Report: Gase opposed Maccagnan over Bell signing

Adam Gase and Mike Maccagnan clashed over the signing of Le'Veon Bell this offseason, with the former strongly against the idea of the New York Jets investing significant money in a running back, sources told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

The notion of a fractured relationship between the head coach and the former general manager, who was fired Wednesday, filled the rumor mills for weeks, but both sides publicly denied the existence of a rift.

Maccagnan was fired after four-plus years overseeing the Jets. Gase, who was hired as head coach in January, has been named the interim general manager.

Bell signed a four-year, $52-million contract with the Jets in free agency that includes $27 million guaranteed. The acquisition was generally lauded by traditionalists, but criticized by those in the analytics community who have questioned the true value of a running back, even one as versatile and productive as Bell.

Gase also wasn't thrilled with the five-year, $85-million deal Maccagnan gave to linebacker C.J. Mosley in free agency, believing the fee was too high, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Jets have finished at the bottom of the AFC East standings for three consecutive seasons.