Jamal Adams is looking to move on after being critical of the New York Jets’ culture in a recent interview.
Adams, who made the All-Rookie team last season, spoke with Bleacher Report’s Tyler Dunne for a Q&A. In the interview, Dunne asked Adams about turning around the culture for the Jets, who have only enjoyed one winning season since 2011.
Adams said that when he first joined the Jets, the culture was lacking.
“Everybody was used to losing,” Adams told Dunne. “You can always tell that vibe. I came in, and it was like everybody wanted to do the bare minimum. They didn’t want to go above and beyond. They didn’t want to take that extra step. They didn’t want to be uncomfortable, [but] to be great, you have to be uncomfortable. You have to be willing to sacrifice and willing to do the little things. And the team, the organization, just wasn’t doing those things. It could’ve been two or three people on the team that were doing it and then the rest weren’t or vice versa. But if you’re not clicking on all cylinders with the 53-man roster, everybody upstairs, the staff, the whole organization, it’s not going to go anywhere, man.”
The second-year safety says that the culture with the Jets is changing and has become more positive. Still, his comments grabbed plenty of attention among the team and media on Tuesday.
Adams was asked about what he said and tried not to dwell on the matter.
Jamal Adams addresses his comments from a Bleacher Report Q&A in which he said, among other things, “When I came in, it was like everybody wanted to do the bare minimum.” #Jets pic.twitter.com/IxeZGxcVcW
— Andy Vasquez (@andy_vasquez) August 7, 2018
“Those things that came out, I don’t feel very strong as far as me saying that. I just came in, I was very passionate, I just wanted to do the best I could,” Adams said Tuesday of his comments to Bleacher Report.
“None of the comments that were said … it shouldn’t matter, we’ve moved on.”
Adams was asked specifically about his bare minimum comment and did not seem to back down. He made it clear that he demands hard work.
“If I had that to say about somebody, that’s my opinion. Again, I’m a hungry guy, I’m a very passionate guy … again, in this world period, 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.”
Adams’ comments could lead to some uncomfortable confrontations between him and some of his teammates, so it’s no surprise he wants to move on. Many people also seem to miss that Adams said in his interview that the culture had already changed for the better.
