I want someone to test my objectivity. I USED to think Gase was unemotional on the sidelines. Now I think he looks like HE'S given up. Penalty? 'Whatever'
I think that's definitely part of the problem. In his press conferences he looks to me like he's experiencing a sense of helplessness that over time might make someone throw in the towel, emotionally speaking.
I think the error he made that might've lost him the locker room was in not attributing the problem primarily to Cutler early on, admitting his mistake in signing him, benching him, and turning over the team to Moore.
Now, I don't think Moore would've lit the world on fire under those circumstances (or any others), but I do think it would've kept the
players from quitting on Gase, if indeed that's what they've done.
If I were on the team personally, I would view Gase's allegiance to Cutler as ego-driven, and I'd feel like quitting on him as well. Essentially the message is, "I didn't make a mistake with Cutler -- it's
your all's fault instead."
And then if you consider the trade of Ajayi as Gase's
further inability to take responsibility for the situation (i.e., Cutler's effect on the team), well then you essentially have a situation in which it's Gase "against" the players.
Anytime the players are battling their coach and vice-versa, the locker room is gone by definition.