FLORHAM PARK. N.J. — As Commissioner Roger Goodell responded to a fan question Monday about the link between football and degenerative brain disease by citing some of the N.F.L.’s efforts to improve player safety, one of those very players started shaking his head.
The rookie safety Jamal Adams, sitting to Goodell’s right at a fan forum at the Jets’ headquarters, objected to some of the rule changes — many of which, he implied, protect offensive players.
“I’m all about making the game safer, but as a defensive player, I’m not a big fan of it,” said Adams, 21, who was drafted sixth over all in April.