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Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell makes a diving tackle on Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace during their game Sunday in Baltimore. Bell, a rookie out of Penn State, made seven tackles, including five solo, to help the Bengals win 31-27 and eliminate Baltimore from playoff contention.
This is a 2017 photo of Joe Callahan of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team. This image reflects the Green Bay Packers active roster as of Monday, June 12, 2017 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan (6) passes the ball during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Green Bay Packers' Joe Callahan warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell stands on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Detroit Lions tight end Michael Roberts (80) goes up against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell (52) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Michael Campanaro (12) falls to the turf in front of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell (52) and cornerback Darqueze Dennard (21) during the second half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell (52) tackles Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Michael Campanaro (12) during the second half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Baltimore Ravens running back Danny Woodhead, left, rushes against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell during the second half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Callahan This is a 2017 photo of Joe Callahan of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team. This image reflects the Green Bay Packers active roster as of Monday, June 12, 2017 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Callahan This is a 2017 photo of Joe Callahan of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team. This image reflects the Green Bay Packers active roster as of Monday, June 12, 2017 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell makes a diving tackle on Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace during their game Sunday in Baltimore. Bell, a rookie out of Penn State, made seven tackles, including five solo, to help the Bengals win 31-27 and eliminate Baltimore from playoff contention.
Patrick Semansky / associated press/
This is a 2017 photo of Joe Callahan of the Green Bay Packers NFL football team. This image reflects the Green Bay Packers active roster as of Monday, June 12, 2017 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
FRE
Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan (6) passes the ball during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Alex Brandon
Green Bay Packers' Joe Callahan warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell stands on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Patrick Semansky
Detroit Lions tight end Michael Roberts (80) goes up against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell (52) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Michael Campanaro (12) falls to the turf in front of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell (52) and cornerback Darqueze Dennard (21) during the second half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell (52) tackles Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Michael Campanaro (12) during the second half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Baltimore Ravens running back Danny Woodhead, left, rushes against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Brandon Bell during the second half of an NFL football game in Baltimore, Sunday, Dec 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
The final weekend of the NFL’s regular season was memorable for two former Cape-Atlantic League stars from Atlantic County.
Brandon Bell, a rookie linebacker from Mays Landing and an Oakcrest High School graduate, appeared in his third game with the Cincinnati Bengals and had an immediate impact.
Quarterback Joe Callahan, a Holy Spirit graduate from Absecon, made his NFL debut as quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.
Bell made seven tackles (five solo, two assists) in the Bengals’ season-closing 31-27 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals’ victory before 70,507 fans in Baltimore eliminated the Ravens from playoff contention.
Undrafted in 2017 out of Penn State after an outstanding collegiate career, Bell first signed with Cincinnati before training camp but was released late in the preseason. They signed him to their practice squad before the regular season began. On Dec. 15, the Bengals signed Bell to their active roster, and he made his NFL debut two days later in a 34-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Entering Sunday’s game at Baltimore, he had made three tackles (one solo, two assists) in two NFL games.
Cincinnati finished the season 7-9, Baltimore 9-7.
Callahan has crisscrossed the country the past two seasons trying to build an NFL career.
On Sunday, he went somewhere he’d never been — on the field during a regular-season game.
Callahan made his debut during the Packers’ 35-11 loss to the Lions in Detroit.
With a crowd of 62,501 watching, he entered the game late in the fourth quarter in relief of Brett Hundley, who had fumbled once and been intercepted twice. Wearing No. 6, Callahan completed 5 of 7 passes for 11 yards and a quarterback rating of 74.1. His longest completion was 9 yards, and he had no rushing attempts.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan is recognized as a former Absecon Blue Devil at a football camp Thursday night in Absecon. Below, left, Stevie Hughes races through a drill. Callahan, a Holy Spirit High School graduate, will return to Green Bay this month for his second NFL training camp.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan works out with kids at a football camp in Absecon on Thursday. ‘It’s all about giving back to the younger kids and helping them grow,’ he says.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan is recognized as a former Absecon Blue Devil at a football camp Thursday night in Absecon. Below, left, Stevie Hughes races through a drill. Callahan, a Holy Spirit High School graduate, will return to Green Bay this month for his second NFL training camp.
VERNON OGRODNEK / Multimedia Editor
Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan works out with kids at a football camp in Absecon, Thursday, July 13, 2017.
VERNON OGRODNEK / Multimedia Editor
Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan works out with kids at a football camp in Absecon, Thursday, July 13, 2017.
VERNON OGRODNEK / Multimedia Editor
Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan works out with kids at a football camp in Absecon, Thursday, July 13, 2017.
VERNON OGRODNEK / Multimedia Editor
Taylor Cartwright catches a pass from Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan at a football camp in Absecon, Thursday, July 13, 2017.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan works out with kids at a football camp in Absecon on Thursday. ‘It’s all about giving back to the younger kids and helping them grow,’ he says.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan works out with kids at a football camp in Absecon, Thursday, July 13, 2017.
VERNON OGRODNEK / Multimedia Editor
Green Bay Packers quarterback Joe Callahan works out with kids at a football camp in Absecon, Thursday, July 13, 2017.
VERNON OGRODNEK / Multimedia Editor
Green Bay finished the season 7-9, and Detroit went 9-7.
Getting into a regular-season NFL game was a hard-earned accomplishment for a 6-foot-1 player from NCAA Division III Wesley College in Delaware.
On Dec. 16, the Packers cut Callahan to make roster room for Aaron Rodgers. The former league MVP had been out since suffering a broken collarbone against Minnesota on Oct. 15. He returned for one game before being put back on injured reserve, ending his season, and the Packers re-signed Callahan on Dec. 19.
While Rodgers was on injured reserve for the first time this season, Callahan, 24, served as the Packers’ No. 2 quarterback behind Hundley for seven games but did not play.
Callahan began this season on Green Bay’s practice squad but was promoted to the active roster Oct. 16.
But this season’s ups and downs are just a snapshot into Callahan’s hectic first two years of professional football. Undrafted out of Wesley after a record-setting career, he signed with the Packers as a free agent in 2016.
He made the Packers’ regular-season roster out of training camp as the No. 3 quarterback but was soon let go. Callahan also spent some time with New Orleans and Cleveland before returning to the Packers late last season and was on their roster for the playoffs.
More local links
Among Bell’s Cincinnati teammates is Clark Harris (Southern Regional), who just completed his ninth season as the Bengals’ long- snapper.
Also, Titans defensive tackle Austin Johnson is the only local player heading to the playoffs. He has 24 tackles and one sack this season.
Tennessee will play at Kansas City at 4:35 p.m. Saturday.
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The Philadelphia Eagles, which has one of the NFL's most liberal owners and whose players spoke out against Donald Trump, have yet to announce details on a White House visit. Should they be invited by the President?
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