Adam Gase Says He Threatened Dolphins Players with Trade to Browns

Jarvis Landry wasn't lying when he said last year that former Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase used to jokingly threaten to trade players to the Cleveland Browns when they messed up.

As he and the New York Jets prepare to face Landry and the Browns on Monday night, Gase acknowledged on Friday, per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, that he did attempt to use Cleveland as a potential punishment to keep players disciplined.

This comes after Landry revealed to ESPN's Elizabeth Merrill in August 2018 that Gase jokingly used the tactic, citing the New England Patriots' October 2016 trade of linebacker Jamie Collins as an example.

While Gase may not have been serious when "threatening" the players with a trade, Landry wound up actually being traded to Cleveland in March 2018 as he sought a long-term deal. The Dolphins had placed the franchise tag on Landry during the 2018 offseason, but it was the Browns who were willing to pay up, to the tune of $75.5 million over the course of five years.

Following the trade, the wideout couldn't help but wonder if his landing spot was Gase's way of punishing him on his way out.

"I just felt like, for some reason, Adam sent me here to die," Landry told Merrill of being traded to Cleveland.

Ironically, the Dolphins and Browns each finished with seven wins last year—and missing out on the playoffs for the second consecutive season cost Gase his job in South Beach.

Gase was not unemployed for long, though, as he was hired by the Jets in January. 

New York generated some buzz by signing running back Le'Veon Bell during the offseason. However, it was nowhere near the type of hype Cleveland received following the offseason acquisition of three-time Pro Bowler Odell Beckham Jr. 

Now that the Browns have hope for the first time in recent memory, the threat of being traded to Cleveland may not be effective as it once was for Gase. It's also possible that the coach's previous tactics may have given the Browns some extra bulletin board material as they prepare for a Week 2 showdown.