The one attribute that Jets running back Le'Veon Bell is perhaps most known for is his patience on the field. Perhaps better than any other runner in the league at waiting for holes to open on the line, Bell's ability to wait for the exact right moment to burst through the hole has become his trademark.
And on Tuesday, Bell was asking for just that from the Jets fanbase: patience.
The Jets have gotten off to a 1-6 start, and while there are plenty of reasons why the team hasn't been on the track they thought they would be, Bell wants Jets fans to hang tough as the team finds the answers.
"I need everyone to understand, it takes a process to build a winning program, to build a winning organization," Bell said in an Instagram post. "I am happy as hell to be a New York Jet. I'm happy to be here, despite all the trade rumors and talks. I am here and I am happy to be here, but everybody has to have a little bit of patience, just a little bit of patience.
"If it happened overnight, there would be a whole bunch of teams just snapping their fingers and just making it happen, bat I understand it takes a process. I just need all the Jets fans, all the Jets supporters of my teammates and myself, I need you all to understand and to stick with us, man. Everything's gonna happen."
Bell's name was floated around in trade rumors prior to Friday's 4 p.m. deadline, and while GM Joe Douglas said that he would listen to calls coming in from any team about Jets players, Bell was not being actively shopped.
Now, the three-time Pro Bowl selection believes that jets have the pieces in place to get things back on track.
"This is our first year being all together," said Bell. "We've got our first year with our head coach, first year with our general manager, and I think Joe Douglas is doing a tremendous job trying to get this thing turned around.
"Just understand we're going to get this ship sailing in the right direction, but I just need everybody to have some patience and to stick with us. I promise we're going to get it turned around."
Bell has rushed for 349 yards in seven games as a Jet, averaging 3.2 yards per carry with one touchdown.