The former Arsenal skipper first made the case for Rice at the start of the season, arguing publicly that Mikel Arteta should make the decision himself rather than put it to a players' vote. Arteta did consult the squad, and Martin Odegaard was retained as captain unanimously. Adams has not dropped the subject.
With Odegaard and Bukayo Saka both carrying injuries in recent weeks, Rice has led the side in what Adams describes as a "battlefield promotion." That development has sharpened his view that the structure was wrong from the start.
"After I made the comment about Odegaard before the start of the season, Arteta went to the players and said: 'Who do you want as captain?' And they all went — well, they're not going to say it to him, are they? They said: 'We love Odegaard.'"
"Why do you need the manager then? You pick your captain, you get your rapport, you have got your vice-captains and create a bond. I look at Pep Guardiola and Bernardo Silva in the Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal and you can see an instant chemistry there. There was a leader."
Adams captained Arsenal for 14 years from 1988, winning league titles in three different decades. He remains convinced Rice is better suited to the role precisely because he is a guaranteed starter and can relay instructions under pressure in a way Odegaard cannot from an attacking position.
"I think Declan is a super leader and super player, and I've said, I feel that he should be Arsenal captain anyway," Adams told the Daily Mail.
Arsenal must win at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday to stay in the title race. City are six points behind with a game in hand and would go level on points with a victory.