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The New York Jets are a mess up and down, top to bottom, left to right. Their record has fallen to 2-6 after losing five straight games. The Aaron Rodgers era seems like it’s over even though it never really got started. And stalwart stars like Sauce Gardner seem to be regressing.
To be fair to Sauce Gardner, the Jets’ defense has regressed as a unit this season, as they’ve given up at least 20 points in four straight games and haven’t come up with many clutch stops when the team needs them to.
Gardner, one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL during his first two seasons in the league, also finds himself in the midst of a difficult stretch, which has resulted in him receiving some criticism from the Jets‘ long-tortured fan base.
Sauce Gardner the Golfer has regressed greatly since focusing only on golf pic.twitter.com/QlhSIzUjPG
— Brett Hoffman (@BrettHoffmanjr) October 27, 2024
“Sauce Gardner has to be the most overrated player in the NFL,” one football fan posted.
Gardner, who has always been way too online — as evidenced by his tweet earlier this year about “most females” and “insecure behavior” — caught wind of the criticism he’s been facing and decided to respond on X, formerly Twitter.
“I have a couple of things here. 1, I was trynna make a play on the ball and it was great ball placement. It’s football; it happens. 2, There is a close PRIMETIME NFL football game on and this is what really crossed your mind. Rent due?”
Sauce Gardner responds in a since-deleted tweet.
Thoughts? https://t.co/SBPNQdkBEN pic.twitter.com/Pmm1VBUBZO
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 29, 2024
This season, Gardner has 18 tackles, 3 passes defensed, zero forced fumbles, and zero interceptions in eight games. Following his first two seasons in the NFL, Gardner was named to the All-Pro first-time and the Pro Bowl.
Gardner and the Jets will look to snap their five-game losing streak when they host the Houston Texans for Thursday Night Football on Halloween night.