The contractual standoff between Jamal Adams and the Jets reached a new level of ugliness last week, and security asked the team to give their agent permission to seek an exchange.
What happens to Adams will be the Jets’ preseason story. Here is a look at some questions surrounding this situation:
When is the next key date?
The Jets are slated to begin training camp on July 28. It seems unlikely that Adams will report on time, considering that he has made it clear on social media that he no longer wants to be part of the team.
However, it may not be that simple for Adams. The new collective bargaining agreement, agreed in March, makes it harder for players to resist. You may be fined $ 40,000 per day after the first five days of boot camp. Those fines can be rescinded by the team if the two sides reach an agreement. Adams’ biggest risk is losing a cumulative season, which can happen if he doesn’t report. That is a strong deterrent.
Why don’t the Jets pay him?
The dispute basically boils down to this: Adams wants a new contract right away, and the Jets want to postpone it, possibly until 2021.
There are good arguments on both sides. Adams is slated to earn $ 3.5 million this season, which is a far cry from what major insurers earn ($ 14 million per year). He is eligible for a new agreement since he has completed three seasons, according to CBA rules. Adams is the team’s best player and one of the few draft picks the team has hit in the past decade.
But … Adams has no influence.
He is under contract for two more years. The Jets risk nothing more than an unhappy player waiting to tackle their contract. There is uncertainty about the salary cap going forward due to COVID-19 and the possibility of a fanless season in the stands, something that prevents teams from handing out extensions at this time. It is also rare for players to get an extension after their third season. Only 17 first-round picks since 2011 got a new deal after the third year. Defensive cleats Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack had to wait until after their fourth season.
What if the Jets refuse to change it?
The Jets have no intention of trading Adams, despite his request last week. That could change, but right now they are planning to get through this for a while. If the Jets want to play hard, they can tell Adams that he is under contract and expect him to play for them.
Would Adams stay out of season? That is unlikely. Adams would be very expensive to do that, and it wouldn’t bring him closer to free agency. This is not like Le’Veon Bell sitting in the 2018 season when the Steelers applied the franchise tag. Bell knew he would be a free agent after that year, even if he stayed away.
The risk for the Jets is that Adams is miserable and becomes a disruptive force in the locker room. General manager Joe Douglas has said he wants the best culture in sports. If your best player becomes a problem, that will damage the culture.
What would it take for an exchange?
Although the Jets don’t want to trade Adams, Douglas has repeatedly said that he will always listen to offers. I think if a team dazzles the Jets with an offer, Adams will move out just before the regular season. The Jets would have to choose a first round and more. Douglas may be looking to win back a player in the trade, possibly a wide receiver or a leading runner, who could improve the 2020 team. I think a first-round pick plus a starting player or a premium pick package (first three rounds) ) would do it.
If there is any chance that this can be fixed and Adams is a long term Jet?
At this time, it seems that this relationship is irreparable. But things change. Adams feels lied to right now. He thought the Jets’ public proclamations of him as a “Jet for life” meant a contract was coming up. Adams does not trust the organization, and that has led us to where we are. However, money has a way of curing feelings. If the Jets decide to offer Adams a deal, I think these wounds will heal. The Jets may offer him a short-term “band aid” contract to increase his salary and make him happy, and then discover something long-term.
.
