New York Jets safety Jamal Adams vented to reporters after a strong defensive effort for naught in Miami, saying he’s “fed up with losing.”
Jamal Adams experienced just 12 over three college seasons at Louisiana State University. He’s already long surpassed that number in the NFL.
The New York Jets safety was on the wrong end of an NFL final score for the 17th time on Sunday, as his squad fell to the Miami Dolphins in an ugly Sunday afternoon tilt. Speaking with reporters after the game, Adams unleashed some pent-up frustration.
“Honestly, I’m sick of losing. I’m fed up with losing,” Adams said, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “It (ticks) me off every time. I’m not a loser. I want to get back on the winning track. We’ve lost three straight? Come on, man.”
With the loss in Miami, the Jets fell to 3-6 on the season. Since Adams’ NFL entry as a first-round pick last year, the team has gone just 8-17.
Adams’ rant came shortly after one of the Jets’ strongest defensive efforts in recent memory went for naught. The unit allowed just 168 yards and seven first downs, both season-lows. Adams contributed seven tackles and two defended passes to the cause.
However, the offense failed to capitalize, scoring under 20 points for the seventh time this season, and turning the ball over four times. The latter errors were all interceptions from rookie quarterback Sam Darnold, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker.
That was the lone six-point score of the day and the deciding factor in Miami’s 13-6 victory. The Dolphins (4-5) have now won five of their past six meetings with the Jets, and Sunday’s win clinched a season sweep of the yearly series.
“I’m not going to hold my tongue for anything anymore,” Adams said. “I’m not a loser. I don’t do this for fantasy points. I do this for the love of the game. I’m passionate about this team and I believe in this team.”
Adams wasn’t the only Jet to voice his frustration, as receiver Robby Anderson would join him in venting.
Anderson, earning 32 yards on a quartet of receptions, called out the Jets’ lack of offensive fluidity.
“We’re having an issue getting down the field,” he said, according to Cimini. “I feel like we’re stuck, that we’re limited. Things aren’t flowing. It’s tough at this point in the season. We should be solving the issue and it’s hurting us.”
The third-year receiver also called out management for making no apparent progress in an extended rebuild. The Jets have not made the playoffs since an AFC Championship Game appearance in January 2011, and their last winning season came in 2015.
“I understand the emphasis on restructuring, rebuild, but I think everybody’s tired of that,” Anderson said. “I think that’s an excuse. We got to challenge ourselves and improve and make it happen.”
The current rebuild undoubtedly centers on the development of Darnold, the third overall pick in April’s draft. While it’s generally understood his maturation will be a process, other members of the Jets may be running out of time. For example, following Sunday’s loss, the leadership tandem of head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan is now 23-34 over three-plus seasons of oversight.
The Jets will get a chance to start righting their ship next Sunday, taking on the 2-7 Buffalo Bills at home (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS).
