Bell is appreciative of a second chance -- "blessed" he says twice -- both in terms of health and the locker room. So he's sympathetic with Neuheisel's struggle to reclaim his reputation.

"A lot of things have been said about me and I've been judged in a certain light, so I've kind of learned not to judge people until I get a chance to talk to them," Bell said. "Since the day he got here, he's been nothing but positive with this program."

Perhaps both will cause some collateral improvement.