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Sometimes we read way too much into the public comments of coaches . . .
On Thursday, Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams addressed the media for the first time this off-season, and he was asked myriad questions about Jamal Adams contract dispute.
One line he used got blown way out of proportion. Williams said, “I’ve got his back.”
This led some websites to discern that Williams had turned his back on Jets management in this matter.
The popular sports website, “The Big Lead,” featured a headline stating: “Gregg Williams siding with Jamal Adams in contract dispute.”
When I saw this headline, I almost choked on my iced tea.
I was on the conference call with Williams, and he said nothing of the sort.
The author of the story wasn’t on the conference call. He based this premise on a tweet from Jets beatwriter Connor Hughes, that was somewhat out of context.
Hughes tweeted, “You never mess with a guy’s contract … I have his back on that”
These these were two sentences, from a long quote, pieced together for twitter. Those sentences weren’t back to back. Let me provide a little more context. Here is the quote from the beginning:
“I learned a long time ago and it’s been well over 2,000 NFL athletes that I’ve had a chance to coach, is that the number thing for me, with my personality as a coach – you never, ever mess with a guy’s contract Let them get it taken care of. I have their back. I’ve got his back and on those type of things. He’s got to get all that stuff settled, so now, boom, get back into our setting and now we’re ready to roll.”
That isn’t the entire quote, but it’s the first half of the quote straight through. After this section of the quote, Williams went on talk about how much he admires Adams as a player.
But notice, Williams said, before saying, “I’ve got his back,” he said, “I have their back.” In other words, he backs all his defensive players getting paid, and he stays out the contract stuff.
So that an entire article on “The Big Lead” was based on a tweet, patching two parts of a different quotes together, sans context.
Williams made it clear, as a defensive coordinator, he stays away from jumping in to player contract disputes. He leaves that to the GM. As he said much later in the press conference following another question on Adams contract: “As far as contract extensions and all that, I stay out that. It’s not in my profile, not in my responsibilities.”
The bottom line is Williams must keep a strong relationship with Adams because he needs the player to play on a high level if he returns, so that is why he said, “I’ve got his back,” but by no means was he picking sides.
And fast forward to Friday, when Adam Gase, during a conference call from reporters, was asked by NFL Network’s Kim Jones: “Do you want [Adams] on this roster when the season starts?”
“Yes, I want Jamal on our team,” Gase said.
This lead to headlines all over the internet like, “Adam Gase says he wants Jamal Adams to stay with the Jets.”
How do you expect him to answer that question in an off-the-record press briefing?
I’m not saying that Gase wants Adams traded, but if he did, he certainly would say that in response to Jones’ question?
A couple of days ago, Adams camp, through a surrogate in the media, claimed Gase is the reason Adams wants a trade. Surely that had to tick off the coach.
But no matter how Gase feels, this is a question that can only be answered one way, unless you’re looking to set-off a firestorm. The answer really has nothing to do with what the Jets might do here.
So if they trade him, please don’t say Joe Douglas went against Gase’s wishes. Gase was answering this question the only way you could.
June 26, 2020
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