PHILADELPHIA -- Joique Bell didn't answer any questions after the Detroit Lions' 34-20 loss Sunday against the Eagles.
But he did talk, and with conviction.
The Detroit Lions tailback, who forfeited two fumbles against Philadelphia, waited until he was finished dressing before spinning around and asking if the cameras were rolling.
Then he went off.
"Let's start off by this: Don't blame the offense, don't blame the defense," he said. "There's no way we can go in the red zone twice and I cough it up twice. Don't blame nobody. Don't blame the coaches. Put that game on me, on my shoulders.
"I'm going to come back next week, I'm going to run furious. I'm going to go into the week and prepare like I am pissed off. I can't allow myself to go out here and put my team in that predicament.
"It will never happen again."
Bell then darted out of the locker room and onto the team bus, seemingly in an effort to get out of here as quickly as possible.
He got the start in place of Reggie Bush, who didn't play after aggravating a calf injury during warmups, and wasn't all bad. He still led Detroit in both rushing (69 yards) and receiving (58) and was perhaps the team's most productive offensive weapon in the severe wintry conditions.
In that way, he helped fortify his reputation as an all-weather back.
But it's hard to dismiss the turnovers as well, which were a major reason Detroit led 8-0 at halftime instead of by much more. His first fumble came in the first quarter at Philadelphia's 20-yard line, and the second at their 9-yard line early in the second quarter.
"We were moving the ball early and we fumbled," coach Jim Schwartz said. "After that, we never got anything done on offense."
Detroit's offense scored just eight points due partly to Bell's struggles, though it scored those eight points because of him as well. He rushed 2 yards for the Lions' only offensive touchdown.
It was Bell's seventh score on the ground the season, more than double anyone else on the roster. Bush is next closest with three.
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