Former CFL Player Ricky Bell Passes Away at Age 36

[CFLFanfromVancouver]

http://www.cfl.ca/article/cfl-mourns-th ... ricky-bell

VANCOUVER -- It is with regret that the Canadian Football League has learned of the passing of former player Ricky Bell. He was 36.

The Columbia, S.C., native was a defensive back on the Stampeders' 2001 Grey Cup championship squad and played a total of six Canadian Football League seasons for Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Montreal.

“It is always sad anytime you lose somebody at such a young age,” said Winnipeg Blue Bomber President Jim Bell. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time.”

Bell joined the CFL in 2001 after spending three seasons in the NFL with Jacksonville and Chicago. He also spent one season in NFL Europe and one season in the XFL.

With the Stamps in 2001, he recorded 45 tackles, one special-teams tackle, two sacks and one interception.

Bell was selected by Ottawa in the expansion draft in 2002. He was traded to Winnipeg on October 16, 2002 and spent the next three years with the Blue Bombers where he played in 39 games, recording 102 tackles, 10 pass knockdowns, three interceptions and one fumble recovery which he returned 28 yards for a touchdown.

Bell spent parts of the next two seasons with the Montreal Alouettes and signed with the Georgia Force of the Arena Football League in 2008 following his CFL career.

He is survived by his daughter Little Miss Nyla Bell, his father Richard Bell Sr., his mother Florence Bell, his brother Tommie Lee Whetstone Jr., his sister Tina (Dean) McDaniel and loving companion Tanisha Means.

Funeral services were held in Columbia on Wednesday, Feb. 23.

[Tighthead]

There was an NFL player named Ricky Bell who died young in the 80s - RB for the Bucs. Grim coincidence.