The second-year Pro Bowl safety was one of several New York Jets honored on Friday, winning the Curtis Martin Award voted on by teammates.
Jamal Adams is closing out his season with several personal victories. This latest one comes courtesy of his New York Jets teammates.
? @TheAdamsEra ? pic.twitter.com/ehDCJp98xu
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 28, 2018
Adams was one of several Jets honored during team meetings on Friday morning, as the safety was named the winner of the 2018 Curtis Martin Award. The accolade, named after the Hall of Fame running back since 2007, is the Jets’ Most Valuable Player honor, voted on by the players.
“There’s a lot of MVP’s on this teams,” Adams told reporters. “To be recognized as the one that everybody voted for, it’s all right.”
The newly minted MVP took special pride in the fact that the award was voted on by his teammates.
“We’re out there each and every day with each other. We build relationships and bonds in this locker room. To have guys respect me and not just on the field, but off the field, it’s an honor.”
Adams has earned 104 tackles and 12 pass defenses this season. He has also forced three fumbles and one interception. Already making an impact in just his second season out of Louisiana State, Adams will be one of three Jets representing the team in the 2019 Pro Bowl in late January.
[membership level="0"] [/membership]“That’s a young man that we drafted him and to come in here and see the growth and just the thing from his work habit has always been outstanding but now growing into a really bonafide leader for the team,” Jets defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers said earlier this month, speaking on his Pro Bowl nod. “That’s the way it should go, the guy comes in, works his butt off, does everything you ask him, plays his butt off and really somebody else noticed it.”
Several of Adams’ teammates were likewise honored on Friday. Receiver Quincy Enunwa earned the Ed Block Courage award, a league-wide award that features a representative from each of the NFL’s 32 teams. Enunwa worked his way back from a serious neck injury that kept him out of the entirety of the 2017 season. Friday wound up being a true day to remember for Enunwa, who would later ink a four-extension with the Jets.
Our @curtismartin MVP is @TheAdamsEra!
All of our 2018 team award winners ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/pzF8iVwmmG
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 28, 2018
Defensively, lineman Steve McLendon and linebacker Avery Williamson took home awards. McLendon earned the Dennis Byrd Award honoring the Most Inspirational Player. It’s McLendon’s second time receiving the award, sharing last year’s honor with current New Orleans Saint Demario Davis. Williamson was bestowed the Kyle Clifton “Good Award” prize, voted on by the Jets’ staff.
The Jets will conclude their 2018 season on Sunday afternoon against the New England Patriots on the road (1:00 p.m. ET, CBS).
