ADAMS RIPS ’17 JETS, AND STANDS BY IT
Adams doesn’t regret calling out 2017 Jets’ losing culture
Jamal Adams may have talked around some of his critical comments, but he didn’t take them back. The Jets’ hard-hitting safety talks a big game and he isn’t the backing-down type.
“I don’t live with regrets,” he said.
And so it came as little surprise that the second-year pro stuck by his harsh words to Bleacher Report that when he arrived in Florham Park last year he entered into a losing culture in which “everybody was used to losing” and “it was like everybody wanted to do the bare minimum.” He ripped teammates for not knowing the plays, missing assignments and lacking the motivation to put in extra work.
“If I had to say that about somebody, that’s my opinion,” the former f irst-round pick (sixth overall) out of LSU said Tuesday after training-camp practice. “I’m a hungry guy. I’m a very passionate guy. I do things a little bit different as far as how passionate I am and when I’m on the field. In this world, not everybody works as hard as someone. Those things are left unsaid and we’re moving forward.
“I never want to bash any of my teammates. That’s not what I’m here for. Those guys know that. Again, it’s never going to be about me. It’s always going to be about the team and what we can do to continue to build this culture up each and every day.”
Adams decl i ned to say whether the players he was talking about are still on the roster. Furthermore, he doesn’t plan on addressing the topic with teammates about what was said, though he did have a conversation on Tuesday with Todd Bowles about the comments. Sometimes, when players go from college to the NFL, the quiet professional approach of some is hard to get used to. Losing can also be a difficult adjustment, and it obviously didn’t sit well with Adams.
“I think what he’s trying to say is Jets history in general, even before Coach Bowles got here, we won one Super Bowl, which is in [1969],” teammate Leonard Williams said. “He probably sees it as [we were] a losing program.”
The Jets coach, who disagreed with the notion his players were going through the motions last year, wants Adams to be smarter about what he says, but doesn’t want him to change, either. Bowles l i kes hi s enthusiasm and straight-forward approach.
“He needs to be himself and I’m happy with him being himself,” Bowles said.
Williams said had a similar take. He believes Adams had good intentions with what he said, that he was speaking from the heart and expressing what he believes it will take for the Jets to become a winner. Williams didn’t take the comments personally and doesn’t think Adams needs to clear the air.
“It’s a little bold to say all that, but at the same time if he’s not bold then that’s taking away from what he is. He’s passionate. He’s enthusiastic,” Williams said. “If I was to try to hold him back from something, that’s holding him back as a person and a player. I don’t want to do that.
“I’m just taking it from my perspective and I think he was meaning as a whole, as a team, as a program, to be elite we just have to take that extra mile.”
In that vein, Adams said he feels progress is being made. Players are bonding and working harder than at this point a season ago. He’s encouraged by the changes.
“Last year to this year, I see a big improvement, just as team, and we’re going to keep building each and every day,” he said. “[There’s a] different energy [this year]. Everybody is jelling together, everybody’s coming out here and working hard, everybody’s staying in the playbook and each and every day we step on the field we want to get better, win the day. That’s what we’re shooting for.”
If he begins to notice players getting too comfortable or going through th emotions again, Adams will say something about it. The safety expects to win and will let his teammates know if the necessary work isn’t being put in to reach that goal.
“I’m going to continue to be myself,” Adams said.
“I never want to bash any of my teammates. ... Again, it’s never going to be about me. It’s always going to be about the team and what we can do to continue to build this culture up each and every day.” — Jamal Adams