Star wide receiver Davante Adams insisted he is committed to helping the Las Vegas Raiders win despite previous comments.
“Jimmy (Garoppolo) is a great guy,” Adams told reporters on Thursday, per Nick Shook of the NFL’s website. “Love him to death. I didn’t know him very well before he got here, but getting to work together a little bit, being around each other, getting to know him, he’s a great guy. Definitely excited about getting to work with him and everybody else that’s in here.”
The Raiders parted ways with quarterback Derek Carr following the 2022 season and then replaced him with Garoppolo when it was known that the Green Bay Packers were ready to move from Aaron Rodgers, Adams’ former teammate. Adams then sparked controversy earlier this month when he told The Ringer’s Mirin Fader he and the Raiders front office “don’t see eye-to-eye on what we think is best for us right now.”
Adams spoke glowingly on Thursday about his relationships with general manager Dave Ziegler and head coach Josh McDaniels, and the six-time Pro Bowl selection made it clear he doesn’t want to be traded this spring or summer.
“You can grab something and run with it if you want to get clicks,” Adams said about generating headlines ahead of organized team activities. “That’s what people often do with me and things that I say. Whether I misspeak or if I speak up. But at the end of the day, I’m a Raider and I’m excited to be here.”
Earlier in the day, McDaniels defended Adams and noted that the 30-year-old has “an opinion and a voice because [he’s] earned it” as an All-Pro.
“I’ve never been encouraged to speak up and share my feelings with the organization like I have with [McDaniels and Ziegler],” Adams continued. “I felt that from that first time that I got the call from them right after getting traded, that that’s the type of environment I’d be coming into. Just based off what they heard about me. The respect they have for things I’ve done on the field. And I try to give that respect back.”
Adams also suggested his words published by The Ringer were “taken out of context.” The five-year deal reportedly worth up to $141.25M he received in March 2022 will likely keep him married to the Raiders through at least the 2023 season, so it makes sense he’d attempt to clear the air before training camp.
“Like I don’t ever want Jimmy to feel a way, think that I didn’t want him here, or that I don’t like him,” Adams remarked. “I don’t want Josh to feel like — you know, I post a picture with [Ziegler] — and then they’re like, ‘Oh is it Josh that he’s — that must be the real problem!’ So, y’all can do that. If you’re that bored, like, go play Monopoly or some s—.”
