By CJ Carlson
Sauce Gardner is one of the few bright spots on an otherwise bleak current roster for the New York Jets. He’s been one of the key additions that have helped spark interest again in the franchise. However, not everybody is under the belief that he can do no wrong. A former Jets player has just pointed out Gardner when talking about embarrassing effort during the team’s 37-20 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Boomer Esiason, one-time NFL MVP winner and former Jets quarterback, called Gardner out after the loss. He said, “Sauce Gardner against the Browns, for one, was kind of embarrassing. If you really watch, there were four or five plays where he just wasn’t getting involved, but I get that. Who wants to get hurt going into an offseason? Nobody, but that’s what happens when you have players deciding they don’t want to get involved.” Part of the reason why he might feel safe is because a previous report indicated that the entire coaching staff was safe despite the bad year. Most of the players are under the impression that this year was a wash anyways, and that when they get Aaron Rodgers back next season, that’ll be the real deal.
Sauce Gardner Likely Won’t Change Playstyle To End The Year
Esiason continued, “Pat of me says I don’t blame him, the last thing he wants to do is get hurt. This is the stuff you see now, and you’ll see it against the Patriots on Sunday. It’s disappointing, to say the least, but its what coaches have to deal with. Players won’t put themselves at risk unless they’re playing for something.” Now, neither Gardner nor the Jets have responded to what Esiason recently said, and they probably won’t. Although, you could probably assume that these types of plays will happen again next week, just as Esiason stated. And he’s right, you can’t really blame the guy for not wanting to be hurt, though it’s not something that’s really defensible in the eyes of the fans or coaches.