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Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Winnipeg Inks Tyrone Bell

August 28, 2002 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers News Release


WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today added size and toughness to their defensive secondary with the signing of CFL & NFL veteran Tyrone Bell.

The football club today signed Bell (6-2, 210, North Alabama '98, DOB: Oct. 20, 1974 in West Point, MS) to its practice roster. He joins the team after most recently playing for the British Columbia Lions earlier this season.

"Size, experience and aggressiveness... that's what Tyrone brings to our team," said Brendan Taman, the Blue Bombers vice-president of player personnel. "We needed a change in that area and we're hoping that Tyrone can fill that void."

THE CFL YEARS Bell joined the Lions in 2001 and participated in 12 regular-season games, playing on the corner. He tallied 38 defensive tackles, four pass knockdowns, two fumble returns for 10 yards, one interception return for 18 yards and one tackle for a loss.

Bell returned to the Lions' den for the 2002 season. He played five games for B.C. at defensive halfback. The experiment by the Leos' coaching staff didn't work and they eventually released Bell.

Bell recorded 12 defensive tackles, two pass knockdowns and two special teams tackles.

THE XFL YEARS Bell was a member of the XFL's Memphis Maniax for their one and only season of 2001. The club selected Bell in the 3rd Round (22nd Overall) in the XFL's Supplemental Draft, Dec. 29, 2000. He played in 10 games, making nine defensive tackles and one interception for 24 yards.

THE NFL YEARS The San Diego Chargers drafted Bell in the 6th Round (178th Overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. He attended the Chargers camp in 1999 but was released. He did not stay unwanted for long, as the Green Bay Packers soon signed Bell and added him to their practice roster.

Bell was on the Packers practice roster for the first 14 weeks of the 1999 NFL season. The team then activated him for the final two games of the regular-season.

He returned to Green Bay, participating in the Packers 2000 training camp before being released. The Seattle Seahawks then signed Bell Aug. 30, 2000. They released him Sept. 6, 2000.

THE COLLEGE YEARS Bell played four years of college football for the University of North Alabama. He was a member of the Lions when they won the NCAA Division II Championship in 1994 and 1995. He missed the 1996 season due to injury but played in both 1997 and 1998.

Bell started two of his first three seasons under head coach Bobby Wallace and was also a starter in his senior year under head coach Bill Hyde. As a senior, Bell flourished. He led the Lions with six interceptions to earn First-Team Gulf Coast Conference, First-Team All-South Region and Second-Team All-American honors.

THE HIGH-SCHOOL YEARS Bell attended and played for the West Point High School Green Wave in West Point, Mississippi. Under coaches Bubba Davis and William "Skippy" Taylor, Bell was an All-Region and All-District performer.

He won a scholarship as the Best Area Player and was the Most Valuable Player on his team. He won the John Cantrell Award as the best all-around athlete at the school. Along with his football prowess, Bell was the Defensive Player of the Year in basketball. He also competed in track, finishing 1st in 4 x 200-metre event and placing 3rd in the 100m and 4 x 100m at the Mississippi 5A State Championships.

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