FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Instructed by his coach to defuse the controversy he created, New York Jets rookie Jamal Adams attempted Tuesday to clarify what he meant when he told a fan forum the football field is "the perfect place to die."
Adams said he was surprised his comments -- which he made while responding to a fan's question about the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) -- sparked such a firestorm.
"Honestly, I really didn't see it getting that far," he told reporters after practice. "I was speaking about being passionate about the game that I love.