Why Jets can’t entrust their future to Adam Gase

The Jets’ decision to fire Mike Maccagnan was understandable, but Christopher Johnson will regret handling control of his team over to Adam Gase. 

For better or worse (usually worse), you have to hand it to the Jets.

No matter how much the other New York teams crash and burn, the Jets will always find a way to dominate the headlines.

The Giants traded away Odell Beckham Jr. and reached for Daniel Jones in the draft.

The Knicks swung and missed in the Zion Williamson sweepstakes.

Yet no one is talking about those teams anymore.

This week it is all about the Jets.

Specifically, it is about the Jets’ shocking decision to fire their general manager Mike Maccagnan.

There were certainly reasons to fire Maccagnan. The team had limited success under his tenure (only 1 winning season over a 4 year span), and Maccagnan certainly missed on some key draft picks (Christian Hackenberg anyone?).

However, firing a general manager after the draft and free agency periods have concluded is shocking. Maccagnan invested a significant amount of cap space and draft picks shaping the 2019 Jets roster. If the Jets didn’t want Maccagnan’s fingerprints on the team, they should have fired him months ago.

While not being completely unprecedented, it is odd for a team to part ways with a general manager after the NFL Draft.

Despite Jets owner Christopher Johnson’s insistence that the decision to fire Maccagnan was his own, reports suggest that it was conflict between Maccagnan and new head coach Adam Gase that ultimately resulted in Maccagnan’s firing.

With Maccagnan’s ouster, Gase has been appointed interim general manager. Even when a new permanent GM is hired, it is likely that Gase will have significant influence over personal decisions.

Jets fans should be frightened by the thought of Gase running the organization. As the Dolphins’ head coach, Gase posted a mediocre 23-25 record. He might- emphasis on might- become a decent coach, but he has not shown nearly enough ability to justify being handed the keys to the entire franchise.

His lack of NFL success aside, Gase lacks the maturity and temperament to be the face of the Jets. Gase fought with reporters in Miami; there’s no conceivable scenario where he can handle the immense pressure of the New York media market.

Even if one was to ignore his past, all present signs point to Gase being a disaster in New York. He already pushed out the current GM. He risks alienating star running back Le’Veon Bell by suggesting that the team shouldn’t have paid so much for him. And he traded away Darron Lee. a former first round pick, for a measly sixth round pick in next year’s draft.

Apart from this recent fiasco, the Jets have had a good offseason. It’s possible they have enough talent to field a competitive and competent team.

However, if the team struggles early on, Gase will implode like a dying star, taking the whole team with him.

And once again, the Jets will be the biggest circus in town.