As a Detroit Lions fan, sometimes petty theft between players is the only highlight to our season.

Alleged perp Tatum Bell

Rudi on Bell: ‘Shyster, conniving stuff’
by Tom Kowalski

While the Detroit Lions organization might not have anything to say about the bizarre incident surrounding former running back Tatum Bell, current Lions running back Rudi Johnson had plenty to say.

According to Johnson, Bell took two of Johnson’s duffel bags from the Lions locker room on Monday and, when they were returned by another party on Tuesday, almost everything was missing.

“Underwear, socks, credit cards and money. He left my money clip with no money in it,” said Johnson, adding that about $200 was missing. “He should’ve taken the clip, too. It’s quite stupid if you ask me.”

Bell was not available for comment and his agent could not be reached.

Johnson was signed by the Lions on Monday and then the Lions released Tatum Bell. Johnson said he didn’t know who took his duffel bags until he saw a surveillance tape from inside the Lions facility. He said he saw Bell take his bags.

“All of this happened after he got released and came in and got some stuff out of his locker,” Johnson said. “That’s when he scooped the bags up, some real shyster, conniving stuff.”

Johnson said he would not involve the police.

Victim: Rudi Johnson

“I’m not going to the police for this one,” he said. “I don’t need anybody else, I can handle it.”

Johnson left his duffel bags in the Lions locker room on Monday and went upstairs to talk to Lions president Matt Millen. When Johnson returned to the locker room, the bags were missing. He and Millen searched the building for the bags but couldn’t find them.

On Tuesday, after speaking to reporters — when he recounted a pleasant conversation he had had with Bell — Johnson saw the videotape. An unidentified woman apparently returned the bags to the Lions offices and Johnson then confronted Bell.

“He tried to make up some excuse, he tried to blame it on somebody else so I didn’t try to entertain something that didn’t make any sense,” Johnson said. “He tried to make up an excuse. He said some girl had got it and took it to somebody’s house. The story didn’t make any sense so I didn’t pay it any attention.

“He knows how I feel about it, trust me. He knows how I feel about it and it’s nothing positive. He said it was a mixup. It is what it is.”

The Lions had issued a statement earlier in the day on Wednesday saying the club would have no comment on the situation.

From MLive.com

Tags: Detroit Lions, fire matt millen, Football, matt millen, najeh davenport, NFL, pro football, rudi johnson, tatum bell, worst sports franchise