Amidst social media criticism and disapproval from coach Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams remains steadfast in defending the motivation behind his now-deleted post, where he retaliated against an NFL reporter commenting on his performance.
The reporter, who covered Adams during his tenure with the New York Jets before the Seahawks acquired him in a July 2020 trade, shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday night depicting Adams allowing a go-ahead touchdown pass in a 41-35 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The accompanying comment from the reporter was a simple “Yikes.”
In response, Adams posted a picture of the reporter’s wife on X with the same “Yikes” comment. When questioned about crossing a line, Adams expressed frustration, stating, “Oh, it’s always the athlete who crossed the line when he responds,” and clarified that he aimed to convey his displeasure and deter further comments.
Adams acknowledged a history of animosity with the reporter, citing ongoing comments since the trade and prior disagreements. He admitted to being fed up, emphasizing that his primary goal was to halt the reporter’s responses.
Responding to another New York reporter who labeled him a bad person, Adams defended himself, asserting, “When others go low, I went lower,” both on X and in the locker room.
Coach Carroll acknowledged addressing the deleted post with Adams, expressing uncertainty about its appropriateness and emphasizing the team’s desire to avoid such incidents.
Adams, smiling, characterized his conversation with Carroll as “a great conversation.” When questioned about responding to criticism with a personal attack, Adams argued that the reporter’s comments were also personal and expressed his hope that the incident would discourage further interactions.
Reflecting on bringing the reporter’s wife into the situation, Adams expressed regret but reiterated that his ultimate aim was to make the reporter understand the need to cease interference. Adams, currently in his seventh NFL season and fourth with the Seahawks, missed most of the previous season due to a torn quad tendon.
