Jets coach Adam Gase had little to say Wednesday about the team’s move to release running back Le’Veon Bell.
Gase channeled his inner Bill Belichick and kept steering his answers toward the Dolphins, who the Jets play Sunday.
The Jets decided to release Bell on Tuesday night after failed attempts to trade him Monday and Tuesday. Bell’s time with the Jets will be remembered for his rocky relationship with Gase. Asked about the perception that he misused the former All-Pro, Gase did not say much.
“It’s irrelevant at this point,” Gase said.
Gase said that “it didn’t work out” for the Jets and Bell after the two agreed to a four-year, $52.5 million contract in March 2019. Bell played just 17 games and earned $27.5 million of that deal. His production was minimal and the two sides tired of each other. The breaking point came after Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals when Bell felt he did not get the ball enough. He had 13 carries for 60 yards and one catch for seven yards. Bell let the Jets know he was unhappy personally and on social media.
That led to the decision to try to trade Bell, but neither the Jets nor his agent could find a trade partner. The Jets opted to release him despite still owing him $6 million this year.
“In regards to Le’Veon, that was the consensus we came to [Tuesday] night,” Gase said. “Spoke with him, for us we just felt it was best that we part ways. It gives him an opportunity to go somewhere else. For us, I want nothing but the best for him and getting the opportunity to go somewhere else and have success. It’s tough. It’s a tough decision to make. We felt like that was the best for us where we’re at right now. We have to move on to Miami.”
With Bell gone, Gase said rookie running back La’Mical Perine will have a larger role in the offense.
“Getting Perine really involved is going to be critical for us,” Gase said.
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