Jets head coach/interim GM Adam Gase didn’t want the team to sign Le’Veon Bell this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they’ll try to trade him just months after inking him to a four-year, $52.5MM contract. When asked about the possibility via text, a team source replied to SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano with a flat “No.” 
This should come as no real surprise – the Jets have already paid out $12MM in bonuses to Bell and that’s money that could not be recouped in the event of a trade. Meanwhile, any team acquiring Bell would only be on the hook for $40MM over four years with $13MM remaining in guarantees.
Hypothetically, that would make Bell more attractive to other clubs, but it’s hard to see the Jets getting an offer strong enough to justify that financial hit. In all likelihood, shopping Bell would not result in a trade and would only serve to create a divide between the club and its best playmaker. That would be a disaster for the Jets, especially since Bell is already aware of Gase’s opposition to his signing.
Over the weekend, Veteran NFL reporter John Clayton said that he could “absolutely see” the Jets trading Bell before the start of the season, but it’s hard for us to imagine such a scenario. Moving Bell would leave the Jets with unproven options like Elijah McGuire and Ty Montgomery in the backfield and make the Jets look even more foolish in the midst of a bizarre turnover.
Hmm…are the Jets…gonna maybe run Bell til his wheels fall off to get their money’s worth? Hope Bell kept in shape or he’ll end up traded or cut.
Running behind an inept offensive line might force him to retire earlier than expected!
Of course that was just nonsense. Makes no sense for them to trade Bell. Not only would they upset fans by doing so, they’d risk turning off other top FA’s in the future from signing with them. Already had to over pay a few guys to get them to come, don’t need to make it worse by ditching Bell before he plays a single game for them.
So Clayton says absolutely in the trade but no backup plan. Makes absolutely no sense.
I don’t think the Jets would trade Bell before he ever plays for them… but pardon me if I also don’t believe pretty much anything that Gase says at this point.
Gase needs to relax. Bell will be productive for the guarenteed portion of the contract
How much more could a player, agent, & team look dysfunctional than this? Want know why the Pats always win, look no further than their ‘division foes’.
How dysfunctional is this team that the question of trading a high profile FA who has yet to take the field is being discussed?
You know who looks dysfunctional? Clayton, who is just throwing spaghetti on the wall.
Typical writer. Always my opinion that the half the stuff a writer ‘hears’ is just stuff the team wants the reporter to report. Maybe 25% is stuff the writer thinks is a good idea, but has no basis in reality. Maybe 20% is stuff that a team will drop in their lap in exchange for more positive reporting.
Maybe 5% is stuff the writer actually sniffed out by themselves.
None of these things would be happening to the Jets if Ben were a better leader.
Or something.
Informal Poll. Who is having the worst off-season?
NYG for drafting Jones one round too early?
NYJ for general dysfunctionality?
NYM for trading for Cano?
NYK for missing for the 30th time in 30 years?
I love all those teams and I know the answer is E) All of the above
4 way tie!
Always wide eyed Gase does a lot of competition coke man
I forsee a hamstring injury in the preseason, returns week 5, reinjured it and its.done the rest of the year.
I wonder how Gase is going to fix this. He should not have said anything or at the least said “I had differences of opinion with MacClown about his personnel moves.” Mentioning specific players was such a rookie mistake.
Going to be a fun season!
Gase: “I meant to say I was opposed to Taco Bell…not L’Veon Bell”. DOH!
Opposed to Taco Bell? He needs to be fired immediately!
I say this about a lot of front office guys in baseball. Unless you know how to talk, you shouldn’t talk. Guys like Dombrowski can address the press without committing to anything. Cora can be critical of, Devers’ fielding for example, but without starting a fight.
As much as I hate the Yankees, I always admired Jeter’s ability to talk for 45 minutes without saying a single thing.