Jamal Adams a dig at his ex-Jets coach after a zooming Seahawks debut: ‘I wasn’t bored’
Jamal Adams could not resist.
He had a dig he sounded like he’d been waiting months to use.
In July, Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams made news, and got Adams’ attention on the opposite coast, when he said following the All-Pro safety’s trade to Seattle that Adams “may get bored.” Bored, that is, because the Seahawks likely would not feature Adams on blitzes and all over the defense as Williams did in New York.
One game, a career-high-tying 12 tackles, blitzing all over the field, a sack, two tackles for losses, two hits on Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan and one rollicking win into Adams’ Seahawks career, he is having a blast, thank you.
“I wasn’t bored,” Adams deadpanned, unsolicited, following his starring debut in Seattle’s 38-25 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in an NFL opener like no other.
“I was blitzing. I was having fun.”
He flashed a smug smile.
It was as if waiting for his words to waft back to New York—the state in which Williams and that Jets defense allowed 21 points in the first half of a 27-17 loss at Buffalo Sunday.
Adams would have had an interception, too, the third interception of his career, but safety partner Quandre Diggs snagged that from him in the second half.
“Defensively, you couldn’t help but watch Jamal Adams. I mean, he’s all over the place,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “Twelve tackles and a sack, and was close on a couple others.
“Just made some beautiful plays.”
Adams was so effective when he blitzed into the Falcons backfield, Carroll was asked why he wouldn’t blitz Adams just about every play.
“I don’t know,” Carroll said, as if pondering the idea.
“Maybe we should.”
When they didn’t Sunday, Matt Ryan and the Falcons’ offense feasted. Seattle’s four-man rush generally did not pressure the 2016 NFL most valuable player—aside from two huge plays on fourth downs in the red zone by end Benson Mayowa to keep Atlanta from scoring.
Ryan completed 37 of 54 passes for 450 yards. It was the third-highest yards passing allowed by Seattle in a game. Only Ben Roethlisberger (456 yards in 2015) and Phillip Rivers (455 in 2010) have thrown for more against the Seahawks.
Adams was asked to compare his blitzing with the Seahawks by coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. in game one to what Williams had Adams do with the Jets.
“It’s about the same, to be honest,” Adams said.
“It might have been a little bit more. It reminded me a little bit of Todd Bowles (his Jets head coach his first two NFL seasons, before Williams took over New York’s defense), the way Todd Bowles used me my first two years.
“But, just out there making plays, man. Whenever my name is called or my number’s called, I’m trying to do whatever I can to help the team win—and get in the best position to get the ball back to 3.”
That, of course, is Russell Wilson.
Seattle’s franchise quarterback was brilliant again Sunday: 31 for 35, 322 yards, four touchdown passes despite three sacks, two of which came of the season’s first offensive possession. His passer rating was a near-perfect 143.1, extending his career-long excellence on the road.
Adams was asked how nice it was to sit on the bench and watch Wilson carve through the Falcons. The safety who had Sam Darnold as his QB in New York last season laughed.
“Not used to it, you know?” Adams said.
“It’s exciting...for Russ to go out there and do what he’s always done.”
Before the game, teammate Diggs, Diggs, Marquise Blair, Neiko Thorpe, Shaquill Griffin, Rasheem Green and Jarran Reed sat on the Seahawks bench during the national anthem. Michael Dickson, Ben Burr-Kirven, K.J. Wright took a knee alongside a team athletic trainer to protest racial inequality in our country.
Adams stood, with one closed fist raised to the open roof at empty Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“I wanted to not only stand strong,” Adams said, “I wanted to show that I’m a Black man and I’m proud to be Black. ...
“And I’ll forever be.”
After kickoff, Adams provided all the energy the rest of the empty stadium—and most of this surprisingly masked-up city—lacked. He was jumping up and down. He was high-fiving players. He was grabbing his helmet demonstratively with both hands, after a missed tackle in the first half.
At times it appeared some of his defensive teammates were just trying to keep up with him. Fellow All-Pro Bobby Wagner did. He broke up three passes—on one drive, late in the first half that ended with Seattle leading 14-12.
“He’s got so much fire,” Carroll said of Adams, who is still just 24 years old. “He’s an incredible player.
“Does it rub off? Yes.”
Seattle is also rubbing off on Adams. Already.
That’s fantastic for the Seahawks. They gave up two first-round draft picks to get him. And his contract ends after the 2021 season, when he’ll be seeking to become the highest-paid safety in the NFL, perhaps approaching $18-20 million per season.
“These guys were telling me, ‘I’m happy you’re here,’” Adams said.
“But I’m REALLY happy I’m here, man. I just see so much talent, so much great success coming our way. ...
“Obviously, it’s only one game. One and oh, that’s what matters. We’ve got to clean up this film and then get better for next week.”
That’s at home against New England, a former AFC East rival of Adams’.
Something says he won’t be bored for that one, either.
This story was originally published September 13, 2020 at 3:54 PM.
