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Jets GM won't guarantee Bell's future: 'If teams do call, I'm gonna listen'

Michael Owens / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Despite just finishing the first season of his four-year contract with the New York Jets, Le'Veon Bell's future with the team isn't guaranteed.

On Tuesday, general manager Joe Douglas praised Bell but didn't rule out the possibility of trading the star running back.

"My personal experience with Le'Veon has been very positive," Douglas said, according to Danny Abriano of SNY. "He's one of our best workers, he's one of our best teammates. He connects and engages with everybody, so I can't say enough positive things about Le'Veon.

"Like I said before, if teams do call, I'm gonna listen," he added. "How those conversations go, I can't speak to that. That's hypothetical. When teams call, I will listen."

Douglas' comments regarding Bell come just one day after head coach Adam Gase declined to speak definitively on the rusher's future.

"He's under contract for three more years," he said. "I'm not the personnel, I'm not in charge of personnel."

Gase reportedly opposed former Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan over the signing of Bell during the offseason.

The former Pittsburgh Steeler signed a four-year, $52.5-million contract with the Jets in March, which currently ranks third among running backs with an average annual value of $13.125 million.

Through 15 games in 2019, Bell amassed 789 yards and three touchdowns on the ground while averaging 3.2 yards per carry. He also caught 66 passes for 461 yards and a score.

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