ADAMS AT A GLANCE:
• A ninth-year player who has played 130 career games with Denver (2012), Cleveland (2007-11) and San Francisco (2004-06), combining for 66 starts at both safety positions and cornerback.
• Set a career high with 11 pass breakups in 2012, which tied for fifth in the NFL by an undrafted player.
• Started a career-high 16 games for Cleveland at free safety in 2011 and helped the Browns finish with the NFL’s second-ranked pass defense (184.9 ypg).
• Owns 16 career takeaways (12 INTs, 4 FR) in addition to contributing 67 special-teams tackles in eight NFL seasons.
• Received the 2011 Dino Lucarelli Good Guy Award from the Cleveland Chapter of the Professional Football Writers’ Association.
• Opened 23-of-43 career games at the University of Delaware, earning second-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors as a senior in 2003 while helping guide the Blue Hens to the Division I-AA National Championship.
• Joined the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent on March 16, 2012.
• Entered the NFL with San Francisco as a college free agent on April 28, 2004.
ADAMS AT A GLANCE:
• A ninth-year player who has played 130 career games with Denver (2012), Cleveland (2007-11) and San Francisco (2004-06), combining for 66 starts at both safety positions and cornerback.
• Set a career high with 11 pass breakups in 2012, which tied for fifth in the NFL by an undrafted player.
• Started a career-high 16 games for Cleveland at free safety in 2011 and helped the Browns finish with the NFL’s second-ranked pass defense (184.9 ypg).
• Owns 16 career takeaways (12 INTs, 4 FR) in addition to contributing 67 special-teams tackles in eight NFL seasons.
• Received the 2011 Dino Lucarelli Good Guy Award from the Cleveland Chapter of the Professional Football Writers’ Association.
• Opened 23-of-43 career games at the University of Delaware, earning second-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors as a senior in 2003 while helping guide the Blue Hens to the Division I-AA National Championship.
• Joined the Broncos as an unrestricted free agent on March 16, 2012.
• Entered the NFL with San Francisco as a college free agent on April 28, 2004.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Signed by San Francisco as a college free agent 4/28/04; Waived by San Francisco 9/4/04; Signed by San Francisco (practice squad) 9/6/04; Signed by San Francisco (active roster) 11/13/04; Signed by Cleveland 4/2/07; Re-signed by Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent 3/6/09; Signed by Denver as an unrestricted free agent 3/16/12.
Adams’ Single-Game Highs
(Postseason in parentheses)
Tackles — 12 at New England, 10/7/12 (2 vs. Baltimore, 1/12/13). Interceptions — 2 vs. Houston, 1/1/06 (None). Interception return yards — 36 vs. Houston, 1/1/06 (None). Sacks — 1, five times, last at Carolina, 11/11/12 (none). Sack yards — 10 vs. N.Y. Jets, 11/14/10 (none).
2012: Adams started all 16 games for the second straight season and posted career highs with 80 tackles, which ranked second on the team, and 11 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries... Matched a career single-game high with three pass breakups and tied for third on the team with four tackles (all solo) in Denver’s season-opening win vs. Pit. (9/9)... Led the Broncos with eight tackles and broke up a third-down pass to thwart a potential Falcons scoring drive at Atl. (9/17)... Led the team with three pass breakups to tie his career high vs. Hou. (9/23)... Tied his career season best with his eighth pass breakup of the year vs. Oak. (9/30)... Set a career high with 12 tackles, tying for the team lead, while also recovering one fumble at N.E. (10/7)... Sacked Cam Newton in the end zone for his fifth career sack and first career safety at Car. (11/11)... Made one QB hit vs. S.D. (11/19)... Forced a fumble in the fourth quarter and finished second on the team with five tackles at K.C. (11/25)... Finished second on the team with five tackles and hit QB Joe Flacco to force a third-down incompletion at Bal. (12/16)... Broke up two passes to set a career single-season high with 10 on the season and added a QB hit that forced an incompletion vs. Cle. (12/23)... Was part of a Broncos secondary that gave up just 26 passing yards vs, K.C. (12/30), which represented the fewest allowed in any NFL game during the 2012 season... Appeared in his first career playoff game and made two solo stops with one pass breakup vs. Bal. (1/12).
2011: Adams started all 16 games for the first time in his career and totaled 61 tackles (41 solo), a team-high three interceptions (33 yds.), six passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for the league’s second-ranked pass defense... Contributed three tackles on special teams... Recorded a takeaway (2 INT, 1 FR) in three consecutive games in Weeks 3-5... Tied a career high with 10 tackles (6 solo) and added an interception vs. Pit. (1/1).
2010: Adams played 15 games (2 starts) for Cleveland and posted 34 tackles (31 solo), one sack (10 yds.), two interceptions (51 yds.) and six passes defensed to go along with 10 special-teams stops. Helped the Browns' kickoff coverage unit lead the NFL by allowing just 17.8 yards per return.
2009: Adams appeared in all 16 games, opening six contests at cornerback and three others at safety, while tallying 61 tackles (52 solo), one sack (6 yds.), a career-best eight passes defensed and one fumble recovery... Added 10 tackles on special-teams units to rank fourth on the club.
2008: Adams saw time in 14 games (5 starts) at strong safety for the Browns and recorded 42 tackles (20 solo), two interceptions (18 yds.), three passes defensed and one fumble recovery... Posted four special-teams stops.
2007: Adams played 15 games (0 starts) in his first season with Cleveland and totaled 11 tackles (9 solo) with one sack (7 yds.) and two passes defensed in addition to ranking second on the team with a career-high 18 special-teams tackles... Injured his knee at Cin. (12/23) and was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 24.
2006: Adams played all 16 games (8 starts) for the first time in his career and registered 67 tackles (53 solo) and three passes defensed for the 49ers while contributing 12 special-teams stops... Recorded his first doubledigit tackle output (10 tackles) in the season opener at Ari. (9/10).
2005: Adams saw time in 14 games (10 starts) and totaled a career-high 68 tackles (55 solo), one sack (5 yds.), four interceptions (36 yds.), four passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery... Tied for the team lead with his four interceptions and added three tackles on special teams... Made his first career start at Ari. (10/2) in Mexico City... Recorded his first-career multi-interception game in the season finale vs. Hou. (1/1), returning a pick 40 yards for a score and adding a takeaway in overtime to set up the 49ers’ game-winning field goal.
COLLEGE: Adams started 23-of-43 career games at the University of Delaware and posted 213 tackles, 11 interceptions and 14 pass breakups... Ranked 11th in school history with his 11 interceptions... Earned second-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors as a senior team captain in 2003 while guiding the Blue Hens to the Division IAA National Championship.
PERSONAL: Adams attended Passiac Tech High School in Wayne, N.J., where he helped guide his team to the New Jersey Group 4 state title in 1998... Inducted into the Passiac Tech Hall of Fame in 2009 and had his jersey retired in 2010... Received a community service award from the House of Representatives and the New Jersey State Senate for his community service and volunteer work... Runs a joint foundation named the Rising Stars Foundation to assist underprivileged youth... Hosts an annual bowling event and football camp in New Jersey... Voted the recipient of the 2011 Dino Lucarelli Good Guy Award from the Cleveland Chapter of the Professional Football Writers’ Association... Nicknamed ‘Pops’ by his grandmother, Michael Carl Adams has a daughter, Maya, and was born on March 24, 1981, in Paterson, N.J.
