Jamal Adams likes to talk.
He talks a lot on the field and even more off of it recently. All that talking likely aided his exodus to Seattle, something he seemed pretty excited about in the immediate aftermath.
Now that’s he in Seattle, Adams spoke with the media Thursday about his future with the Seahawks and some of the less-savory moments from the end of his Jets career. He offered a lot of similar rhetoric he’s touted in the past, from feelings of love toward people he’s publically ripped to his future with his current team.
Let’s take a look at some of the things Adams had to say during his introduction to the Seattle press.
He wants to retire a Seahawk
Where have we heard that before?
When asked about his future in Seattle, Adams said “the plan is to retire here.” Just a few short months ago, though, Adams was talking about signing with the Jets long-term and playing in New York for the rest of his career. This past November, Adams even said, “I want to be a Jet for life, too” after Joe Douglas said that was the plan.
Adams wouldn’t go into details about his future in Seattle, though. He still has two years left on his rookie contract and the Seahawks can still use the franchise tag on Adams twice after that. He wanted an extension in New York that would pay him at least $15 million per year, but now he reportedly won’t ask for a new deal from his new team.
Adams wouldn’t speak on that but implied the report is true.
“We’ll worry about that when the time comes,” he said.
Ironically, he refused to wait for the Jets, who didn’t want to extend Adams until after the 2020 season.
Adams doesn’t hate Douglas, Gase
Despite publicly claiming Adam Gase wasn’t a good coach and insinuating Joe Douglas didn’t act in good faith when negotiating his extension, Adams said he doesn’t harbor any ill feelings toward his former coach and general manager.
“I have no hate in my heart towards anyone – Joe [Douglas], Adam Gase, anyone,” he said. “I wish them all well.”
Douglas emphatically denied Adams’ claims soon after the trade, saying that he “never promised” Adams a new contract. Douglas also defended Gase, while Gase said he wasn’t offended by Adams’ comments ripping his leadership.
Adams willing to help Ashtyn Davis
Adams said he spoke to a couple of Jets players and coaches after the trade went down. One surprising player was someone Adams never had the opportunity to play with – rookie Ashtyn Davis. Adams said he told Davis he would offer help and support hi in any way he could.
“I’m here to help you,” Adams said he told the third-round pick.
Ironically, this would have been one of Adams’ responsibilities as a leader and mentor in the secondary for the Jets. Davis – originally – wasn’t coming for Adams’ job on the defense, but now he seems poised to take on a bigger role on defense. Davis, along with Marcus Maye, Bradley McDougald and the rest of the secondary, will create a very different defense without Adams in the mix.
As for the rest of the Jets he talked to, Adams said he’s “pulling for those guys.”
“They said they’re going to miss me, they love me,” Adams added. “And it’s the same back.”
‘Love for Le’Veon’
Soon after his trade, Le’Veon Bell tweeted an apparent shot at Adams that ignited a fiery back and forth Twitter conversation between the two. It ended with Adams referencing the Jets’ Week 14 matchup with the Seahawks, to which Bell said Adams lied in their earlier conversations.
When asked about his relationship with Bell on SportsCenter, Adams touted a similar tune to his feelings toward others in the organization he appeared unhappy with.
“It’s nothing but love for Le’Veon, man,” Adams said. “I really do wish him well. Everybody has an opinion about certain things; that’s just the nature of the beast. I had to do what was right for my family and I. And hey, man, no love lost for anybody over there. Like I said, man, due to COVID and what we’re going through with the pandemic, hopefully, we can make it to Week 14, ’cause if we do, it’s gonna be a good one, man. I’ll just put it like that.”
