Jamal Adams Says the Jets Shouldn't Talk About Trading Him Because 'the Patriots Don't Take Calls on Tom Brady'

“I woke up Monday morning and I kind of found out through a couple of reliable people that I have a lot of trust in that I was being shopped around. You know, at the end of the day, I know he has a job to do and I respect it. I hold myself in a high regard. I’ve done everything they’ve asked me to do since I’ve been here for the three years. You know I didn’t take that lightly. I really didn’t.

“When my agent called me and he told me what was going on, it definitely hurt me. You know what I mean? I hold myself at a high level. The Rams don’t take calls on Aaron Donald. The Patriots don’t take calls on Tom Brady. You know what I mean? That’s where I hold myself in that regard.”
- Jamal Adams (actually said this)

I don’t have a problem with Jamal Adams. Not at all. He can come play safety on my squad anytime. He’s tough and physical and while it’s not his role necessarily, he can cover some. As Jets 1st round pick go, he’s been by far one of their better ones of the last 20 years. Even if he does have one count on his record of Attempted Mascotslaughter:

And I get the attitude you need to play defensive back in the NFL. I’ll gladly lay down my life before I’ll use the word “swagger” unironically. But you need that confidence. That edge. So on that level, I can live with him saying he doesn’t expect to be traded.

But, c’mon. Get serious for a second. Comparing yourself to Aaron Donald and Tom Brady is no way to go through life, son. Donald is the 3-time Defensive Player of the Year. Brady is … a sentence I don’t even need to finish because words would fail. Both are untouchable because they make their teams championship caliber every time they walk out of the tunnel. Adams – with all the due respect I’ve already paid him – makes the Jets … better than the Jets would be without him. And since with him their record is 10-29 for his career, that doesn’t scream “We couldn’t ever trade him! How dare you call me and even suggest we’d even consider such a preposterous notion?! I’m hanging up now! Good day to you sir!”

More to the point, for all the admirable self-confidence, why would a player in his right mind, in the prime of his career and getting toward the end of his rookie deal ever suggest he didn’t want off the Jets? Adams didn’t ask me for life advice. But if he did, I’d tell him that when Capt. Smith tells you he’d like you to go command a lifeboat, don’t argue about how you consider yourself one of the best yeoman in the North Atlantic. Just say “Aye Aye,” take your seat and start rowing as hard as you can for the Carpathia.

Believing in yourself is one thing. Believing you’re in the conversation with Aaron Donald and Tom Brady is another thing entirely. And believing that you’d be best off playing for the Jets is just insanity.