out.”