Jets Notes: Le’Veon Bell, C.J. Mosley, Adam Gase, GM Search

Le’Veon Bell

On Thursday, Jets HC Adam Gase was asked about the reports that he didn’t want to sign RB Le’Veon Bell to the contract they ultimately agreed to this offseason. 

“Whether or not we disagreed on anything financially, that’s a completely different story than the person or the player,” Gase said, via ESPN.com. “That’s where a lot of this gets misconstrued. Le’Veon Bell is a great player. He’s a good person.”

“No, the contract was what it was,” Gase added. “Everybody can criticize contracts all you want, but he’s here. I’m excited he’s here. I think the players are excited he’s here. I think the coaches are.

“When you get a chance to coach a great player, a guy who has done things nobody else has done in the league, like, we’re excite for that opportunity. I’m excited to get him in the offense so I can start figuring out what else can we do with him, and what he hasn’t done.”

Regarding the idea of possibly trading Bell, Gase made it clear that this isn’t a consideration. 

“That’s ridiculous,” Gase said. “That’s the first I’ve heard of that.”

C.J. Mosley

• Jets HC Adam Gase shot down the notion he wasn’t happy signing ILB C.J. Mosley to the record five-year, $85 million deal in free agency: “We did everything we could to get him. I think I took a pay cut. Whatever we had to do to get him, that’s what we were going to do.”
• Mosley was asked about the reports that Gase wasn’t happy with the size of his contract: “It doesn’t matter. I’m here now.” (Ralph Vacchiano)

Jets

• Jets HC Adam Gase told reporters on Thursday that they are at the “very early stages” of their GM search. Gase added: “It’s Christopher Johnson’s decision.” (Connor Hughes)
• Gase said he doesn’t necessarily need to have a previous relationship with the next Jets’ general manager, who will have final say over the 53-man roster. (Ralph Vacchiano)
• When asked if he “stabbed Mike Maccagnan in the back“, Gase said: “That’s not true. Christopher made a decision.” (Ralph Vacchiano)
• Gase did, however, admit: “Me and Mike had disagreements on a few things. There was no personal rift.” (Darryl Slater)
• As for trading LB Darron Lee, Gase said the Chiefs’ offer had been on the table for some time and he decided to pull the trigger before he arrived. (Rich Cimini)
• Albert Breer writes that while Eagles VP of player personnel Joe Douglas would be Gase’s first choice, each passing day increases the odds that he doesn’t take the job. 
• According to Breer, teams generally move very aggressively to hire their top target, but the Jets haven’t done this. 
• Jets first-round DL Quinnen Williams has a calf injury that doesn’t seem major. He’s being held out of practice for precautionary reasons. (Darryl Slater)