NEW YORK Adam Gase is moving on and mostly taking the high road.
The trade of Jamal Adams was still a hot topic Tuesday as New York Jets players begin filtering into the team’s facility for the start of training camp, and the coach had a few positive words about his former star safety.For me personally, he’s an incredible talent that I feel lucky enough to (have been) around for that year, Gase said during a conference call.
The feeling, however, apparently wasn’t mutual.
In a story published last Friday in the New York Daily News, Adams was highly critical of both Gase and general manager Joe Douglas. Among those criticisms, Adams said he wasnt sure Gase is the right leader for this organization to reach the Promised Land.
A day later, Douglas completed a trade that had been in the works for several weeks, dealing Adams and a 2022 fourth-round pick to Seattle for a 2021 first-rounder, a 2022 first-rounder, a 2021 third-rounder and safety Bradley McDougald.
Every situation is different with every player and, for us, we always look at it as we want guys who want to be here, Gase said in his strongest comment on the situation. And obviously, he didnt want to be here anymore.
“So the decision was made to move on.
Adams relationship with the Jets had become contentious over the last several months, beginning last October when Douglas fielded calls from teams inquiring about the star safetys availability. Adams, who outplayed his rookie deal, wanted a contract extension during the offseason and felt misled by Douglas who insisted Monday he never promised an offer to Adams or his agents.
Adams requested a trade last month, but told the Daily News he planned to report to camp with his Jets teammates if he remained in New York. Douglas avoided any potential tension by trading away the teams best all-around player.
We want nothing but the best for him, you know? Gase said. “Hopefully he has great success in Seattle. Hes with a great coaching staff. Ive known a lot of those guys there and hell fit in great in that scheme and that organization. I really think, though, the whole situation ends up being a win-win for both sides.
And, for us, now its were moving forward.
But first, Gase specifically addressed one of Adams’ criticisms in the Daily News interview during which the safety said the coach doesn’t speak to the team as a group at halftime if they’re playing poorly and losing.
“We had two times in the second half of the season that we were down, Gase said. One was the Cincinnati game, and I addressed the team at halftime. One was the Baltimore game, and I addressed the team at halftime. One game he was in the training room against Cincinnati, the other one he wasnt playing. Its hard for me to answer a question like that when I know the correct answer.
Douglas defended Gase as being the right coach to lead the team right now, based on how he kept the Jets together during their 1-7 start and helped them rebound to a 7-9 finish. Quarterback Sam Darnold echoed Douglas’ praise without hesitation.Hes the right leader for this team, for sure, Darnold said on a video call. For me personally, hes helped me grow a ton as a quarterback in learning this offense. I just think throughout the weeks leading up to games, he does everything he possibly can to put us in position to win on Sundays. Thats my experience with Coach Gase.
“Ive had nothing but positive experiences with him so far.
Despite losing a player the caliber of Adams, Gase heads into training camp optimistic about his overall roster. Douglas added lots of depth in the offseason, particularly on the offensive line.
Its all about the locker room, Gase said. Thats where its going to start and end, and making sure that when that group is tight, then thats going to give us our best chance to win games. And I really like how this group has worked so far.
“It’ll be exciting to see these guys get on the field and come together and well see what we can do.
NOTES: The Jets placed CB Bryce Hall, the teams 5th-round draft pick, on the Reserve/COVID-19 list along with rookie DB Shyheim Carter. OL Leo Koloamatangi opted out for the season. … Gase said team chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson began calling every player on the roster to explain what the Johnson family stands for amid recent accusations that his brother Woody the team’s owner made racist and sexist comments while currently serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Working for a guy that is willing to single-handedly call every player on our roster, and hes been doing that for the last few weeks,” Gase said of Christopher Johnson, “Ive been very impressed with how hes gone about this.
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