Jets' Nathaniel Hackett - Sean Payton broke code with comments - ESPN

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Without mentioning Sean Payton by name, New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett responded Tuesday to Payton's scathing criticism, saying the comments about his coaching performance last season violated an unwritten «code.»

Hackett said he wasn't surprised by Payton's remarks, claiming his Denver Broncos successor has been blasting him publicly for a year.

«Obviously, [the] last week has been a very unique week for this organization,» Hackett said. «I've been involved in this business my whole life — 43 years. As a coach, as a coach's kid, we live in a glass house. We know that. We all live in different rooms, we all have a key for it. It's one of those things, there's a code, there's a way things are done in that house.

»This past week, it's frustrating and it sucks, but we're all susceptible to it — the things you do, the mistakes you make. It costs you time on the field, it costs you your job… all those things. And I own all that stuff. That's a fact. I've got no excuses."

Payton created national headlines last week, telling USA Today that Hackett's 15-game run with the Broncos last season was «one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL» and that there were «20 dirty hands» around quarterback Russell Wilson. Payton said he made «a mistake,» saying he planned to call Hackett and Jets coach Robert Saleh to apologize.

Hackett said he hasn't received an apology from Payton, adding that he doesn't expect Payton to follow through on his promise.

Asked if he believes Payton broke the code of the coaching fraternity, Hackett said, «I do. I do.» He said the criticism was «very expected. You knew it was going to happen. You knew he was going to handle it that way at some point.