Jamal Adams reporting to Seahawks training camp speaks volumes about Adams

The Seahawks started training camp on Tuesday and Jamal Adams reported. This says a lot about where Seattle might be in contract talks with Adams. But it also says a lot more about the kind of person Jamal Adams appears to be.

There is a chance (and hopefully a very slim one) that Adams does not get a contract extension worked out soon. He needs to be with the Seahawks for several more years. But Adams, one of the best safeties in the NFL, could walk at the end of this season. Players have held out of training camp for fewer reasons than players entering the prime of their careers and not having a contract beyond their current year.

Earl Thomas is one thing. He held out in 2018, came back and got injured and then famously flipped the middle finger to the Seahawks sideline as he was being carted off. Thomas wanted a contract extension and the Seahawks weren’t ready to give him one. Thomas was also an odd guy in the locker room.

Jamal Adams shows up at Seahawks training camp

Kam Chancellor’s holdout in 2015 hurt more. Kam, much more than Thomas, was a leader on the field and off. He held out for an extension as well. Seattle rightfully gave him one. Eventually. But Seahawks general manager John Schneider isn’t going to give in to a player, even one, like Adams, that Seattle gave up so much to get.

But Thomas and Chancellor held out. Adams isn’t. Jamal Adams wants to play football and, compared to other players, this is almost an act of goodwill to show up to camp. This also might mean that the Seahawks and Adams are close to an extension. Let’s hope that is true.

But really this proves Jamal Adams isn’t a prima donna who simply shows up to get paid. He shows up to be a football player and also be a leader on the team he plays for. The Seahawks need to extend Adams whether he showed up to camp or not. But him showing in training camp means he wants to stay in Seattle, which is a very good thing.