YOU MIGHT WONDER what your hair has to do with the food you eat, but for Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell, it plays a key role.
“Everybody is different, every player is different,” Bell said today as he unveiled a deal that sees Elverys become the official supplier of Nike branded NFL jerseys and apparel in Ireland.
“But we all take our diets very seriously because you only get out what you put in. I have a lot of hair and I go to this place that makes customised vitamin pills for you.
“So I cut off some of my hair and give it to them and they’ll analyse it and tell me everything that my diet is missing and they’ll customise daily vitamins for me.”
But it doesn’t stop there for the 229lb (104kg) running back.
“I also send my blood to these scientists who study it and let me know which foods I need to avoid, what food I can eat. Everything from meat to grains and spices. I take all that into consideration and pass it on to my chef and my nutritionist.
“They team up and make a meal plan for me with that information and then I stick strictly to that diet. I stay strict most of the season but not all year round.
“You have your weak moments so, like on Thanksgiving, my whole family is there. I’m going to sit down and eat well and watch the other games,” he says with a smile.
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Bell meeting young fan Owen Murray (5) at Elverys Dundrum today. MAXWELLS / JULIEN BEHAL
MAXWELLS / JULIEN BEHAL / JULIEN BEHAL
Having spoken to other NFL players and coaches about training and diet, this is not exactly standard practise. But then, Bell is not your typical NFL player.
For a start, his path to the National Football League was anything but ordinary.
A quarterback in high school, Bell played running back in a Division II college and went undrafted after leaving in 2010.
The Buffalo Bills signed him as an undrafted free agent but released him in early September. He would go on to be on the roster of no fewer than three other teams — the Eagles, Colts, Eagles again and Saints — before the 2010/11 season was out, playing in just five games for the Colts in that entire time.
However, Bell’s break would finally come when he was signed by the Detroit Lions on St. Stephen’s Day 2011, though he wouldn’t play his first game with the team until the following September.
The Lions though, were the perfect fit for Michigan native Bell.
“When I was in college, during the summer I used to work as a security guard at the Lions’ training facility.”
But when he got to the NFL, he knew his hard work was worth it.
“I was just happy to have the opportunity to play in the NFL. I wanted to compare my talent with other players, to see the kind of work I had to put in. But once I got there, I knew I could play in this league.
“Personally, just getting the opportunity gave me the confidence I needed.”
Bell was part of the Lions team who produced a dramatic comeback win in their Wembley game with the Atlanta Falcons last season and he’s looking forward to returning this year when the take on the Kansas City Chiefs in early November.
He also sees a team in London within five years, even if Detroit visiting there on a regular basis would end up hitting the 28-year old in his pocket.
“The more the NFL brand grows, I think the reality of having a team in London is very close, probably before 2020. Especially seeing the feedback they’re getting from the city and all the great things that are coming out of teams playing there.
“Last year we took the entire offensive line out to STK Steakhouse and myself and [former Lions running back] Reggie Bush split the bill.
“That was like half a year’s salary.
“But every Saturday before home games I bring in breakfast for the O-Line ’cause when you take care of the O-Line, they take care of you.”
After football is over, Bell isn’t sure what he’ll do. Like so much of his journey so far though, it’s highly likely he’ll take the road less travelled.
“I have options. I’m going back to school to get my Masters. I’ve a couple of ideas of what I might like to do. I might sit out for a couple of years and just follow my son’s high school career.
“I might go into coaching but that means a lot of man hours and I want to be able to spend some time with my family when I’m done playing. I might go into working in the front office or just coach my son’s high school career.”
As for this season, there’s no talk of Super Bowls or even playoffs. It’s just one game at a time for Bell and the Lions.
“We don’t go into the season thinking to ourselves how are we going to beat (their divisional rivals) the Packers. We have one motto we live by, ‘every day you’re getting better or you’re getting worse’ so we just want to be better than we were yesterday.”
Joique Bell was speaking at a special event in Dundrum to mark the news that, for the first time ever, official Nike NFL apparel here in Ireland. Apparel from 10 different NFL teams is available at selected Elverys stores and online at www.elverys.ie.
Why this NFL player's hair plays a vital role in what he eats
YOU MIGHT WONDER what your hair has to do with the food you eat, but for Detroit Lions running back Joique Bell, it plays a key role.
“Everybody is different, every player is different,” Bell said today as he unveiled a deal that sees Elverys become the official supplier of Nike branded NFL jerseys and apparel in Ireland.
“But we all take our diets very seriously because you only get out what you put in. I have a lot of hair and I go to this place that makes customised vitamin pills for you.
“So I cut off some of my hair and give it to them and they’ll analyse it and tell me everything that my diet is missing and they’ll customise daily vitamins for me.”
But it doesn’t stop there for the 229lb (104kg) running back.
“I also send my blood to these scientists who study it and let me know which foods I need to avoid, what food I can eat. Everything from meat to grains and spices. I take all that into consideration and pass it on to my chef and my nutritionist.
“They team up and make a meal plan for me with that information and then I stick strictly to that diet. I stay strict most of the season but not all year round.
“You have your weak moments so, like on Thanksgiving, my whole family is there. I’m going to sit down and eat well and watch the other games,” he says with a smile.
Having spoken to other NFL players and coaches about training and diet, this is not exactly standard practise. But then, Bell is not your typical NFL player.
For a start, his path to the National Football League was anything but ordinary.
A quarterback in high school, Bell played running back in a Division II college and went undrafted after leaving in 2010.
The Buffalo Bills signed him as an undrafted free agent but released him in early September. He would go on to be on the roster of no fewer than three other teams — the Eagles, Colts, Eagles again and Saints — before the 2010/11 season was out, playing in just five games for the Colts in that entire time.
However, Bell’s break would finally come when he was signed by the Detroit Lions on St. Stephen’s Day 2011, though he wouldn’t play his first game with the team until the following September.
The Lions though, were the perfect fit for Michigan native Bell.
“When I was in college, during the summer I used to work as a security guard at the Lions’ training facility.”
But when he got to the NFL, he knew his hard work was worth it.
“I was just happy to have the opportunity to play in the NFL. I wanted to compare my talent with other players, to see the kind of work I had to put in. But once I got there, I knew I could play in this league.
“Personally, just getting the opportunity gave me the confidence I needed.”
Bell was part of the Lions team who produced a dramatic comeback win in their Wembley game with the Atlanta Falcons last season and he’s looking forward to returning this year when the take on the Kansas City Chiefs in early November.
He also sees a team in London within five years, even if Detroit visiting there on a regular basis would end up hitting the 28-year old in his pocket.
“The more the NFL brand grows, I think the reality of having a team in London is very close, probably before 2020. Especially seeing the feedback they’re getting from the city and all the great things that are coming out of teams playing there.
“Last year we took the entire offensive line out to STK Steakhouse and myself and [former Lions running back] Reggie Bush split the bill.
“But every Saturday before home games I bring in breakfast for the O-Line ’cause when you take care of the O-Line, they take care of you.”
After football is over, Bell isn’t sure what he’ll do. Like so much of his journey so far though, it’s highly likely he’ll take the road less travelled.
“I have options. I’m going back to school to get my Masters. I’ve a couple of ideas of what I might like to do. I might sit out for a couple of years and just follow my son’s high school career.
“I might go into coaching but that means a lot of man hours and I want to be able to spend some time with my family when I’m done playing. I might go into working in the front office or just coach my son’s high school career.”
As for this season, there’s no talk of Super Bowls or even playoffs. It’s just one game at a time for Bell and the Lions.
Joique Bell was speaking at a special event in Dundrum to mark the news that, for the first time ever, official Nike NFL apparel here in Ireland. Apparel from 10 different NFL teams is available at selected Elverys stores and online at www.elverys.ie.
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