Jamal Adams sounds humbled ahead of NY Jets revenge game in Week 2

It feels like a lifetime ago that Jamal Adams was roaming the NY Jets' defensive backfield as the face of the franchise and arguably the best safety in the NFL. Adams had made consecutive All-Pro teams and looked well on his way to a future Jets Ring of Honor induction.

A lot has happened since that time. Adams was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in a deal that gave the Jets the ammunition to eventually draft Garrett Wilson and Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Injuries plagued Adams' career in Seattle and he was prematurely released this offseason before he could finish out the record-breaking extension he signed upon being traded.

Now, Adams is trying to make an impact as a part-time player with the Tennessee Titans. After missing Week 1 due to injury, Adams is on track to make his Titans debut this Sunday against his former team.

Emotions will be high, but Adams took the high road when discussing the Jets on Thursday.

"I respect the hell out of the Jets. They drafted me. I mean, the Jets is tatted on me, man. It's part of my story. My father was drafted to the Giants, I was drafted to the Jets. My mom is from Yonkers, New York, and I have a lot of family up here. I still have my house there. It is still home. I am not making it bigger than what it is. I have a lot of respect for everybody over there. I am looking forward to the opportunity."

- Jamal Adams

Jamal Adams is seemingly done taking shots at the NY Jets

Adams appears to have changed his tone about the Jets in the years following his departure. While the former LSU star wasn't shy about voicing his many frustrations with the Jets during the end of his tenure and the early days of his Seahawks career, Adams seems to have matured from that point.

In many ways, he's been humbled. Injuries have unfortunately derailed the career of a player who was once one of the most exciting young talents in the NFL.

He's no longer the high-profile, top-paid safety in All-Pro conversations. He's a backup on one of the bottom 5-10 rosters in the NFL and didn't even sign with a team until the middle of July. Such a fall from grace would humble anyone.

Still, at just 28 years old, Adams has a chance to revitalize his career in Tennessee in a role that's expected to allow him more opportunities to play closer to the line of scrimmage, almost as an extra linebacker.

This likely isn't how Adams envisioned his post-Jets career going, but he's done complaining. He's looking forward to his Titans debut on Sunday against a team that once positioned him as the franchise's leader.

He doesn't seem bitter. If anything, he's appreciative. The "revenge game" narrative might be just that — a narrative.

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