Jets coach Adam Gase says he had nothing to do with GM Mike Maccagnan's firing

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Jets coach Adam Gase had one clear message Thursday as he took questions for the first time since general manager Mike Maccagnan was fired. 

Nothing to see here.

Gase insisted that he played no role in the ouster of Maccagnan, despite numerous reports of a rift and the widespread perception that he won a power struggle to force the GM out.

"That would be false," Gase said when asked specifically about the belief that he stabbed Maccagnan in the back. "It's not true."

And Gase said he doesn't have a problem in the Jets' locker room, despite multiple reports in the aftermath of Maccagnan's firing that he wasn't happy with some of the contracts the Jets agreed to in free agency. Most notably: Running back Le'Veon Bell and linebacker C.J. Mosley.

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It seems like an awkward situation, but Gase says all is well. 

"Guys have been good," Gase said. "These guys have been great, they worry about practice ... these guys have been doing a great job, working hard and coming in every day to try to get better. ... All these guy have been great as far as just putting their head down and working." 

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Last week, Jets CEO Christopher Johnson made the strangely timed decision to fire Maccagnan after letting him run the team's entire offseason.

It's all led to unflattering reports about Gase and some fan backlash. But Gase, who has yet to coach a single game for the Jets, said he's not bothered by any of it. 

"That's fine, that's why I get paid," Gase said. "I get paid to take all the bullets. ... I think our fans care if we win or lose. If we win games, nobody's going to remember this. I know that. Our job is to win. Our job is to win. That's it."

Reports of a rift between Maccagnan and Gase first surfaced during last month's draft. Maccagnan denied it at the time. Two weeks later, Gase also denied he had anything but a good working relationship with Maccagnan.

But then the Jets made the stunning move to fire Maccagnan, with Johnson citing a lack of synergy between Gase and Maccagnan as one of the reasons. It made Gase look as if he was being less than truthful, but he defended his words Thursday. 

"I said in my press conference that what was reported was false," Gase said. "Me and Mike had disagreements on a few things, but there was no personal rift. That’s wrong." 

The Jets are still very early in the search for Maccagnan's replacement, according to Gase, who is serving as the interim GM. 

Email: vasqueza@northjersey.com