FLORHAM PARK, NJ: It’s the kind of comments coaches make when they know the end is near.
Adam Gase, coach of the New York Jets, on his way to a possible 0-16 season, admitted Wednesday that he failed his boss, CEO Christopher Johnson.
“He knows like me [feel]”Gase told reporters.” I have told him several times. He deserves better, especially for how he is with our players, our staff, the coaches … anyone involved in this organization. I mean, I couldn’t ask him to work for a better guy. “
Johnson has not spoken publicly since mid-September, when the Jets were 0-1, but is expected to fire Gase as soon as the season is over. Gase’s record is 7-22, including a 13-game losing streak in the franchise.
In a thoughtful mood, Gase did not hesitate when asked if he had let Johnson down.
“Yes,” he said. “You try to figure out where things went wrong and what we can change. It’s like you’re trying to evaluate things as you go and it adapts …
“But in the end, it’s about winning. We didn’t. For him not feeling a playoff feeling, being competitive in December, I’m disappointed he didn’t be able to.”
The Jets have only had one winning season since 2010, which is also the last time they made the playoffs.
Gase and Johnson have a close relationship and talk in person after each game. Gase said Johnson is never angry, but “he’s like the rest of us. He wants to win as much as we do.”
The Jets not only lose, they lose badly. His point spread is minus-210, just four points from the worst margin in team history (1976).
They get 14.1 points per game and allow 30.2, which means they are on track to be the first team of the 16-game era (since 1978) to score less than 15 per game and allow more than 30 per game in a single season.
It doesn’t look like it will improve on Sunday, as the Jets will be on the road to face the Los Angeles Rams, who have the highest NFL defense.
Sam Darnold’s regression has been one of the main stories. Two weeks ago, Gase blamed the quarterback’s lack of development.
“I came here to help him, to help him develop his career, and we couldn’t do that,” Gase said.