Although there’s been speculation that Le’Veon Bell could be on his way out of the New York Jets, head coach Adam Gase, who reportedly didn’t want to spend money on the starting running back, dismissed rumors that the team will make a trade.
One of the best running backs in the NFL, Le’Veon Bell is expected to make a profound impact on the New York Jets offense in 2019 and beyond. Whether or not he stays in New York beyond the first two years of his contract, which are the only years with guarantees, is the big question, though there have been rumors that he might not even last one year in New York.
These rumors stemmed from a report from the New York Daily News’s Manish Mehta, which stated that head coach Adam Gase did not want to sign Bell at his price this offseason. This report came around the time general manager Mike Maccagnan was fired after losing a power struggle to the new head coach. The Jets GM position is still vacant, and Gase is operating as the head of personnel during this time.
This fueled rumors surrounding Bell, but Gase has forcefully denied those to the press. He said that it would be “ridiculous” to consider moving Bell, noting that while he may not have been happy with the money spent on a running back, he believes Bell is a “great player” and a “good person”.
For his part, Bell affirmed the Jets head coach’s thoughts in a tweet.
The Jets seem to be in a messy period post-Maccagnan and with Gase at the helm, and it may be difficult for some fans to take Gase’s words at face value. But it’s impossible to see the Jets moving Bell after signing him this offseason, nor would it necessarily be wise for the Jets to get rid of their most talented player on offense.
Sam Darnold needs all the help he can get, and he has a much better supporting cast in his second year. Bell joins wide receivers Quincy Enunwa, Robby Anderson, and offseason signing Jamison Crowder as part of an offense that looks to improve on last year’s struggles.
There’s no doubt that Bell, who has three 1,200-yard seasons in his career, would be a huge part of the Jets offense in 2019. Finding a trade partner wouldn’t be easy either, and it’s best if Gase and Bell move forward with a strong relationship. That appears to be what’s happening here, so thumbs up to both player and coach for saying the right things in May.