Mecole Hardman makes himself look completely foolish while attempting to blast the New York Jets
I knew we were in the dead period of the NFL offseason, but I didn’t know we were in the “Scorched Earth” period for the New York Jets.But that seems to be exactly what is happening from all sides right now. Just a day after Dion Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills called the Jets players […]
I knew we were in the dead period of the NFL offseason, but I didn’t know we were in the “Scorched Earth” period for the New York Jets.
But that seems to be exactly what is happening from all sides right now. Just a day after Dion Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills called the Jets players ‘weirdos’ and claimed his hatred for most of them, Mecole Hardman stepped up and threw his own opinions into the ring.
Hardman, who had been coy about his time with the Jets since being thrust into the national spotlight after catching the Super Bowl's game-winning touchdown, decided to finally blow the lid off on his brief time with the Jets.
To this point, I have generally ignored Hardman’s comments as they were innocent enough and, in the end, he won the day by winning the Super Bowl. I took most of what he said up until now to be the equivalent of “it just didn’t work out”. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
But now? Appearing on The Pivot with Ryan Clark, he tried to take a flame thrower to the organization and make himself out to be the second coming of Jerry Rice when, instead, his actions sound more like those of petulant brat.
Below is the full interview but started when he is asked about his time with the Jets.
The Jets Coaches Didn’t Live Up to His Standards
"You just got a new (offensive) coaching staff that came in and there’s no standard there. Everybody does what they want to do. Granted, the defense has more of a stabilized standard with the coaching staff on that side, so the defense has a standard. But the offense is just like, 'We’ll just figure it out. It’s Aaron’s show. Let Aaron do what Aaron does.' Then when Aaron goes down, it’s like we don’t know what to do." -Mecole Hardman on The Pivot
I got news for you Mecole: Andy Reid is a Hall of Famer. The only other two coaches currently coaching in the NFL that are possibly in that class are Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh. When you leave free agency, you are not going to get Andy Reid.
The Chiefs have had the luxury of having a Hall of Fame coach and a Hall of Fame quarterback for the last seven years. That isn’t the case anywhere else. The Jets brought in a new quarterback and a new offensive coaching staff. Of course it isn’t going to be “stabilized” immediately. Especially in a pared-down offseason.
Yes, it was Aaron’s show. Yes, when Aaron went down the coaching staff was exposed. No, you were not the answer.
He Knows How to Win and the Jets Don’t
“Y’all can’t tell me about winning. I’ve been to four Super Bowls in five years. i know what winning looks like. I know what winning is… Y’all not doing it right. We got helmets on the ground, we don’t got no discipline… It’s too many individual egos in this locker room… that’s not gonna get y’all to win.”
You were an expendable piece of some Super Bowl victories, Mecole. You were not the reason your team won. You witnessed one way to a Super Bowl. It was not the only way to win. You think Andy Reid and Bill Belichick have the same standards?
Now, he may be right about the individual egos and lack of discipline. That is a cultural thing that needs to change. But weren’t you part of the problem, Mecole? You say you know how to win, but did you talk about it or did you show it? I have the answer. Keep reading.
Hardman Refused to Return Punts When the Jets Needed Him
"I was so checked out, like, it was over with. I had already talked to (KC GM Brett) Veach and Pat (Mahomes), like, ‘Come get me.’”
Hardman said he refused to return punts vs the Kansas City Chiefs because he felt special teams coordinator, Brant Boyer, had misled him about the punt-returning job in camp and that he didn't have enough time to prepare when asked on the night of the KC game to step in for Xavier Gipson, who had tweaked an ankle a few days earlier. Hardman said he was dealing with his own injury, a hyperextended pinky, that made it tough to catch.
He said Saleh tried to convince him to do it, but Hardman said he told him, "I'm not catching for that man (Boyer)." Hardman candidly admitted by that point, "I was so checked out, like, it was over with. I had already talked to (KC GM Brett) Veach and Pat (Mahomes), like, ‘Come get me.’”
Yea. No ‘individual ego’ here, right? Let’s face it Mecole, you got beat out by Gipson as the primary punt returner and as the starting slot receiver. You lost your job after you failed to live up to the expectations.
I believe Boyer told you would be the punt returner and then an undrafted rookie worked harder than you and took the job and your ego couldn’t handle it. Then with your pinky and your ego bruised, you did what all egotistical people do when they are replaced. You quit and blamed others.
Hardman hailed himself as a player who knew what it took to win, only to, as he admitted, check out when it got hard. When the team needed you, you had the softest injury known to man and refused to suit up.
They Lied to Him
"It’s the lies and the way they handled me. I didn’t like it at all."
He made it clear that, other than Garrett Wilson, he felt he was as good or better than every WR on the team.
This was the one that sent me over the top. The Jets were not ripe with talent outside of Garrett Wilson at the receiver position. I have made that abundantly clear all season. But you know who else wasn’t overflowing with talented receivers? The Kansas City Chiefs.
But despite being familiar with the system, the quarterback, and the coach you know how many targets Hardman got in four games with Patrick Mahomes? 10. On a team who was desperate for anyone to step up and take the pressure off of Kelce to be the lone offensive weapon, Hardman got 10 balls thrown his way. For a total of 41 yards.
Hardman is not a number two receiver. He isn’t a number three receiver. He is a punt returner (when his pinky allows) and a gadget guy. That’s how the Jets used him. That’s how the Chiefs used him.
Part of the problem with free agency is the same as the problem with recruiting. Before you sign, teams have to say all the nice things and blow smoke up your rear end to get you in the building. Then, once they got you, they must bring you back down to Earth and “un-recruit” you. That’s what happened. You were promised the moon and stars and then when it came time to hit the field, you were left without a job.
That’s on you.
Congrats on single-handedly winning the Super Bowl.
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