He can’t skip an offseason program that doesn’t exist.
Coming out of last season, which was a pedestrian campaign for Bell and the Jets’ running game, there were questions about whether Bell would be back this year. After the season, coach Adam Gase was asked by his antagonist, Manish Mehta, if he wanted Bell back.
Q: Would you like Bell back as the starting running back in 2020?
Gase: He’s under contract for three more years. You can ask (GM Joe Douglas) tomorrow.
Q: Would you like Bell back in 2020?
Gase: You can ask Joe tomorrow. I’m not in charge of personnel. These answers by the head coach led to speculation that Gase didn’t want Bell back. One obvious sticking point between the two men was Bell’s decision not to attend the Jets’ offseason program last spring, which was somewhat surprising. For a player to sign with a new team — new offense, new teammates — and not show up right after signing to get to work, learn and bond, is almost unprecedented. If anybody can think of another newly signed player who did this, please e-mail us with that information.
Now, this sticking point is off the table. Bell can stay in Florida, like he did last year, for the next few months, and not be accused of blowing off the offseason program, because as of now, there is no plan to have one. The Jets haven’t said anything, but one NFL team president gave us a sense of what teams are thinking.
“I think it’s very, very unlikely they are going to see any players at our facility this spring,” said Baltimore Ravens president Dick Cass.
It’s unclear if Bell was going to attend this year. He wouldn’t commit to it when asked at the end of the season.
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av NY Jets Confidential.
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Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av NY Jets Confidential.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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FIRST DOWN- A lot of potential, but a lot to learn
There is a lyric in an old song by the rock group Chicago that sums up where Zach Wilson is right now:
IN HIS OWN WORDS WITH DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JEFF ULBRICH - Ulbrich breaks down Jets' defensive personnel
(Marcus Maye) can do it all. I would feel comfortable with him (at free or strong safety). He’s a guy that, to me, he can play deep, he can play the half field, he can play the middle third, he can do that and you feel comfortable with it. I think he’s got range, speed and athleticism. I think he’s got ball skills and instincts to be a deep safety. But I think he’s got enough size and girth and want-to and courage to play in the box. It’ll be fun to utilize all the things that he does. He can cover tight ends; he can cover some of the wide receivers in this league.
Dan's Minicamp Diary
Becton bombarded with weighty questions
Saleh calls Wilson ‘relentless' as a worker
QUESTION SESSION WITH QB ZACH WILSON
Jets hope initiatives will increase winning edge
Aside from adding as many good players as possible to help the Jets improve, coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas are trying to turn over every stone to find extra ways to give their team a winning edge, and two examples of this were announced over the course of the offseason, with the additions of a game management coach (Matt Burke) and the installation of an Athletic Care and Performance Department. Let’s take a closer look at these two moves and how they might help the Jets:
Dan's Spring Camp Diary
This time of year for learning, experimenting, not stats
AUDIBLES-Saleh doesn't cave on offseason work
Tom Brady might be wrong about this one.
SAFETIES
Justin Simmons, Broncos 6-2 • 202 pounds • 27 years old
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Trent Williams, 49ers 6-5 • 320 pounds • 32 years old
LINEBACKERS
Lavonte David, Buccaneers 6-0 • 226 pounds • 26 years old
