Adam Gase says perception he misused Le'Veon Bell 'irrelevant' now
One day after the Jets cut Le’Veon Bell, the driving force behind that decision wasn’t interested in diving into specifics.
Adam Gase side-stepped questions about why things didn’t work out with the perennial Pro Bowl player in the past year. He also wanted no parts of addressing the wide-spread perception he misused the most talented offensive player on his roster.
“It’s irrelevant at this point,” Gase said Wednesday. “It didn’t work out… and we’re going to have to focus on this game right now.”
Bell was the latest high-profile player to get tossed to the curb under Gase’s watch.
“For whatever reason, it didn’t work out,” Gase said. “We’re going to have to… our team (is) moving forward to Miami. That’s the No. 1 concern for us right now.”
Gase’s 0-5 Jets have morphed into the NFL’s undisputed laughingstock, a disjointed and dysfunctional mess lampooned by the masses. The Bell saga came to an end after the Jets weren’t able to trade him.
“That was kind of the consensus we came to (Tuesday) night,” Gase said. “Spoke with him. For us, we just felt like it was best we part ways. It gives him an opportunity to go somewhere else.
“I want nothing but the best for him,” Gase continued. “He’ll get an opportunity to go somewhere else and have success. It’s tough. It’s a tough decision to make, but we felt like that was the best for us (for) where we’re at right now. And we got to move on to Miami.”
Does Gase believe Bell can still be a productive player in the league after his forgettable 17-game run with the Jets?
“I’m sure he’ll get an opportunity somewhere else,” Gase said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Meanwhile, Bell’s former teammates revealed their surprise upon learning that he was getting cut.
“It was surprising to all of us,” tight end Chris Herndon said. “He was a great teammate. A hard-working person. We’re all wishing him the best.”
Added wide receiver Breshad Perriman: “I was shocked. Le’Veon was a great teammate. Wherever he lands, I hope he balls out.”
———
©2020 New York Daily News
Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
