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The New York Jets are a trainwreck from every which way you look at them. Even All-Pro players like cornerback Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, who were previously thought of as stalwarts of the franchise, have regressed to almost unrecognizable levels.
One of the biggest issues that Ahmad Gardner has been having this season — Jets fans like myself are refusing to call him ‘Sauce’ considering his performance this year — is that his big mouth creates problems for him that he wouldn’t otherwise have, particularly when it comes to his X, formerly Twitter, account, as he’s constantly tweeting and deleting controversial comments.
Gardner is 24 years old, so he’s still a young man, but there’s no denying the cornerback’s immaturity, as evidenced by how he’s handled the Jets’ tackling crisis on defense.
Following multiple missed tackles in their blowout loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10, including numerous from Gardner, Jets interim HC Jeff Ulbrich put on a tackling presentation for the team in the lead-up to their Week 11 game against the Colts. Gardner, however, took issue with that and publicly derided his head coach’s strategy.
“We know how to tackle. We gotta make tackles…. We really don’t need no presentations,” Gardner told the media.
Lo and behold, Gardner predictably missed a crucial tackle against the Indianapolis Colts (that resulted in a touchdown) and received a sarcastic ovation from the fans when he did actually make one.
We’re gonna have to have an uncomfortable conversation about sauce Gardner right now .pic.twitter.com/z1LnakBh6f
— John (@iam_johnw) November 17, 2024
“Sauce Gardner getting lit up by the rookie AD Mitchell. At least he’s improving at golf,” one NFL fan sarcastically said of the play.
After the game, Gardner was asked about it and instead of taking the high road, patronized the Jets fan base, who are watching their 14th straight season of playoff-less football.
“Obviously you know the fans was all in it & they had their moments. I even got a standing ovation off a tackle. I was just like, seriously? They just so passionate,” Gardner told the media after the Jets 28-27 loss to the Colts, dropping their record to 3-8.
Sauce Gardner received a sarcastic standing ovation from #Jets fans after he made a tackle in the #Colts game:
‘Obviously you know the fans was all in it & they had their moments. I even got a standing ovation off a tackle. I was just like, seriously? They just so passionate.’… pic.twitter.com/qRQIyxspPF
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) November 18, 2024
The Jets now enter their Week 12 bye week with a 3-8 record and their season is already over (as far as competitive games are concerned) before Thanksgiving. With previous head coach Robert Saleh already fired, the next head to roll with be general manager Joe Douglas. And despite his recent hint that he wants to play next season, there’s a chance that the Jets — if they’re smart enough to cut their losses and move on — send Rodgers packing in the offseason, too.