JAMAL BAWL

ADAMS NOT TALKING TO GASE AND DOUGLAS COMPARES SELF TO BRADY AND DONALD STATES LOVE FOR COWBOYS

“I hold myself at a high level. The Rams don’t take calls on Aaron Donald. The Patriots don’t take calls on Tom Brady. You know what I mean? That’s where I hold myself in that regard.” — Jamal Adams

Jamal Adams tried his best to thread the proverbial needle, repeatedly saying he was excited and happy to still be a Jet yet admitting he remains hurt and upset he was the subject of trade talks.

But his actions spoke even louder than the words that came out of both sides of his mouth. The disgruntled Pro Bowl safety wouldn’t even agree to a sit-down with coach Adam Gase and general manager Joe Douglas on Wednesday, not yet ready to clear the air.

“I’m not in that place right now,” the third-year pro and former first-round pick said.

His emotions were still raw. Perhaps the selfdescribed president is thinking of an exit strategy.

Adams sounded betrayed, after telling the two decision-makers he wanted to be a Jet long term before Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars and feeling both sides were in agreement. But on Monday, Adams heard from people he trusts that the Jets were shopping him.

“When I heard that, my agent called me and told me what was going on, it definitely hurt me ,” the emotional 24-year-old said. “I hold myself at a high level. The Rams don’t take calls on Aaron Donald. The Patriots don’t take calls on Tom Brady. You know what I mean? That’s where I hold myself in that regard.

“When you feel like you’re on the same page, and you have a meeting and you’re told something different, it sucks.”

A few hours after talking to the media, Adams added to his critical comments. In a tweet, he wrote, “you shouldn’t tell a guy you are the cornerstone of the team on Friday, that you won’t be moved, and then negotiate terms with other teams 3 days later.”

Gase declined to comment on the matter. But the first-year Jets coach doesn’t expect Adams to be sidetracked Sunday against the Dolphins.

“He’ ll be focused on Miami,” Gase said.

On Tuesday, Douglas said the Jets weren’t calling around looking for a suitor for Adams, but simply fielding calls from interested teams. That began a few weeks ago, after Adams removed the Jets from his social media bios.

Douglas shot high, reportedly asking the Cowboys for a first-round pick and two second-rounders. The teams never came to an agreement and Adams remained a Jet. In response to the trade talks, he tweeted that Douglas “went behind my back” in looking to trade him.

“I felt it needed to be said,” said Adams, 10-29 as a Jet. “I don’t regret it. I don’t.”

A few days earlier, Adams went to Gase and Douglas about his future with the team — Adams has just one year left on his rookie contract — and left feeling the situation was settled. It apparently wasn’t.

“That ’s the shocking part,” he said. “That’s the part that hurts the most.”

Douglas believes Adams is “absolutely” part of the long-term future of the franchise, praising his toughness and skill set. But at the moment it’s not certain whether Adams wants to be with the Jets beyond this season and he doesn’t know if they want him to be a Jet for a long time, either.

“I have a lot of goals and a s pi ra t i ons and dreams here in New York. I was told something and it didn’t happen that way,” he said. “For three years, I came here and I’ve done nothing but work my butt off, continue to improve, continue to be a great leader, continue to be a great teammate, and when you see certain things like that, you hear about it, you get calls, you’re in shock a little bit. At the end of the day, it’s a business. I get it. I understand it. I hold myself in a high regard and obviously they don’t feel that way.”

Adams, from the Dallas area, said the report by ESPN’s Ryan Clark that he wanted to be a Cowboy was accurate, but only when he thought he was going to be dealt.

“I would love to go to [the Cowboys],” Adams said. “I am born and raised in Dallas.”

Perhaps he winds up there in the offseason. Everything seems on the table right now. Adams was unwilling to say he plans to be a Jet beyond this year.

“For the future, I don’t know,” he said. “I really don’t. I thought I did, but I don’t know right now.”