New York Jets GM Joe Douglas calls Jamal Adams a ‘core player’ and ‘dog’

New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas hops on ESPN Radio New York to double-down on his Jamal Adams love.

Credit Joe Douglas for his actions surrounding Jamal Adams. The man understands how to navigate through sticky situations.

Just a day after a Monday conference call on the heels of an Adam Schefter report that explained the New York Jets had yet to express “official interest” in Adams, Douglas hopped on ESPN Radio New York to double-down on his strong safety love.

“He was a big reason I was excited about coming here. I feel this guy is a core player,” Douglas said. “The main goal that I’m trying to do right now is to surround him with like-minded players, because we know Jamal is a dog. We have to surround him with guys that play as hard as he does, that love football as much as he does and can match his intensity.”

Adams, 24, is undoubtedly the team’s best player. Very few fans want to see him traded, and it’s for good reason. Of course, that doesn’t mean all is well in Jet land.

Adams is considerably underpaid for his services at the moment. The LSU product is currently the 27th highest-paid safety in the league while his first-team All-Pro honors from a year ago suggest he should be top dog.

Unfortunately, for the player, he has two years left on his rookie deal (a fourth year and a team-option). Very rarely are first-rounders extended prior to their team-option fifth-year.

Credit Douglas for his insistence on continuing to field calls on the player with the belief a relationship can be had despite that single fact. It’s exactly what Douglas is doing at the moment and it’s working (until proven otherwise).