The Jets shouldn’t have said anything about Adam Gase

The New York Jets have been torturing their fans for 51 years. What’s another dig? On Wednesday, owner Christopher Johnson spoke to the local media during a press conference on a variety of topics. One of them? The status of embattled head coach Adam Gase.

Adam Gase was hired in January to replace Todd Bowles, and it hasn’t gone smoothly. After the team fired general manager Mike Maccagnan in the immediate aftermath of the draft, word spread that Gase wasn’t on board with signing running back Le’Veon Bell.

Now, after a 2-7 start and one odd presser after the next, Johnson is standing up for Adam Gase. In fact, he’s guaranteeing the Jets won’t be changing coaches during or after this season, committing to Gase for 2020. Per NFL.com:

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“I want to assure you there will be no changes in coaches here. Adam has the trust of this team. He has the trust of Sam (Darnold). He has (general manager) Joe’s (Douglas) trust. He has my trust. He’s a good man. He’s a good coach.”

The comment is perplexing on a few levels. With Joe Douglas installed as the general manager this spring, shouldn’t Douglas be making this call. He should control who the head coach is, although it appears Johnson is a man pulling rank.

Additionally, the Jets have been atrocious this year. They’ve won two games and lost comically to the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football (at home, no less). They also handed the previously-winless Miami Dolphins their first win of the season two weeks ago, and in somewhat convincing fashion.

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The most confounding part of the statement is why Johnson would say Gase is safe for, essentially, two seasons. Why give such support to a coach who hasn’t earned an ounce of it? Nobody would expect Johnson — or Douglas for that matter — to come out strongly for Gase right now. The wait-and-see approach would bot only be expected but would also be appropriate.

Instead, Johnson now puts himself in a corner.

If New York tumbles to a two or three-win finish, the Jets faithful will be screaming for change. Should he stay true to his word, the fan base will once again be questioning the competence of the organization. If Johnson changes course and fires Gase, his word is no longer meaningful moving forward, something prospective coaches will note.

The Jets could have said nothing and been in good position moving forward. Instead, Johnson put them in a questionable light and tough bind.