Kendrell Bell, Steelers. (Rookie Of The Year).(Pittsburgh Steelers)(Brief Article)

It's not an easy accomplishment for a player to stand out among the Steelers' traditionally stellar linebacker corps, but Kendrell Bell managed to do it in his first NFL season.

A second-round pick (39th overall) out of Georgia, Bell quickly found his niche in a unit that featured menacing edge pass rushers Joey Porter and Jason Gildon at the outside spots plus reliable inside linebacker Earl Holmes.

Bell had a big uniform to fill within the Steelers' 3-4 defense because the team had cut salary by releasing inside linebacker Levon Kirkland, who had played nine seasons with Pittsburgh, the month before the draft. Ball impressed the coaching staff so much in training camp that he was named the starter at Kirkland's old spot by the third exhibition game. When the season opened, Bell was the Steelers' first rookie starting linebacker since Jack Lambert in 1974.

At 6-1, 236, he is about 30 pounds lighter than Kirkland, but Bell more than makes up for it by being faster.

"He is both extremely aggressive and explosive," says Steelers linebacker coach Mike Archer. "He has the sudden burst to get to places very quickly."

In winning THE SPORTING NEWS Rookie of the Year award, Bell becomes the second consecutive inside linebacker to receive the honor--the Bears' Brian Urlacher won last year. Bell received 15 of the 23 votes cast by NFL pro personnel directors. Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson received four votes, and Dolphins wide ...