News’ Manish Mehta answers your Gang Green Twitter questions
The newest edition of the Jets Mailbag examines whether Le’Veon Bell could outlast Adam Gase, the unflattering truth about life without Peyton Manning and Marcus Maye’s future.
Better odds to be back with the Jets after this season: Bell or Gase? — @EdelbergSam
Considering there’s virtually no chance that Le’Veon Bell returns to the Jets in 2021 barring (at the very least) a massive pay cut, I think Gase is the safe answer.
Bell’s four-year, $52.5 million deal was a de facto two-year, $28 million pact with a relatively easy escape hatch for the team after 2020. The Jets will save $9.5 million and incur a $4 million dead money charge against the 2021 salary cap if he’s cut loose after this season.
Truth be told, general manager Joe Douglas — who wasn’t hired until months after CEO Christopher Johnson and Mike Maccagnan wanted to add the perennial Pro Bowler — would have never signed Bell at that price.
We already know that Adam Gase wanted no parts of adding Bell, because it clashed with his running back-by-committee philosophy. Adding Frank Gore cements what Gase wanted all along: Multiple options in the backfield.
If you think that Gore is going to be a bystander this season (assuming he’s healthy), email me. I have some prime swampland down South that might interest you.
My understanding is that the 37year-old running back wasn’t particularly pleased with his sparse usage in Buffalo during the second half of last season. He’s eager to show that he’s got some juice left. Gore has had at least 125 carries in each of his 15 seasons. He plans on doing it for a 16th time.
Gase’s future with the team beyond this season is hardly guaranteed, but it looks like a fait accompli that Bell won’t be a part of the 2021 Jets. Bell, frankly, might not even make it to the end of this season depending on the circumstances. If the Jets are out of the playoff hunt at the trade deadline, they’d be amenable to trading Bell again.
Remember, Gang Green was open to dealing Bell at last year’s trade deadline, but his contract made it impossible. Bell wasn’t interested in re-working his contract to take less than what he believed he was worth to facilitate a trade. He took a principled position by sitting out the entire 2018 season. There was no way that he would have left money on the table to be moved at last year’s trade deadline.
Is Gase on any hot seat to make the playoffs this year? — @KyleEly93
Gase has been a part of only four teams with winning records in 17 seasons. Three of those four have come with Peyton Manning in the building. In other words, Gase has been a part of only one winning team in 14 career seasons without an all-time great quarterback on his side.
Gase has been the play caller without Manning for five seasons. His offenses finished 21st, 24th, 25th, 31st and 32nd in total yards, and 23rd, 17th, 28th, 26th, and 31st in scoring, respectively, without Manning.
Gase is 30-35 as a head coach in four seasons in the AFC East, including 9-24 on the road. He has not made the playoffs for three consecutive seasons.
So, I’ll answer your question with a question: Why shouldn’t Gase be on the hot seat if he falls short again in 2020?
What type of haul could the Jets potentially get for Marcus Maye? — @TheJetRanger2
I’m not sure I’d categorize any return for Maye as a haul, but a third-round pick would be a reasonable price. Sure, Maye is worth more than that, but interested teams have to consider that they’d have to give up draft capital in addition to signing Maye to a long-term extension.
I reported earlier this month that the Jets had trade discussions involving Maye. Douglas fielded inquiries and engaged in talks about the hard-hitting safety in the past year (and up to the draft) before deciding to keep him. Then, Gang Green drafted Cal free safety Ashtyn Davis in the third round.
Gase actually wanted to trade Maye upon getting hired last year before coming around (i.e. being convinced to keep him).
Douglas could opt to move Maye at the trade deadline depending on the circumstances at the time. (How is Davis doing? How is Maye playing? Are the Jets still in the playoff picture? Is Jamal Adams locked up on a longterm deal?)
Maye is a productive player when healthy. However, Douglas has no desire to dole out blockbuster contracts to two safeties. And it would make little sense for Maye to take a hometown discount to stick around.
If Maye walks in free agency after the season, the Jets will likely be in line for a 2022 compensatory pick. However, it would be better to get draft compensation for 2021.