In March, Bell signed a four-year contract for $52.5 million, but only $27 million of that is guaranteed, so his deal is essentially a two-year deal for $27 million. If the Jets release him this offseason, they will incur a big cap hit, but next offseason, a very small one. According to the NFL contract web site “Spotrac,” if Bell is cut in 2020, his deal will account for $17 million in dead cap space, but the next season just $4 million. So the ideal time for the Jets to move on from Bell, if they are inclined to do so, is in 2021.
However, we get the sense that it’s not a slamdunk he’ll be a Jet in 2020. A few things might need to change to guarantee Bell staying with the team next season.
Let’s take a deep dive into when the bell will toll on the running back’s Jets career.
Did GM send a message?
After the season, Jets GM Joe Douglas said something on 98.7 ESPN Radio that made a lot of news.
“We value Le’Veon,” Douglas said. “We value the competitor. We value the teammate. We’re excited (for him) being in our program another year, going through our offseason again.”
This quote was featured in a lot of Jets stories all over the Internet.
But in our opinion, most people missed the most significant part of this quote.
Everyone was focused on Douglas saying how they “value” Bell, but to us, the end of the quote was the most newsworthy: “We’re excited (for him) being in our program another year, going through our offseason again.”
This story is from the February 2020 edition of NY Jets Confidential.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2020 edition of NY Jets Confidential.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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