NFL makes final decision on Mac Jones-Sauce Gardner controversy
Mac Jones can finally put Sunday's incident behind him. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the NFL did not fine Jones for allegedly hitting Sauce Gardner below the belt in Sunday's game. During the fourth quarter of the Sunday's game, Gardner shoved Jones to the ground after the New York Jets defense was able to stop […]
Mac Jones can finally put Sunday's incident behind him.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the NFL did not fine Jones for allegedly hitting Sauce Gardner below the belt in Sunday's game.
During the fourth quarter of the Sunday's game, Gardner shoved Jones to the ground after the New York Jets defense was able to stop the New England Patriots on third-and-short. And after the game, Gardner spoke to media saying that Jones hit him below the belt.
To back up his claims, Gardner posted a video of the altercation. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini later posted another video with a clearer view of what happened.
Yet, the league determined that there was not enough sufficient video evidence to back up Gardner's accusations.
However, Jones denied all this.
"Yeah, I think like I said earlier, just really focused on the Cowboys. And just trying to prepare for a good defense. That's my focus. Trying to control the controllables," Jones said during the week. "I'm looking forward to just building this week."
He also spoke on WEEI about the allegations.
“Sauce is one of the best corners in the NFL,” Jones said on WEEI’s “Jones and Mego.” “So, I have a lot of respect for him, and on that play, just nothing was intentional. I just got up and went back to the huddle, and that’s it.”
Here is how Jones described the play on Sunday:
"No," Jones said. "I think just trying to get the first down. 3rd-and-1 and then we came back on 4th-and-1 and tried to fake it, so definitely a physical play. Lot of guys are in there. It's kind of like the famous quarterback sneak that everybody does and there's all the guys on both teams are in there so it can get pretty physical."
And here is what Gardner said after the game:
"He had got tackled," Gardner said (via ESPN's Rich Cimini). "He reached his hand up to try to, like, get me to help him up. And I just moved his hand out of the way. Then, when he gets up [and] he just comes up to me like, 'Good job.' But while he said that … he hit me in my private parts. You know what I'm saying?"
"Man, my stomach hurt a little bit, you know what I mean?" Gardner added with a laugh. "I don't even know what to say. I do got to ice up. He's trying to keep me from having kids in the future. He's trippin'."
Featured Image via Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
