The New York Jets made a surprising move Wednesday firing general manager Mike Maccagnan and making Adam Gase the interim GM. Based on what Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported in the aftermath of that decision, it seems Le’Veon Bell factored into this move.
Mehta reported that “Gase absolutely did not want to sign Le’Veon Bell, per sources. In fact, he made it clear that he didn’t want to spend a lot of money on any running back.”
The Jets doled out a four-year deal worth $52.5 million, including $27 million guaranteed at signing. It wasn’t as much as Bell wanted to make but still a significant investment into a position that has such a short shelf life and that is so easily replaced on a yearly basis in the draft.
Then, of course, there’s the fact that some within the Jets organization reportedly have been upset that Bell didn’t participate in voluntary workouts.
If it is true that Gase’s opinion on this matter is a part of why Maccagnan was fired, it shows he is amassing some serious clout within the Jets organization before he ever sets foot on the sideline for his first game.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how things unfold from here. Gase’s tenure in Miami — his first head-coaching gig — went poorly as he struggled to get the offense to consistently produce and sometimes clashed with star players. The Jets appear to be putting a ton of faith in a guy whose history of leading a franchise is tenuous, at best.