Two of the Jets’ best players embarrass themselves and it proves why the team needs a culture change
Let me start off here by saying the people who threaten or attack players on social media are cowards and frankly are nothing more than the lowest rung of human existence. Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to the players being stupid on social media. The New York Jets lost to the […]
Let me start off here by saying the people who threaten or attack players on social media are cowards and frankly are nothing more than the lowest rung of human existence.
Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get to the players being stupid on social media.
The New York Jets lost to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in an embarrassing game. The offense was nonexistent and the defense looked like a bunch of JV kids trying to tackle grownups.
In fact, according to Next Gen stats, the Jets defense missed 20 tackles against the Cardinals, tied for the most by any team in a game this season. One of the other two performances with 20 missed tackles was also the Jets, in Week 1 against the 49ers. Their 20 missed tackles allowed the Cardinals to gain 91 extra yards. James Conner led the way with 6 missed tackles forced, extending his season total to 68 on the season (most in the NFL), while five other Cardinals ball carriers forced multiple missed tackles.
When you have a performance like that, you are going to be criticized. And you are going to deserve it. But two players on the once highly touted New York Jets defense took to social media after the game in a lame attempt to defend themselves from the criticism they so richly deserve.
Rich Cimini of ESPN does a stock watch on his X account after every game. And in the long list of this week’s stock down candidates, Cimini included Sauce Gardner for a terrible missed tackle in the game.
I had pointed out that Sauce’s tackling this year was an issue earlier in the season. The particular play in question seemed where Sauce was unable to bring down tight end Trey McBride did seem to invigorate the Cardinals while leaving the Jets defense reeling. Sauce didn’t take kindly to Cimini calling him out and responded in a since deleted post.
Sauce clearly doesn’t like when he is called out for poor play. This isn’t the first time he has clapped back at people on social media who have criticized him or the team.
Sauce is a fantastic player in the NFL, but that does not put him above scrutiny and it doesn’t mean that there aren’t some holes in his game. I have often said every offensive coordinator in the NFL who has the Jets on their schedule should game plan around running at Sauce. Make him make the tackle and keep doing it until he proves he can.
And Sauce wasn’t done there. He defended his overall play (which wasn’t bad) and then gave the ole “let’s see you play in the NFL” schtick.
Over on Instagram, it was last year’s All-Pro linebacker Quincy Williams who got sensitive to some criticism after his defense gave up 31 points before the Cardinals coasted the last quarter on offense.
These players are soft. They are soft mentally and frankly in Sauce’s case, soft physically. No player should be threatening anyone on social media just like no fan should be threatening a player. Players are in the public spotlight and should be prepared to be criticized especially after losing 31-6 when the Super Bowl was the expectation.
This is what I mean when I say the team needs a culture change. Any player whining on social media about being called out after a pathetic loss like the team had on Sunday should be embarrassed. Almost as embarrassed as they were walking off the field Sunday afternoon. Players need to stop playing the victim and pointing the finger. Be upset that you lost 31-6 with your season hanging in the balance and not because someone in the media said you missed a big tackle.
The Jets have a frustrated fan base, and they deserve better after what will soon be 14 years of missing the playoffs. And like it or not, the players are the ones responsible for the product on the field. No player is above scrutiny. Especially when a team is an epic failure like the 2024 New York Jets.
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