After the NFL fined Jamal Adams five-figures for a late hit, New York Jets head coach Adam Gase is trying to make sense of the decision.
Jamal Adams was livid with the NFL after the league handed down a $21K fine for a late hit on Baker Mayfield. The New York Jets safety used some colorful language to describe how he felt.
Adam Gase is backing up Adams. The head coach can’t figure out how the league decided to hand down a fine for what was just a bang-bang play.
“I mean, I keep looking at it trying to figure it out,” he said on Wednesday. “I just keep thinking if he doesn’t throw it, pump fakes, and [Adams is] pulling up because he thinks he’s going to throw it and then he gets the first down running it — I’m just trying to figure out what’s the right thing to tell him as far as how to play that play. When I saw it live, I didn’t think that was a bad play.”
I can understand it much more if Baker Mayfield was still INSIDE the pocket. Remember, he's on-the-run when he's hit, making it look much worse.
Still, it's asking way too much from defenders to fine a guy for a clean, hard hit like this. @TheAdamsEra has to keep playing. #Jets pic.twitter.com/6Bx8noQq4U
— Jets X-Factor (@jetsxfactor) September 19, 2019
Obviously, with the way the NFL is officiated, seeing a flag for a late hit isn’t a surprise. The fine is a bit more shocking. The play isn’t nearly as bad as it looks.
Baker Mayfield is dangerous on the run and he’s not the type of quarterback who shies away from contact. If Adams lets up on that play, Mayfield is the type of player who can make a play when you least expect it.
Adams’ wallet is a little lighter after that Week 2 hit. But expect the Pro Bowl safety to continue to go full-speed no matter what.
