Gase on losing two key defenders: ‘Next man up'

Dan Leberfeld responds

- Adam Gase

Q: What was your reaction to C.J. Mosley opting out?

Gase: We had multiple conversations. Whether it was his conversations with me or Joe (Douglas, Jets GM). If he wasn’t comfortable with the situation, he had the ability to opt out. He made his decision, and fairly early in the process he said he was thinking about it. We will obviously miss him this season. As always, we will have the next-man-up mentality. We do have a lot of depth at that position. Guys will step up and try to fill the void.

Leberfeld: The NFL and NFLPA made Mosley’s decision fairly easy. In the deal the league and union came up with to alter this season with the COVID-19 issue, they included an opt-out option for players. According to one of the provisions in the opt-out language, Mosley was allowed to keep a $10 million bonus he received in March, and also take the season off. Not a bad deal if you can get it.

I have no issue with the NFL and NFLPA allowing players to opt out who aren’t comfortable, and giving them a $150,000 stipend (they have to pay back next year), but to allow a player to collect a $10 million bonus, and then not play, that’s a little bit of a head-scratcher.

So now Mosley will take the year off, and as he put it, “kind of find that flame again.”

As Gase said, “Next man up.” The Jets showed last year if a team has a good pro personnel department, it can find adequate inside linebackers, and it doesn’t take $51 million guaranteed to do it. Guys such as Neville Hewitt and James Burgess played well at ILB after injuries to Mosley and Avery Williamson.

Q: Is Avery Williamson a good option to replace Mosley at the middle linebacker position?