It took Davante Adams six days of being a Jet to see issues with the staff’s tradition and really feel the necessity to converse up about it.
Adams gave a speech to the Jets within the locker room following Sunday evening’s 37-15 loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
Regardless of solely becoming a member of the staff lower than per week earlier than the sport, Adams felt the necessity to converse up about what he perceived as a scarcity of power from the staff.
“Clearly, there was a scarcity of power and urgency on the market. It was obvious,” Adams mentioned Wednesday. “I’ve performed on groups which have that profitable tradition. Mainly, I took a second to allow them to know. I had reservations about talking up too early and being too vocal too early, however in my thoughts I mentioned, ‘F that’ as a result of we don’t have time. I’ve received to do no matter I’ve received to do to assist this staff transfer ahead.
“I wouldn’t have been in a position to sleep if I didn’t converse up on it.”
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers mentioned the speech from Adams was nicely obtained by the staff.
“I believed it was the realest speech I’ve ever heard in a locker room in 20 years,” Rodgers mentioned.
It could be attention-grabbing to know what Jets gamers who’ve been on the staff for some time thought of a participant who simply arrived telling them in regards to the staff’s tradition.
However Adams mentioned he was stunned at what he noticed within the sport in opposition to the Steelers.
He cited how the sideline appeared lifeless after Breece Corridor’s 57-yard reception.
“A number of these guys in right here haven’t been anyplace else the place they’ve gained and have had that urgency that it takes as a way to be an excellent staff,” Adams mentioned. “This staff being so gifted roster-wise, it’s only a waste to have all people on the market and to have a lifeless sideline like that.”
Adams solely had three catches for 30 yards within the loss, a disappointing begin to his Jets profession.
However Adams mentioned he doesn’t see his function as solely producing on the sector for the Jets but additionally altering the group.
“I’m not right here to be the savior,” Adams mentioned. “The entire world … [Donald] Trump was on the sport. I’m undecided if that was due to me or not. All people is sitting right here anticipating it to be me go on the market and put up 200 yards and three [touchdowns]. That’s a storybook ending. Clearly, that may have been superb if that occurred. I’m right here to assist shift this tradition greater than something.”
Adams mentioned he obtained optimistic suggestions from everybody within the locker room, together with the “proprietor,” presumably that was Woody Johnson, though Christopher Johnson was additionally within the room.
The truth that Adams needed to be the one to talk up may level to a management void on the staff previous to his arrival.
“I may see it in all people’s eyes that it was one thing that that they had by no means heard or been uncovered to,” Adams mentioned. “That’s a part of the issue.”
Adams has performed for the Packers and the Raiders, two franchises with proud histories.
However the Raiders haven’t had a lot success lately both.
Nonetheless, Adams mentioned the Raiders gamers supported one another even on the finish of losses, one thing he didn’t see from the Jets.
A reporter requested Adams who’s accountable for the Jets tradition.
“It’s on all people,” Adams mentioned. “Anytime a corporation is on a shedding streak or a shedding group for those which might be … I’m not going to name any group that I’m part of a shedding group however clearly there’s been a few of that previously lately round right here and it’s somewhat little bit of every part, clearly personnel.
“However I’d say with this staff it’s extra simply studying the best way to win and what it takes, the small issues that essentially don’t have to come back from the proprietor or the final supervisor. That is one thing you’ll be able to resolve inside the staff when you have the proper individuals in right here, guys that know the best way to win. It’s not nearly having good gamers as a result of we have now that. You’ve received to have guys that perceive and have gained generally and that’s an enormous cause why I’m right here.”