The season has come and gone for the Jets, with the first year of Adam Gase's term as head coach ending in a 7-9 season that got off to a tumultuous start and ended on a high note.
After a 1-7 start that included Sam Darnold's absence with mono, a rough start to Le'Veon Bell's career in New York, and Jamal Adams trade rumors, Gase and the Jets righted the ship and won six of their last eight games.
Gase held his final press conference of the year on Monday to cap off the season, so here are a few takeaways...
Bell's future in question?
After signing a four-year, $52.5 million deal to come to New York after sitting out all of the 2018 season, Bell -- who was an All-Pro running back for the Steelers in 2014 and 2017 -- seemed to regress in his new colors.
Bell finished the season with 789 rushing yards on 245 carries (3.2 yards per carry) and three touchdowns, while also catching 66 passes for 461 yards and another score.
When asked if he wanted to see Bell as the Jets' starting running back in 2020, Gase sidestepped the question and deferred to GM Joe Douglas.
"He's under contract for three more years. ... you can ask Joe tomorrow," Gase said.
Gase doubled downed on the answer when asked if he specifically wanted Bell back: "You can ask Joe tomorrow," he said. "I'm not the personnel, I'm not in charge of personnel."
Just a few hours after the press conference, Bell gave a subtle reaction to Gase's comments on Twitter.
https://t.co/csolpvucXt pic.twitter.com/RFNcgQLjq5
- Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) December 30, 2019
Gase on the broader scheme of handling personnel: "We're going to go through personnel meetings on Thursday and Friday and then we're talking through how we are going to structure this and kind of how we go through everything. I've never done it with (Joe)."
First season with Darnold
Gase was asked to assess Darnold's first season under his watch, and after a slight hesitation, he gave a quick summary of the year in his eyes.
"I feel like we had some really good games early where it was kind of up and down," Gase said. "Thought that he was really consistent here at the end. Thought he did a good job with really kind of honing in on specific things he wanted to work on, and got better at those things. And he did a good job of protecting the football, we cut the turnovers way down and I think we'll make a lot of strides in this offseason, with some specific things that we're going to kind of put together. We'll be able to go back and watch the film."
"A huge difference," Gase added on the fact that Darnold will get to continue in the same system two years in a row. "It's a big deal when you're going into the spring and not learning a bunch of new things. You're trying to get better with more of your technique, fundamentals, the verbiage and the offense and all those type of things, you kind of know those. That is kind of know those by heart, and that's where you can make a lot of strides."
Adams update
Some trade rumors -- most specifically with the Dallas Cowboys -- highlighted an up-and-down season between the Jets and Jamal Adams that had nothing to do with his on field production.
Adams was named to his second straight Pro Bowl after leading the Jets in nearly every defensive category, but the team's early struggles led to some frustration pouring out onto Twitter by the safety that caused a stir.
"You guys know where I stand on Jamal," Gase said. "He has been one of the best players I've seen play in person. He's done nothing but work extremely hard, fight through injury, be there for his teammates, make plays when we needed him to. He has been the heart and soul of our defense."