Jamal Adams apologizes to NFL doctor he berated after concussion, NFL considers sanction
Jamal Adams realizes he challenged a doctor overseeing one of the few systems the NFL has to protect players during their violent games.
He also realizes the league may take action against him for doing it.
For that, he is sorry.
The Seahawks’ three-time Pro Bowl safety posted on his social-media account Wednesday an apology to the independent doctor and NFL concussion supervisor whom he angrily confronted. That was upon determination Monday night he would miss the remainder of Seattle’s win at the New York Giants because of a concussion.
Adams was playing in his first game in 13 months. It was his return following his frustratingly long recovery from a torn quadriceps tendon.
Nine plays into Monday’s game Adams leaned, lost his balance, lowered his head and got hit in the side of the helmet by the knee of Daniel Jones. That was on a run by the Giants’ quarterback on New York’s first offensive possession.
Adams was obviously woozy. He needed the help of Seahawks trainers to stand and get off the field to the sidelines. He went into the blue medical observation tent behind Seattle’s bench for observation. An NFL concussion supervisor, conspicuous by his red league cap, joined Adams and Seahawks doctors and trainers inside the tent.
Adams briefly came out of the tent with the concussion advisor, then went back in with him. A minute later they emerged again, with Adams yelling and pointing at the league’s man. The safety had to be separated from him by Seahawks staffers. They eventually walked Adams behind the bench and around the sideline, behind the end zone and into the Seahawks locker room.
Then came the announcement in the press box at MetLife Stadium that Adams was out for the remainder of the game with a concussion.
“First and foremost, I want to apologize to the OG. You did everything right when you realized I was concussed, I apologize for any negative energy I brought your way,” Adams posted on his account they used to call Twitter.
“Watching the replay, I am thankful for your patience knowing I wasn’t myself in that moment. You’re a real one and you serve a great purpose that benefits the NFL and so many players. Prioritizing player’s health is essential. Much respect to you!”
The league has medical professionals as spotters in the press box who have direct communication means with the referee and has the ability to stop a game to aid a player the spotter believe may be concussed. The NFL also has independent doctors on the field, on the sideline, to supervise actions and evaluations following a suspected concussion. He and the press-box spotter are assigned to games with the joint approval of the NFL and the NFL Players’ Association. They are conspicuous at games by the red caps with the NFL logo they wear.
After the game, those in the Seahawks’ locker room familiar with the NFL’s system for spotting possible concussions weren’t sure what the league might do about a player confronting one of the people it employs to protect concussed players from re-entering games.
The league reportedly has been considering disciplining Adams.
At a minimum, Adams’ statement seeks the higher ground in any action the league may be considering in response to the safety’s actions with the NFL sideline supervisor.
Friday, Adams said he’d been in “a dark place” and considered retirement during his 13 months out with a torn quadriceps tendon. Teammates understood Adams’ frustration when the independent doctor on the sideline Monday night concurred that he should miss the remainder of his return game after just nine plays.
But...
“Obviously a tough situation,” Seahawks safety Julian Love said inside the visiting locker room after the game late Monday night. “It’s ... I mean, that’s a lonely place. It’s very tough.
“It was his homecoming, as well,” Love said of Adams, a former star with the New York Jets.
“But we’ll get back at it. We have a bye, so he’ll get back to us. Because that’s really going to be a really dangerous personnel package for us.
Seattle used Adams joining Love and Pro Bowl veteran Quandre Diggs in a three-safety scheme for all nine snaps Adams played before his concussion. Adams had two tackles and nearly a sack blitzing Jones twice in those nine plays.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll pulled his head back and winced when asked how frustrating Monday was for Adams.
“He’s going to be OK,” Carroll said. “You saw it: He got kicked in the head, so he misses this game. But the preparation, to get him to this and then with the week off (this week is Seattle’s bye), he’s going to be fine, for sure.
“It’s just a little glitch, right now.”
The Seahawks (3-1) next play Oct. 15 at Cincinnati (1-3).
