Peddle to the metal

He’s definitely taking advantage of his limited time in charge.

Yesterday, the Jets waived rookie wide receiver Xavier Ubosi, a player claimed a couple of weeks ago off waivers from New England.

Clearly Ubosi was a guy that Mike Maccagnan and his right hand man Brian Heimerdinger (a driving force behind lot of waiver claims the last four years) liked, but clearly Gase wasn’t a fan.

Two things here. First off, maybe the new regime will stop the incessant waiver claims, almost a fantasy football mentality. We heard over and over from the old regime about guys they claimed, “We liked him coming out.”

That is fine that you “liked him coming out,” but New England bounced these two guys pretty quickly. They have exacting standards up there. I’m not saying they don’t make mistake, but rarely do New England castoffs shine elsewhere. Not saying Belichick is always right, but use his pink slips as a warning that something is amiss.

There was no reason for the Jets to claim Ubosi. They have enough young, developing receivers.

So moving forward, yes claim guys, but stop the fantasy football mentality. Make claims, but not as many. An overabundance of claims put extra pressure on the assistant coaches who have to start teaching new guys the system from square one.

It’s a little surprising that the Jets are allowing Gase to make so many moves while interim general manager. Historically, you look at the work of interim general managers, in any sport, and they generally make very few moves. They are almost like a fire alarm – “break glass in case of emergency.” Meaning they generally lay back and do little unless something absolutely has to be done, where a team has no choice like replacing an injured or suspended player.

Usually, you would chill out, and let the new GM, especially one who will have final say of the roster, do the heavy-lifting.

But Gase is clearly taking advantage of his window of opportunity to make moves, and there is little oversight.

Yes, Christopher Johnson, the owner, is his boss, but he generally stays out of minor personnel moves. Moving on from Ubosi or signing punter Matt Darr, aren’t the kind of things he gets involved with.

Obviously if Gase attempted to trade Le’Veon Bell, which John Clayton thinks he might do, the owner would have to check off on that.

But signing wide receiver Deonte Thompson or cutting a former fifth-round pick in Jordan Leggett, that really isn’t stuff Christopher involves himself with. Most owners don’t. They are more into the big game hunting.

Like the Darron Lee trade. Trading a former first-round pick is a big deal, but the Jets were already trying to do that before Maccagnan was fired, so it was just a matter of pulling the trigger and taking a sixth-round pick (which is pretty good when you watch tape of the Jets’ run defense).

However, some of these moves might be a wink-wink between Gase and the new GM, if it’s going to be Joe Douglas. Gase might know who the new GM’s likes and dislikes.

But the bottom like is Gase has been pretty bold for an interim GM. Manish Mehta announced that he fired a scout. That is pretty unusual for an interim GM. Usually that is left to the guy who will take the job and evaluate the coaching staff.

Gase taking the ball and running with it, however long he has the ball.

May 22, 2019