Davante Adams may be the new guy in the NY Jets locker room, but he's already taking it upon himself to spark change. The six-time Pro Bowler delivered an impassioned speech to the Jets' locker room following the team's embarrassing 37-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.
Adams delivered what Aaron Rodgers referred to as "the realest speech I'd ever heard in a locker room in 20 years," calling out his new teammates, many of whom he had just met five days earlier, for their poor attitude and lack of effort in Sunday's loss.
Adams told reporters on Wednesday that he was disturbed by the Jets' "dead sideline," most notably following Breece Hall's 57-yard catch and run in the second quarter. "There was a lack of energy and urgency out there, and it was apparent," Adams told reporters.
The three-time All-Pro took it one step further, lambasting the Jets for "a waste" of talent on the roster. Adams believes the Jets are wasting the talent they have with poor effort and lackluster energy — and he's not wrong.
Davante Adams rightfully slams NY Jets teammates for lack of energy
It says a lot that a guy who had been on the roster for less than one full week was not only able to immediately identify a major culture problem with the organization but that he felt emboldened enough to step up and say something since no one else would.
That not only reflects very poorly on the Jets' coaching staff but also on the supposed leaders in the locker room. Adams insisted that he has experience playing on teams "that have a winning culture," so he felt the need to speak up even though he was the new guy.
Rodgers shared a similar sentiment when speaking to reporters on Sunday night, insisting the Jets' energy was flat before and during the game. That's less than ideal considering that game was essentially a must-win.
The Jets find themselves with their backs against the wall following a 2-5 start to what was supposed to be a Super Bowl-caliber season. Now, the Jets would be lucky to avoid another losing season, needing to win seven of their final 10 games to escape that fate.
It's not a talent issue., The Jets have a future Hall of Fame quarterback who, despite taking a step or two back, is still playing at a league-average level. They have a roster with as many as 10 All-Pro or Pro Bowl players on it. The Jets don't lack talent.
Adams believes the Jets' issues stem from their losing culture. They lack the necessary determination to rise above adversity, and without a winning mentality, no amount of talent can make up for the lack of discipline and accountability.
