Jets DC wants Adams to stay: 'I love coaching him, I've got his back'

New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams spoke openly about Jamal Adams' trade request Thursday and publicly supported the disgruntled safety.

"You never, ever mess with a guy's contract, but I've got his back on those types of things," Williams said, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. "He has to get all that stuff settled, so now, boom! Get back into our setting and now we're ready to roll. He knows that."

Entering the fourth year of his rookie contract, Adams wanted to be paid like the All-Pro defensive back he is. He says he was promised a contract offer in the new year but nothing materialized.

Adams was the leader of the Jets' defense and the team's best defensive player.

"I think the world of him," Williams said. "I've had a chance to coach a lot of really good players, some already in the Hall of Fame, many others who are going to go in the Hall of Fame. He's going to have a legitimate chance, staying healthy, to be one of those guys that we're all talking about."

Williams remains optimistic that Adams and the team can come to a resolution and keep the safety in Gotham Green.

"I want him to feel good about everything that's going on. He knows when he gets inside the door and inside the white lines, there's a chemistry that's outstanding," the veteran coordinator said. "I've been through this before with other players. You can't get too emotional. I can't. I've got to stay levelheaded with that and just know that I can't wait to get a chance to coach him again."