Ballot buster
Voting has Adams on track for Pro Bowl spot
From the lips of Jamal Adams’ Twitter account to voting fans’ ears.
Almost a year after the Jets safety vowed on social media to never again miss a Pro Bowl, he is living up to his word and has put himself in a good spot to be in Orlando, Fla., for the Jan. 27 game.
Not much has gone right for the Jets this year, but Adams’ progression in his sophomore season has consistently been one of the bright spots. He has been the team’s best player on either side of the ball while emerging into a passionate leader, certifying himself as a building block of the future for a team in need of more of them.
Of course he would like to be preparing for a bigger game than playing in the Pro Bowl each year, but for this season at least, Adams has all but assured himself of a ticket to the annual showcase of the NFL’s best.
“Obviously I’m not going to sit here and say it doesn’t [mean anything],” Adams said. “That’s definitely been a dream of mine to make the Pro Bowl. But am I focused on it? No. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
Adams was more pointed in his Pro Bowl opinions last December, when after missing the cut, he tweeted, “I won’t miss another Pro Bowl. Believe that.” He also said then that he didn’t deserve to make it. As for this year, Adams said he is “working on it.”
In the latest fan voting update issued Wednesday, Adams led all safeties with 136,376 votes. Voting ends on Dec. 13 before rosters are announced five days later. The fan voting counts for one-third, with coaches and players also weighing in.
Adams’ 77 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one interception only tell a small part of his value. The Jets have moved him all over the field, often playing him in the box in addition to his duties down the field.
“I think Jamal is right up there with some of the best safeties in the league,” defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson said. “He’s making a ton of plays, he’s playing hard, he’s playing physical, he brings so much energy to the game and to the team. I think he’s doing a hell of a job.”
Last Sunday, Adams had another strong game while spending plenty of time tracking down Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. He did not want to look back at that battle on Thursday, but he seemed to shed some light on it Monday when he tweeted a picture of himself breaking up a pass to Gronkowski with the caption, “You don’t have to like me, but YOU WILL respect me!”
Asked about the tweet on Thursday, and if it meant he wasn’t getting enough respect, Adams kept that to himself, insisting everyone would have a different opinion on it. But it doesn’t seem that a Pro Bowl invite alone would satisfy his hunger for respect.
“I push myself to a higher standard,” Adams said. “That’s all that is.”
What’s clear is that Adams hasn’t leveled off after a solid rookie year. Coach Todd Bowles said the LSU product has made his biggest strides this season mentally, with help from his film study.
“Huge difference,” Adams said. “I’m seeing it more, I’m calling out plays. The game has slowed down a lot. I give credit to my coaches because they taught me everything.”
And he doesn’t sound like a man ready to settle any time soon, even if that first Pro Bowl invite does come his way.
“I don’t limit myself when it comes to getting better,” Adams said. “As long as I continue to focus on film study, I think the sky’s the limit.”